DEEPENING THE RIVER CHANNEL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3776, 19 October 1907, Page 2

DEEPENING THE RIVER CHANNEL.

Thk dredge or scoop to be used for deepening the navigable channel of the Maaawatu is now being fitted up, and will be in working order at an early date. The bar does not cause master mariners the same anxiety as the river channel, upon which little or nothing has been spent by the controlling Government department. During the recent tides 13ft of water was registered qn the bar. As we have said before, the channel is our souece of trouble, but we are now pleased to report that the important matter is receiving the attention of the Marine Department. The Department at first proposed to use marine harrow’s to deepen the channel, but it having been found that the only ones obtainable are too heavy for use without a large steamer to drag them, it has been decided to a give trial to another method which is often used in similar cases, and which is to attach to a flat-bottomed punt drawing as little water as possible aflat screen which can be raised or lowered to suit the depth of water to within a few inches of bottom, and fixed in a nearly vertical position at right angles to the current, so as to cause an obsruction and consequent increase of velocity ot current between the lower edge and the bottom of the river, the punt being secured by tw T o anchors laid out on either bow, and slowly slacked away down stream so as to follow up the scouring action. The two anchor lines enable any position sideways to he maintained. From the assistance with it at other similar places, it is thought that it will be successful in deepening the local channel. It will be interesting to note the success or otherwise of the experiment.