RIVER IMPROVEMENT.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 229, 20 June 1877, Page 2

RIVER IMPROVEMENT.

(TO the editor of the patea mail.)

Sir,-—The Patea County is regarded as one of the finest and richest grazing districts in tliis colony. Nature has provided all that a stock owner can require, except harbour accommodation or a port to ship fat stock to the southern markets. But nature has provided a river that can be greatly improved, and made as navigable as Wanganui or Waitara, if a little is expended to deepen the channel. The question is merely one of expense—whether cheapest to dredge or increase the body of water in the river, and so enable it to cut out, and deepen its own channel. It is said that a few miles inland the Whenuakura and Patea Hi vers are only separated by a narrow neck of land. Would it not be advisable to employ a surveyor to examine and take the levels of the two livers, and to ascertain, if possible, whether it would be feasable to divert the Whenuakura into the Patea.

The Whenuakura is not large in summer, but in winter, and during freshets, an immense body of water is forced down its channel, rising at times twelve and fourteen feet above its usual level. This body of water added to the Patea should, I imagine, tend to cut and considerably deepen tho Patea channel, besides considerably deepening the Patea as far as the junction of the two. I am not a settler in this county, or interested in this question, hut I imagine it is of importance to all stock owners and business people in this county, and more especially affects the welfare of Carlyle Township, I therefore send you this suggestion for the consideration of your Harbour Board.—l am, &c. COLONIST.