RIVER EROSION.

Shannon News, 21 February 1922, Page 3

RIVER EROSION.

MENACE TO. FOXTON-SHANNON ROAD. By the continuous erosion of its banks, the Manawatu River has occasioned much concern to local bodies interested in the bridge on the tox-ton-Shannon Road, and during the past twelve months ; it was found necessary to put in an extra span on the Shannon side as well as to carpet the bank with willows. Now, as a result of the serious floods in December of last year, erosion has commenced on the Foxton side of the bend in the channel above the bridge. The effect is to endanger hot only the bridge, .but also the road, which at this point skirts the river-bank. The latter is the more pressing, though the prospect of the erosion being continued further down. the bank and ultimately exerting a menace to the bridge cannot be disregarded. With the object of coining to some arrangement whereby' the safety of the road, and also that of the bridge may be assured, a conference was held at the spot yesterday between representatives of the Horowhenua and Manawatu County Councils, the bodies territorially concerned on each side. Representatives were also present of the Foxton and Shannon Borough Councils, as the road is the only means of communication between the two towns. The situation was carefully reviewed, and a tentative proposal was made by the Manawatu County Council that the road should be diverted at an angle from the river, the expenses to be borne proportionately. This will be fully considered at the next meeting of the Horowhenua. County Council. No concrete proposals were forthcoming ,n regard to the bridge, but this will doubtless have to be considered later when the more pressing matter is disposed of.