WAIHOU PHENOMENON.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5245, 29 February 1928, Page 2

WAIHOU PHENOMENON.

RIVER RISES DESPITE DROUGHT.

WHAT IS THE CAUSE ?

Some weeks ago a settler with property through which the Waihou River flows, near Matamata, made the assertion that despite the abnormal spell of dry weather the level of the river was rising (states a Matamata correspondent). He questioned whether there was a seepage from the dammed waters of the Waikato at Arapuni. The latter theory was not entertained by Mr L. B. Campbell, Public Works engineer.

Since publicity was given the matter other settle'rs with property along the river .have made markings and are emphatic that during the past few weeks, while the drought was on, the Waihou River has been steadily rising. Old settlers state that this is a phenomenon, seeing that there has been a negligible rainfall since October.

Perhaps the most reliable observations are those of a local official of the Public Works Department, who has been working with a gang near the river and had occasion to use water from it daily. Noticing- the rise, he put down markers and found that the water rose I's inches in ten days. .This was before the rain of Friday. A visit to the river plainly Shows that there is' water coming from a fresh source- It has completely swamped watercress and other prowths which usually sway on the riverbanks, and snags usually showing are covered. The -lower cross-bars of a bridge at Te Poi which .were showing a few weeks ago were covered by water before tihe rain.

The phenomenon can scarcely be attributable to springs, for flow from these usually lessens during periods of dry weather. It is. wondered whether this extra water will affect the lower lying lands from Te Aroha towards Paeroa in times of heavy rain. .