WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1925, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY KM

OVEKSEEII Alli-I.NEK'S REPORT,

I liavo to report re drum at-Aralmra l’oatl School, that the former old defectvie box culvert, constructed years since was not deep enough to drain the upper side of the roadway with the re- j suit that the low-lymg portion of the ! school ground was swampy and portions ; near tne road covered with stagnant 1 water during ordinary, weather. A deeper and improved outlet passing through Messrs Cropper’s and f inch’s s holdings was provided, by excavating a drain three chains in length below ; the roadway, two chains above and two ■ chains below the line .of the outlet I drain. All the drainage work was car- ( ried out under the direction ot the : Araluira School Committee, the work j being performed by contract for £2 per j chain. The drainage along the road, ■ including outlet cost £l3, and the j Committee are asking the Council to | bear a proportion of the cost of construction, which has benefited the roadwav. The four chains of road drain | would cost £B. exclusive of the cost of . the outlet drain. I have also to report having inspected the proposed line of Seddon’s lerrace Hoad deviation, to allow a sluicing claim to extend beyond the present j n,ad and continue operations towards | the upper end of the lead. Some years • since a line was cut, and levelled for road extending beyond the line of any workings and connecting Seddon’s terrace Hoad with the upper end at .Mount .Misery. This line was between j VO and SO chains in length, and to-day would cost approximately VM) or £IOOO | to construct. 'J he present line is nuicn shorter, but would allow sluicing operations to be carried on without inter- | ruptioii lor a period of ten years, am Should the line of gold then be loimd to continue beyond tne present line or terminus of old workings, it would not affect more than 630 or 700 links ol the upper end of the proposed deviation road, which could then he diverted lurcher south to make the connection at .Mount Misery. I am inclined to bcliel that sluicing operations will trace the line of load beyond the present workings, but that will bo leu or twelve years hence. The lino laid oil but not pegged, or levelled is 23 chains m length and although there appears to be a scarcity of gravel a ten leet metalled road can he constructed lor Cl2 pei chain or a total cost of £3o!> for the •26 chains. . L have to report having inspected Evans Creek erosion, 1)03 links below 10 vans Creek Bridge, South Hoad. Ihe creek has deepened from the bridge downward along the southern bank, and overflowing at the bend where the bank is low and allowing Hood water to scaur through on to Messrs J. Moka> and Perry's properties. A wire net atid stone stopbank, built on a manuka scrub scouring apron, is necessaiy across the low overllow channel to prevent further damage, and the bank protecting above slop bank. Tn my opinio,, the old wire net and stone groin Imlow the bridge built some years since to protect the old ford crossing is responsible for the scouring along the southern hank, the obstruction is thcic and in a narrow channel must cause a scour. Several short stop banks ol manuka scrub and stone built at intervals across the channel will hold the debris travelling in every flood and cause the bed of the stream to be raised hi.rl, enough to divert the Hood water centre of the stream bed which at prsoent is blocked with timber and debris. This should be kept clear after each flood, otherwise there will he continual trouble. To effectually prevent further erosion for a number ol years the. sum of Clo<> will he necessary, wire not and stone work at present is tostly in addition the nearest manuka scrub is more than two miles distant. T have to report having inspected Evans road formation, complained of by Mr f>. Hoberls. The improvement ol the formation, approximately 33 chains in length, twenty chains ol which has been fairly well formed some years since but is now showing boles winch are soft during wet weather. The lower or partly formed portion, fifteen chains in length requires reforming, but, before this can be effected both road drains require widening. and deeping and tile excavated material used for formation. The drain on the

MUilli side along Mr l>en\'s I'mutage. ro<|iiiros widening to lake oil the Hood water over a distance of 30 chains, and cleaning for five chains in length. Ihe northern side drain requires widening over' a distance ol 35 chains, and will cost 30s per chain to convert into a waterway ol sufficient size lo take all drainage and keep the lorination dry. Mi- Berry is prepared to defray hall the cost of drain improvement along his frontage over a distance of 30 chains. This work will cost 10s tier chain and the total cost of the necessary work will he: - North side, 35 chains at 30s £52 10 0 South side, 30 chains at 10s GO 0 0 Enrm.nl ion, 15 chains at 25s 18 lo 0 £l3l 5 I) Less Mr Berry's subsidy 30 0 0 £lOl 5 0