KIWITEA AND MAKINO STREAMS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 279, 30 May 1895, Page 2

KIWITEA AND MAKINO STREAMS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STxVR. Sir, — I have read with some considerable degree of interest the letters recently published in the columns of your paper relative to the overflow of the Kiwitea stream into the Makino, and I accordingly determined to ascertain for myself the exact nature of the threatened danger by visiting the locality in person. I find that little can he done to remedy the evil further than by the burning and cutting away of a massive heap of drift wood, as well as the cutting through of a small neck of land immediately behiud it, thereby giving the river a straight run. This will, of necessity, increase the fall of the stream, thus making the current much more rapid. By this means the bed of the stream will considerably deepen in that particular place, thereby lessening the danger of anything like an extensive overflow. Now, I would strongly advise not* only the Borough Council, but also Mr Fry (through whose property the stream runs) to take immediate steps to have the drift wood above mentioned removed at once, for the very excellent reason that it is deadening the current of the water immediately above it, especially in time of flood, thereby causing the river bea in that particular and adjacent places to silt up, and which, if not remedied in time, will in all probability cause a most disastrous overflow, affecting I not only the Borough of Feilding, but Mr Fry's land, especially on the east bank, and I venture to think I could satisfy Mr Fry on that point, had I the opportunity of meeting him on the spot. I would beg to intimate to the Council, or the Public Works Committee, that I should be only too pleased to accompany them, should they deem it necessary, to investigate with the view of adopting some remedy, and by pointing out the peculiarities of the position I should hope to convince them that by putting my suggestions into practical effect a very serious and threatening danger would be averted. Those of your readers who may know me know also that I am very happily gifced with more than the ordinary amount of mechanical abilities, and this, linked with long and concentrated observation, has given me what knowledge I now possess of the changes which the courses of rivers, streams, etc., are likely to take from time to time. I would beg- to urge that immediate steps be taken in the matter, and possibly Mr Fry could bo induced to give some assistance, as in the event of another flood it will effect him in a very unpleasant degree. I am, etc., W. E. Chamberlain.