THE MANAWATU RIVER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3994, 7 September 1929, Page 3

THE MANAWATU RIVER.

* CHANNEL IN GOOD CONDITION. INSPECTION BY CAiPT. MUNRO. Captain Munro, of the Canterbury Steam) Ship Co., ChristclfUrcb, who Has been in Foxton during the past few' days in connection with the mishap which befel the motor vessel Foxton on Wednesday, carried out an inspection of the Manawatu River between the Foxton wharf and the Heads yesterday. Captain Munro made his inspection in the pilot’s launch and was accompanied by Captain C. Larsen (pilot), Mr. QM. E. Pefreau (Foxton Harbour Board) and Mr. H. Osborne (local agent fotr the m.v. Foxton). ■Soundings were carried . out between the wharf and the beacon, known as Robinson’s No. 1 and disclosed the fact that, the river was in particularly good condition. The inspection was made an hour before high water and even at that time soundings showed an even 14 feet of water between the wharf and Robinson’s Bend. Captain Lalrsen stated that this strip of water way was now in much better condition than it had been for a considerable time. In fact it had never gone back since it was dredged and that was some years ago. The chief reason for this the pilot attributed to the fact that a good deal of erosion had taken place at Robinson’s Bend which allowed the water to get away quickly when rounding the bend and thus prevented any slackening up of the flow and consequent depositing of silt in the channel. When Robinson’s Bend was bad the channel up to the wharf was never very good. 'The erosion which has taken place at the-bend of late is very marked. The bank is continually crumbling into the river and has been eaten away right into the pine plantation. At this spot the efficiency of willows as a protective agency against river erosion is ,verjs marked. On either side of Robinson’s Bend willows have been ,planted and the bank, in consequence, has withstood any assaults made against it by the river. Captain Larsen, in pointing this fact out to our representative, said that it would be a very good thing for the river and fairway if willows could be grown on either bank from the wharf to the sea but the salt water in the river prevented this as it killed' willows. It would be possible he said to plant the banks as far down as Rush Flat but from there on they would not grow. / In Queensland he had seen river banks protected by mangroves and these he believed also grew fairly well in the north Auckland district. Salt in no way affected them and they, would be ideal if they could- be grown locally. He was afraid, how- 1 ever, that the climate might not be suitable. Continuing with sounding operations, the bend w r as thoroughly depIhed,. the launch circling right round and sounding in all localities. On the western bank deep water was encountered and it was veiry surprising to note that what was formerly a very shallow sand bank on the opposite side showed a depth varying from six to nine feet. Captain Munro expressed surprise at the state of the river at this locality and remarked that there was a natural basin at the spot with ample water and ample room to manoeuvre a boat right round without any difficulty. The river from beacon known as Robinson’s No. -1 towards the sea was also sounded and here again a surprising change in the channel was noticeable. The erosion at Robinson’s Bend had again had a very beneficial effect in deepening what was previously a shallow mud flat on the western side and putting a considerable depth of water over it. This, explained Captain Larsen, urns due to the fact that the bend had been so eroded that the river now swept straight down stream instead of being diverted to the other bank as previously. The old channel on the opposite side still carried deep water until a short distance off the beacon when it suddenly petered out into a shallow ridge. Owing to this it had been found necessary to shift the beasons prior to the first visit to the port of the s.s. Himatangi. Good water is experienced from this point to the bar. The pilot stated that the river was to-day in (much better condition than it had been for a long time past. Questioned as to whether there was any menace from logs in the river, Captain Larsen said he did not think there was. a great deal to worry about in that connection. It could not be said that there were no logs in the river but the channel was fairly safe. The logs were for the most part jutting out from the banks and it was not always advisable to cut lengths off these as the roots were liable to fall into the fairway and become a menace. In the pilot’s opinion where there was no actual risfc to the fairway it was better to buoy the logs by so doing those on the bridge of vessels visiting the port were informed that to go too near the bank meant a risk of snags. There was no great difficulty in removing any obstacles to the fairway with explosives. Captain Munro expressed the opinion that he was quite satisfied that the m.v. Foxton did not strike any log in the river and that her disablement was not due to the propellor fouling any such snag. On the return to wharf Captain Munro pointed out to Mr. Peirreau the danger which unprotected bolt heads in the side of the wharf constituted to shipping. Vessels visiting the wharf were liable to severely damage their planking on these

protruding bolt heads. Captain Munro suggested that the holts mentioned should be protected by halrdwood timber securely fastened over them. Mr. Perreati said that the Board was only too anxious to do anything to further shipping to the port and he was sure the Board would give favourable consideration to Captain Munro’s suggestion at its next meeting.