THE RIVER MENACE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2707, 13 March 1924, Page 3

THE RIVER MENACE.

“The Menace of the River” was a subject dealt with by Mr P. E. Baldwin, L.L.8., at t lie Palmerston N. Lunch Club, on Tuesday. Rivers were the most striking stage in the cycle of the world’s waters said Mr Baldwin. They had no pause or peace. Minute bv minute they "were bringing down the fertility of the upper reaches and depositing it in the great savings banks of Nature'. All alluvial land, and practically all flat land of value, was more or less the remote gift of the rivers, w'hich were once free from all dangers, except, flooding. The present menace of a river was a measure of man’s mistakes. In bygone days the rivers were provided with efficient safeguards against erosion and shingle by the covering of virgin bush on the watersheds and hanks. This covering of Nature also provided an effective palliative against the dangers of flood waters.

The main element in the everpresent. dangers from our rivers came from the indiscriminate cutting down of this bush. The tireless swing of the bushfeller’s axe had removed the agency which at one time had kept the flow of the rivers under control. Now they were denuded of their root binding and screens of foliage, with the result that the waters came down uncontrolled. He was not suggesting that the alteration was not in favour of the country. On the contrary, it had contributed largely to the national wealth. The dangers had not been foreseen and we now had to pay for the thoughtlessness of the settlers of the early days. Menaces were not to be found in every part, of the country, but, in tlie greater area, the rivers loomed like Stromboli or Versuvius —an ever present source of danger. The four main dangers were: Erosion, shingle, flooding, and noxious weeds. The first, was a large and increasing source of loss. If a current was slow enough and the frontage was long erosion was of no ultimate loss. The river could only carry the silt suspended while it was in rapid motion, and, consequently, deposited it in slow waters. In connection with erosion it. was interesting to note that an authority had said that the l’ohangina had destroyed about 50 per cent, of the alluvial land in the district.

Shingle as it moved down a river eroded the banks and was responsible for the carrying away of much valuable land. It also was a menace in that it raised the beds of rivers and widened the channels.

The next danger, that of weeds, was responsible for the lessening of the value of much good land. Water was the great disseminator of weeds and carried them over thousands of aci’es of country. The last danger, llial of flooding, was one of particular interest to Palmerston N. In passing, he staled that he was not of the opinion that there would he a big flood in tlie Manawafu, as many maintained Besides the actual damage done to the land by floods, that, done to crops and animals was incalculable. Tn conclusion he stated that any suggestions brought forward for river control should he worthy of the consideration and support of every citizen.