RIVER-CONTROL WORK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 168, 3 August 1937, Page 4

RIVER-CONTROL WORK

Tutaekuri Has Cost £96,006 to Date ENGINEER'S REPORT The cost to date of the Tutaekuri river-control scheme has been £96,006 18/8, nccording to a report placed before the 'Hawke's Bay Rivers Board yesterday by the engineer, Mr. G. Rochfort. DuiTng the month, Mr. Rochfort reported 26 men and niiie teams had been cmployed. Work on the south dam had been carried on during the month. After several days preparation the gap adjoining the beach ha-d beeu closecl and the new outlet for the river made; the worli at this stage had been diffieult and at times carried out in the water ancl in wefc conditions. "I ara glnd to suy that the success aohieved was due to the energy and forethought of the foreman, Mr. S. Scullin, and to the excellent work done by the men emplQyed," che report added. "As far as can be seen at present there is no likelihood of the new month closing up." Accordmg to the arrangements xnade with settiers draining to Waitangi, the Waitangi pump had had to be operated until the Tutaekuri was separated from the Ngaruroro. This had now been done and the pump charge should be transferred to the Ngaruroro account, . t Ngaruroro Work. Reporting on the Ngaruroro seneme, Mr. Rochfort stated;— Labour: An average number of 87 men have been empioyed. Ten teams have been empioyed iull time on the Fernhill levee and 10 teams partly at Pakowhai and partly at Koroidpo. In view of the earth\voris oemg carried out with teams, extra labour will be required; 12 extra men engaged on the Tutaekuri will be taken over and 20 extra nren engaged; it is expected to start a third earthwork gang on the 27th instani, and this will require 10 teams. That will be an increase of •42 men, bringing the total to 130. Earthworks; The outp'ut for the teams is 8934 cubic yards, being 5160 cubie yarus on the south levee at Fernhill, '2406 cnbic yards on the north levee at Korokipo and 1368 on the northern overflow at Pakowhai, this last quantity having beeu excavated from tho drain. In addition, the Bay City to date has excavated, 3317 cubic yards from the Pakowhai drain and put the same on' the northern overflow levee, making a grand total of 146,025 cubic yards. To date the cost of this work is: Horse teams, l/11.7d; Bay City, 8d per cubie yard. Clearing Work, Clearing: The number of men empioyed has v&jled owing to the stoppage of one of the earthwork gangs; about 20 chains of heavy clearing in Chesterhope was completed and a number of large trees taken at Puninga. Planting: About 63 chains of eightwire ancl 15 chains of three-wire fence have. been completed, making a total of ■ 430 chains of eight-wire and 371 chains of three-wire. The total, including labour, materials and cartage, is £962 18/11. The cost per chain for three-wire is 17/8 aud for eightwire £1 9/7. Bay City: This machine has worked on the Pakowhai drain. It has been held up twiee on account of clearing heavy trees; the output for the month was 16Q1 cubie yards and tho cost 8d per cubic yard, The cost of this work so far amounts to £33,528 3/-. Other Work. Reporting on the other work for the four weeks ended on July 27, Mr. Rochfort stated; — • Labour: In view of the fact that work is required for men at the present moment, it is interesting to note that this board empioyed 19 men up to the 19th iust. On that date 23 men were engaged for subsidy jobs and six additional on the 22nd, making the total 48 at this date. This means that there are over 180 men engaged in river work-to-day. The board seems to be - doing its duty. Karamu stream: In order to push this work on, two extra men are empioyed. Clearing is now completed to the bridge at Pukahu; cost per chain, 5/-. Awanui stream: Clea.iing of this stream, except for a few stumps, was finished to the Mutiny road on the 16th inst. On the 19th inst., three men were put on to blasting out stumps and 20 subsidised men on to widening the stream. Te Waikaha stream: lVo gangs on contract are engaged widening this stream. Good progress is being made. The cost per .chain will be approximately £4, and the length to do 75 chains. Tutaekuri-Waimate: Heavy clearing on this stream is now completed for approximately 80 chains, and the money provided for this job will not allow of more than a quiek clearance of the remainder of the channel being hndertaken. The part of the stream cleaned will need little attention for many years, and I recommehd that as money is available further sections should be done in the same manner. Cost per chain, £2 17/-. Tutaekuri River: Maintenance and fencing have been carried out. Ploughing of the berms below Brookfields started and approximately six aeres wero ploughed. Works in hand: The channel at RedclyJIe, a subsidised job, will be started as so6n as the necessary surveys are finished; in the meantime, necessary plant is being prepared. The men now engaged on the "Karamu stream go to Tennant's Bend and Te Mata to do some necessary protection work and planting. The work of clearing timber in "the Ngaruroro stream is held up pending owners' consents being obtained. Work on repairing the levee at Haumoana is started.