PROTECTION OF THE AWAHURI BRIDGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1745, 28 June 1886, Page 2

PROTECTION OF THE AWAHURI BRIDGE.

: fTO THE BDTTOR £»AILY STANDARD.) „ Sib.— Sometime previous to this you ; published a letter of mine re the above, and yesterday (for the first time since the approach was carried away) I crossed the said bridge, and from what I. saw I |eel fully, couvinced that with an ordinary post and rails. fence a little dif tance above the bridge, and on both sides of the river m the bed, would have the desired effect ie. t of forcing the river mto a course which would pass under the centre of the -said bridge; of course the said fence would, have to be erected on the proper augle ,to ( thVbankß'pf the rivjer.^The said fenoe Wonld;in a short time iorm^. permanent, baukbu each side of the river, and so. control the direction of the flow; and to prove the correctness of my assertion a person with auy ordinary amount of perception will see the theory explained' m practice by observing that the existing cutwater has been' partially overthrown, and allowed the current to pass through it, which has had the effect of reducing the current immediately be-; hind and so formed a bank which -is' only natural under the circumstances. It is a great mistake to try and divert a rapid current of water by erecting solidj obstructions without they are very sub-' stantial. I noticed that a lot of the filling that had been put behind- the new | wing walls has run out; if it had been shiugle instead of sand such would not have benn the result. I have been informed that the owners. of land bounded by the said river, aud situated above the said bridge, will not allow the authorities to enter on the land t" to > erect ; aby training works; tliis/B can believe to be true as they' must| see that they have to contribute to the repairs ' by paying heavy rates, besides such per--Bous should be only too glad to assist m . the mutual protection of life and property because they cannot themselves sustain any damage. Hoping that' the above may prove of assistance m removing the evil, I am, &c. ' : , E. Labcomb, ■ C.E. & Architect. Palmenton N, June 26th 1886.