WHAT A FLOOD WILL DO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 53, 23 July 1914, Page 7

WHAT A FLOOD WILL DO.

I MILLIONS OF TOXS OF LAXD 1 SHIFTED. Interesting data as the effect of a , flood in tbe Wairoa river on May 17, 18. and 10, have been compiled by Mr Leslie 11. Reynolds, eneineor to the Wairoa Harbor Board. An examination of tbe water passing down the river during the flood showed that it contained l%lh. of dry silt per cubic foot of water. The area of the basin of tbe Wairoa river is taken as 1400 square miles. Rainfall records have been received from seven stations, in or near the watershed, the average fall being 14.55 inches, which ■is probably slightly less than the averages within the watershed. Reckoning from the above, the total rainfall was 47.1. r >0.000,000 cubic feet, and considering tbe saturated state of the ground previous to the storm, it is safe to assume that practically the whole of the water ran off at once. The amount estimated to flow in the river through the town from measurements made during the flood was 43,200.000.000 cubic feet, about ■ten per cent less than the alx>ve quoted figure. This gives a silt discharge of 3fi.540.00A tons of dry silt, equal to about ten square miles three feet deep. At its hight tbe river was.running at fifteen million cubic feet per minute.