The River.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3542, 4 July 1905, Page 2

The River.

TO THE EDITOR OF MANAWATU HERALD

Sir, —As so many of the steamers have been stranded on the mud banks in the river lately, on account of the floods scouring different channels to those previously used, I beg to suggest a simple remedy, which, if tried, may very likely have the effect of clearing a good channel, far better than any dredging, as in ariver subject to floods, as this one is, dredging is only a temporary improvement. It has been proved that any obstruction to a stream at or near the surface, alters the dire*tion of the channel very materially, so much so, that at will, you can either project a bank or throw the current on to an opposite shore, by very simple means. The plan I would propose is both simple and inexpensive, and may be productive of vary much benefit to shipping, A chain or so above any bank or obstruction in the river fasten a large log in the direction necessary for the purpose of removing the obstruction, one end by wire cable to a post secure on the shore and the other anchored at the desired angle, should it be required to protect the bank it is secured to, point the outside end up stream and it will silt in behind the angle and protect the bank, but if it is wanted to scour out an opposite bank anchor the outside end down stream and the effect may possibly be all that is is desired.—l am, etc., F. Deßidder.