WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4560, 7 May 1923, Page 4

WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. DAMAGE BY FLOODS. The engineer’s (Mr E. Shaw) report was read at the Ohinemuri County Council meeting on Thursday as follows :— Work was laid off under grant ot £l5O, free money, on Patterson’s Road in Block 11, Waihi North S.D.. and plans are being prepared for same. Two platform bridges on Thames Road were removed and replaced .with concrete pipes. Of the works previously laid off and sent foil approval to the Public Woi-ks Department up to the present none has come tc hand. During the month the County experienced heavy rains, causing a severe flooding and leaving in its trail a considerable amount of damage, particularly between Te Ar.oha and in line with 'Thames, missing to a great extent the Waihi-Whangamata district, where little or no damage was done. All the main roads were blocked for a time. The PaeroaWaihi toad had the approach to Docherty’s Creek bridge washed away and the crossing scoured out; also a slip near the easterii.end of the tunnel. It, was found necessary to divert, the /traffic over Rahu Road on the 22nd (Sunday) after having to remove a slip from same. There is a portion of this road on the. eastern end that shall require attention, as it is too narrow and steep to negotiate in wet weatner, particularly by motors. Other slips and washouts occurred towards Waikino. The Te Aroha. main road suffered somewhat through a washout in a big filling at Tirohia, and other portions. of the road were .damaged. The Thames 'road was blocked by tha washing out* of a filling where a platform bridge had been removed and 48ih concrete pipes were being placed in position. A temporary crossing was mhde and traffic resumed. I may mention that during the progress of this work a lamp was, as is usual, placed at night-time to warn the public. On/the night of, he flood the rain was so violent that the filling was washed away, carrying the lamp with it! Mrs. Nathan, of Thames- Road, who lives near the spot, observed this, and went out during the storm and placed a lamp at the washout, thus possibly preventing what might have been a serious accident. The thanks' of the Council are, I. think, due to cher for her action in this matter. The Komata Reefs road was also blocked for traffic.-The Maratoto road to the mine is completely blocked by ,slips and washouts. . Asi there is a grant of £2OO on the Consolidated Fund for this road an 1 appeal has been made to the Under-Secretary of the Mines Department, for authority. A reply has been received that a report, is being made on the matter. All flood damage is being attended to,, the most urgent in each case receiving attention first. ' ■ Most, of the roads on the western side of . the hills had the surfaces (more or less damaged through the flood waters washing over same. The culverts and bridges were z unable to cope with the water, and it will be .some time before they are restored co normal. All precautions were’ taken during the flood to protect, the public, and to have the roads opened as soon as possible. A word of praise is due to the men in carrying out the work through the trying period. I have prepared a list of damage done and submit'ed same to the Public Works Department with the, object of getting. a subsidy. Included in the list is £3O for, improvements at Docherty’s Creek bridge. The Paeroa-Te Aroha old road, particularly through thegorge, has suffered, and is left in a very bad state. The JVaitoki bridge, iwith a few renewals, can be re-erect-ed. it now awaits a report from the

Public Works Department. The Waikino, Karangahake, Mackaytown, and abattoirs water supplies were cut off during .the period of the flood, bint, all have been restored. Through the overflowing of (he Hikutaia Creek at Kaimanawa the Komata North road has suffered where it,' has been submerged for some time, particularly in the peat portion. The weak parts of the road are bi caking through, and metal is now being placed on same for repairs. As portion of Old Te Aroha Road between the willows and Johnson’s gate are sadly in need o'f metal I would recommend that 100yds be ob-

tained from the quarry and placed on the road at a cost of approximately £5O. Thirds to the amount of £l2 is on hand for this work, leaving £3B to be voted. In the 1921-22 Estimates there appeared a grant of £4OO, under mines, for the Waihi-Whangamata road. Out of this authority was received for two separate amounts, namely, £lOO and £l5O, and I would now recommend that authority be asked for the balance (£150) for the completion of the northern end of this road. Heavy traffic by-laws came into force on May 1 on all roads within the county.