WESTLAND WORKS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1932, Page 2

WESTLAND WORKS

ENG INEER-IN-CHIEE INSPECTS

The Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Departinent, Mr F. W. FUrkert, who is also chairman of the Main Highways Hoard, recently inspected various highway and other works and proposed works in the Westland and Grey Counties. He was accompanied by the District Engineer, Air T. A. Johnston. Mr Furkert want south as far as ttlio Cook River a'nd visited the bridges sibbs at the Fox and Cook Rivers on the deviation of the Great South Road" between AVeheka and the Ohinetamatea, on which the formation was completed last year. When the necessary bridges are erected on this section,! road access will he provided as far south as Karangarua—the road from the Cook River to the latter place having carried vehicular traffic for a number of years. The Designing Engineer of the Public Works Department is completing plans fpr an improved and economical, typ© of suspension bridge for the Fox and Cook Rivers, and it is hoped that at least part of the erection work can be proceeded with at an early date as an unemployment relief work. Mr Furkert inspected the works carried out during the past year between Waiho and Wieheka, where all th.' main streams have now been bridged; and when& a deviation oft a length of 60 chains, necessitated by river erosion, has- been completed on the south side of the Waiho river. Bo far as time would permit, the Engineer-in-Chief also examined bridging and track works which have been carried outf during the past two years at the Fox and Franz Jcaef Glacier resorts. ’

An inspection was made of the Okarito Harbour, where extensive '"sea erosion has lately occurred. Thereafter at the Waitaingi River, the settlement area lately subjected to severe flooding was closely inspected, with a view to the putting in hand-of remedial works. At the Harihari settlement, particular attention was given to the Little Wanganui protective works, to Petercen Road, and to other works suitable for unemployment relief.

jin, connection witty thty latter, the Rarrytown area on the GreymouthWestport. Coast road was also inspected. Air. Furkert went over the Greymouth harbour Works and also part of the Arnold hydro-electric development works, proceeding thereafter to the Haupiri 'bridge and to the new road being constructed to the Kopara. The Taramakau River erosion and overflow into the Orangipuku was also examined. The return journey to Greymouth via Mitchells and Kumara could not ho made, owing to the flooded state of the Orangipuku stream.' The. approach work at the bridge over the latter is now well completed and should make a considerable difference insofar as inter-district access is concerned. Air J. Higgins, the Grey County Engineer, accompanied the Public Works, officials during the visit to the Haupiri and Taramakau,