MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2640, 2 October 1923, Page 2

MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

THE PROPOSED CUTS. INSPECTION BY MARINE AND HARBBOUR BOARD ENGINEERS. At the conference between the Manawatu Oroua River Board and Foxton Harbour Board last month, in reference to its proposed cuts to give a clear run out for the congested waters of the Manawatu, Mr J. A. Nash M.P., moved that the Harbour Board and Marine Engineer insped and report. As previously reported, the River Board engineer suggested three cuts which would divert the flood waters by the cutting of a channel at three points below the Whirokino bridge, and coming out at Hartley’s Bend, where fi would again join the river. To avoid a further tortuous bend at Ibis point another cut is provided through “Rush Flat,”'a distance of about three-quarters of a mile, both cuts leading in a straight line from their commencement to the sea. The cuts would obviate the tortuous, winding of the present course and shorten the outlet from the first cut by about four miles. The proposed cuts are of vital importance to the draining of the land subject to inundation in the upper reaches (affecting 70,000 acres of fertile land). The cuts, however, are within the navigable area of the port which is under the jurisdiction of the Foxton Harbour Board and the Board before giving its consent to the work desires the fullest and most expert advice as to the effect of the proposals on shipping interests to the port. In this connection the Board instructed its engineer (Mr Jickell) and the Marine Engineer (Mr Furkett) to inspect the proposed scheme and furnish a report. Yesterday afternoon, the River Board engineer (Mr Hay) accompanied the Marine Engineer (Mr Furkett) and Board engineer (Mr, Jickell) over the proposed cuts. The party proceeded up the river by launch and proceeded on foot across the area of the first cuts and picked up the launch again at Hart— -j ley’s Bend when the rush flat was" inspected also the river mouth. From what our representative was able to gather, the two engineers were very favourably impressed with the proposed No. 1 cut (that nearest to the Foxton wharf). The report will be furnished by Mr Jickell to the Harbour Board at an early date. Until the Harbour Board has given its decision the River Board cannot proceed with its loan proposals.