EROSION AT STONY RIVER.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1916, Page 2

EROSION AT STONY RIVER.

DEVASTATION TO PROPERTIES. 'HISITION REGARDED AS ACUTE,

A serious position witli regard to the properties adjacent to Stony River at Okato was disclosed at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki County Council. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. H. J. H. Okcy, M.P., Newton King (chairman of the Okato Dairy Company), W. .1 firay, W. A. Corbett, and F. Cowling (settlers, with properties at Okato), waited on the Council, and pointed out that twenty years ago the river was five chains away from .Saunders' Road, and between the river and the road there was a dense bush. The whole of the intervening space, including the lrash and the road, had now boen swept away, owing to the heavy erosion of the river banks. The silt from the upper reaches had caused the bed of tho river at Okato to rise l.> feet, with the result that when the river was flooded many acres of the adjoining properties were inundated. There was great danger, it was stated, of the .Stony Eiver joining the Kaihihi River, and in this event untold devastation to the near-by properties would take place during the flood seasons. The Stony River had always been regarded as a. '"tricky" river, and there was a danger of it reverting to an old course. A groyne had been built at another point in the river some years ago, and this groyne .had had a wonderful effect in protecting the river banks.

Mr. Newton King said if the .Stony River joined the Kaihihi, the Okato dairy factory and other buildings would bo swept atoay. Mr. Corbett said that floods might occur at any time. The heaviest flood he had ever known occurred in the summer, in February, 1897. Cr. W. Binnie said the river-bed consisted of sand and shingle. The setl'ers were .prepared to give the Council financial assistance in connection with any improvement it decided on.. The courso of tlhe river was- continually shifting. Be had seen a stone effect a change. Asked whether the fiovernment would give assistance,' Mr. Ok'ey reminded the Council that it was war-time. It was finally resolved that the chief engineer of the. Public Works Department' be invited 1 to inspect Stony River when visiting Taranaki in connection with the Waiwakaiho bridge,, and to report 011 tlhe best methods ' of preventing further erosion of the land adjoining.