THE RIVER BANK ENCROACHMENT. .

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 781, 19 June 1877, Page 3

THE RIVER BANK ENCROACHMENT. .

Sib, — Tho late rains have made more apparent thau ever the necessity of Boraething bem;; done to prevent thq banks of the river, which are gradually in places being fretted away year after year. The, danger is far grcator than some would suppose, and about Hamilton the alteration in the rivers banks even during the space of the last three years is very marked; The danger to the land is not the only loss, but the soil carried away is deposited, according to the eddies and ourrents, iu particular parts of the river bed and there forms banks and sholoo whioh seriously affect the navigation of the stream at times when the river il exceptionally low. Tho work of disintegration of Jthe river banks is however apart from rains and floods, a matter of certain though gradual daily oooorrenoe, the result of the ripple 04 used by every passiug steamer. It is' therefore desirable that some method should at once be devised for their preservation. Tho remedy is very oheap and simple, but not alwajs applicable. If willow cuttings were planted along the e.dge of the stream . the.encrouchmont of tho water would bo speedily stopped and tho banks saved, but only on" fenced land can this be adopted, as the wandering herds of cattle which infest our Wuikato townships, dostioy the young wijlows as qixickly as they grow. A notable instance of the protection they are, not only saving the actual bank, but extending and consolidating it may be seen at the Waikato Brewery, Hamilton East, where the willows have bow only been planted two years, but Jhe place 19 secure from cattle. Some-

thing, I think' should be done by the local authorities to: enable public lanJa and lands of owners adjacent to s the nver banks which a»eas yet ÜBfenced from being further encroached updhV' Ttfe time has passed when cattle should be allowed to iun on unoccupied unfenced land, a terror and a nuisance to. overy cultivator whether of field or garden." If the cattle nuisance were done away with, nn!q?-<tbe river bank would be" planted witp willow, and ns the present season is thd time for planting, I have ;so far tres^jaased. on your valuable space hoping that attention drawn to the matter may lead to further discussion and amendinent.—l am, &c, Settier. Hamilton Enst, June 18Lh. ■ '