KEEPING RIVER FAIRWAY CLEAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4430, 22 March 1930, Page 3

KEEPING RIVER FAIRWAY CLEAR.

WIDOWS TO BE ANCHORED. With a view to obviating- any further menace to the river fairway through willows along the bank just below Robinson’s Bend slipping into the stream the Foxton Harbour Board lias had Mr. J. Joseph engaged in anchoring the trees to the bank during the week. The willows which slipped into the river .Mime time ago have also been anchored to the shore to prevent them from moving down stream and possibly, blocking’ the channel. It is anticipated that this obstruction will swing into the bank with the first fresh in the river. An attempt was made to shift it with the s.s. Maidi the other day hut it was found impossible to move any portion of the (damp. There is deep water all around it and in its present position does not present a menace to shipping. The only danger lies in the fact that the willows might break away and become stranded on the bad bank below Robinson/s No. 1 Beacon.

Mr. Joseph, who has had considerable experience in salvage work expressed the opinion that although it was found impossible to haul the willows out of the river by the steam boat punts would probably raise the obstruction sufficiently to allow it to be towed to a place of safety. The lift of a punt was estimated at about forty tons and two punts tied to the willows at low idle should be able to lift them quite easily with the rising of the tide. After examining the river bank iu the locality of the slip Air. Joseph said it appeared quite feasible that the slip had been caused by the recent earthquake.