RANGIURU STREAM PROBLEMS

Chronicle (Levin), 15 February 1947, Page 2

RANGIURU STREAM PROBLEMS

DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL At a meeting of the Otaki Borough Council this week a letter was received from the Manawatu Cauchmtnt Board's engineer dealing with his recent inspeccion of the bridge site on the Rangiuru Stream. it suaLed that the catchment area of ohe Rangiuru watershed was approximateiy four square miies, aim anowing the usuai figures for rainfall in this area a bridge or euivert wich an opening of about sixty square feet would qe satisfactoiy. The river was also affeeted oy the overflow from the Waitohu River and the flow from this might easiiy be equal to the flow from its cwn wat-eroned. If provision was not made to prevent this overflow, then it would be advisable to have an optning at ieast double the size, that is 120 square feet. This was on the assumption that there would be no further overflow from the Otaki River itself, in yiew of the work which" was being carried out on the river by the Public Works Department at the prcsent time. If provision was not made for a larger opening, and the Waitohu River flooded into this area, it might be that the extreme velocity through ihe culvert would cause excessive scour downstream of the culvert, and some of the culvert pipes might collapse into the scour hole. This would probably be prevented by piacing heavy stonework downstream of the culvert. The acting town clerk (Mr. 'Anderson) reported that he had been in communication with the Native Department. The department had promised to make an inspection of the Mangapouri Creek, which was at present badly in need of attention. Relative to the piacing oi a stop bank on the Rangiuru Stream, It was considered that this was necessary to save much valuabie land. Cr. Hakaraia considered a stopbank would be a great boon, both to Rangiuru and Otaki. Cr. Cook considered that the frg item was a bridge over the Rangiuru Stream. 'This, he said, was necessary, and already plans had been drawn up and submitted to the council. He favoured asking Mr. Sladden to make an inspection end report as to the type of bridge r.ecessary. Cr. Hakaraia said the help of the Catchment Board had been promised, and he maintained that thev be asked to do all possible in con~nection with the stopbank. As for the bridge he thought the council ■uid wait for a time and watch developments. Cr. Young suggested that the matter be left to a full meeting and this was pgrecd to.