LITTLE WANGANUI RIVER

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1931, Page 2

LITTLE WANGANUI RIVER

FURTHER EROSION. At the County Council meeting yesterday, the following letter from the District Engineer of the Public Works Department, was read in respect to the position following the late floods in the Harihari district. Dear Sir.—With reference to the recent severe floods in the Little Wanganui River and to the position generally that has developed, I have to advise you that urgent restoration works in connection with the stop hank and spur bank's were immediately put in hand, partly as a charge against existing authorities held. An additional amount lias been rerjuisitioiud for in this connection. The outer end of the upper spur hank will have to he restored in a lieav ier and stronger type of construction, while the main stop hank adjacent to t,..s will require to he raised and extended further upstream, both for the purpose of obviating a fill tin r flood overflow and the protection of the Main Highway. It. is considered in this oonnect’on that the extension of the hank would he a reasonable charge against Main Highways Knuds.

With regard to the overflow net ween X add Y oil plan D.O, No. 44 ll which was previously forwarded to you, it was noted during my visit on the 3rd just that though additional erosion Trnd occurred near V, the postion generally had improved, and that a do osition of shingle had taken place in the bight. The erosion of the main stop bank and spur hanks over the length affected would cost approximately £4,000, and i am of the opinion that the expenditure on any major works is hardly warranted at the present lime.

I would recommend that the trees and stumps along this frontage should be utilised for the erection of a closely spaced barbed wire fence or ivnces, and that in places where there are no trees or stumps, a stake, scrub and stone wall, similar io those previously constructed by your foreman in Conner tion with the Little Wanganui erosion works, should be erected. The obstruction offered by these fences and scrub walls should result in the deposition of (Riffworid and debris, ami considerably reduce any further overflow. This temporary work and resultant blockage would also assist the river in throwing out from the length affected. The total cost of this .should not exceed £l5O, and I would he pleased if the members of your Council would give this matter their full consideration and advise me whether the County are in a position to carry out and finance this section of the work. In reporting to the bbig neer-in-Chicf T have pointed out in relation to the expenditure involved in the restoration and extension of the main protective works, that the Westland County Conn CM 1 have recently been faced with a fairly heavy general expenditure throughout their district, for flood rostorateiou works, and that owing to the position of the Consolidated Fund they have not been able to receive any assistance. Having regard to this, it is considered that the cost of works on the Little Wanganui, other than at the overflow between X and Y might be dealt with from the Public Works or -Main Highways Funds.

—Received. The Chairman moved that the Council "vote up to £IOO for temporary work proposed, same to be carried out by the Public "Works Department. Mr Houston seconded the motion which was carired.