MANAWATU RIVER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 26 January 1938, Page 8

MANAWATU RIVER.

RISE TO ELEVEN FEET. STEADY FALL TO-DAY. Rising very slowly yesterday afternoon and in the early evening, the Manawatu River showed a reading of 11 feet on the gauge at the Fitzher-. bert bridge soon after 7 p.m. yesterday, holding that level for approximately two hours. Shortly after 9.30 p.m. the waters began to fall and by midnight there had been a recession of one foot. This morning the river continued its gradual fall and from 7ft 6in at 6 a.m. was recording 7ft two hours later. The fall continued until at mid-day the reading was 6ft 6in. AT PAGE’S POINT. Though the full extent of the change could not be seen this morning because the waters had not totally receded, it was evident at midday that there had been erosion below Page’s Point, where the Manawatu River some time ago cut through a narrow neck to join the two ends of a horseshoe. In doing so the river increased its speed at that point because of the increase in the fall, which was previously spread over the whole length of the horseshoe bend.

Fears have been held that the faster flow would cause damage to the Makerua bank, below the point. This morning it could be seen that, commencing about 10 to 15 chains below the point, the waters had eaten away a small strip on the Makerua side. A peculiarity of flood damage to banking is that much of it takes place when the water level is falling and earth wtiich has been held in place by the water pressure falls away on that support being removed. The water was still fairly high below Page’s Point this morning, and it was expected that a full indication of the effect of the flood would not be available until tomorrow.

Reports of the flooding which occurred in Hawke’s Bay yesterday appear on page 2.