Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1922. RIVER EROSION AT MOUTOA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2406, 18 March 1922, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1922. RIVER EROSION AT MOUTOA.

FOR years past the Manawatu River at Moutoa, at a spot about half a mile north of the Shannon bridge, lias been gradually eroding westward to Moutoa bank. What a few years ago, and at the time the bridge was erected, was the centre the river, is now dry land —except in time of flood. The now channel not only threatens cutting off road communication, but acres of fertile land, land unless diverted it is impossible to speculate where the erosion will end, or what damage will result. Sullice it to say that unless protective measures are taken immediately, the bridge will be, in the not far distant future, so much waste timber. The threatened portion of the road is under the control of the Manawatu County Council, but the responsibility for the bridge is shared by the Manawatu and Horowhenua Counties and Foxton borough. An earth stop-bank affords temporary protection to the road, but all interested are agreed that the next flood will carry it away. The Manawatu County Council, in order to maintain communication, has asked the Horowhenua County, Fotxon and ' Shannon boroughs to contribute three-eighths of the cost of erecting a slop bank and diverting the road, as against the County’s five-eighths —the approximate cost of the work is £I,OOO. In the extraordinary circumstances', we believe the Manawatu County Council is justified in asking the other bodies to share the burden. The other bodies, while sympathetic, first of all would like to know where such commitment would end. At the •mine time it looks as if this proposal is only temporising with the matter, A comprehensive scheme by a competent engineer should be formulated, to check the erosion and divert the river to the old channel. Whether the County Council should undertake this extraordinary work is a matter of opinion, but. neglect to do so will involve the bodies concerned and settlei’s in the locality in the expenditure of thousands of pounds in the future. The Manawatu County Council must maintain the highway at its own expense, but more than this is involved, and the sooner combined action is taken to deal with the matter the better. The services and advice of an engineer should not be longer delayed.