WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4710, 11 June 1924, Page 1

WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

ENGINEERS REPORT. Tire Ohinemuri County engineer, Mr E. Shaw, reported as to yesterday’s meeting of the council: — “Since last meeting two extraordinary Hoods have occurred, causing very serious damage to the roads and bridges throughout the county, and traffic was suspended for several days owing to heavy slips on the PaeroaWa.’hi road between Karangahake and Waikino and to washouts at cul-, verts on the Paeroa-Te Arolia road.. The Komata Reefs road and the road to Golden Cross were also blocked by slips. Steps were taken to get the roads re-opened for traffic at the earliest possible moment, and this entailed employing a large number of men, casual labourers, which accounts for the large amount of expenditure on the wages sheets this month. “ All the roads have been reopefted temporarily except the Golden Cross road, which will require a platform bridge to replace the one at present submerged owing to a new channel having been made by the creek. ,1 mav say that a most extraoi dinar y slip occurred on this road. The whole i face of the hill on the opposite side , of the creek from .the road came away I and slid into the gully, and the force of the slip drove the debris and huge boulders up the other side of the gully across the flooded stream on to the road, completely covering the latter for a distance of five chains and to- a depth of some 8 to 10 feet. “The fall of rain has been abnormal during the period, and if this is likely to continue it will be necessary to increase the number and size of culverts on almost all roads, and particularly on the Paeroa-Waihi ro*d. “On Rahu Road, Knrangahake, two bridges, which have been there foi the last 45 years and have never been known to flood, have, during th? past month, been carried away. I would suggest that instead of renewing the bridges a deviation of 12% chains be which would do away withbot.i bridges. I have included this in the applications made to the Public Work,? Department for grants. • “The whole of the water supplies with the exception of the Paeroa supply were cut off on two occasions owing to slips carrying away the mains and also depositing debris in the dams and filling them. In every case the supply was quickly restored, although in Karangahake and Mackaytown temporary trestles had to be erected to carry the pipes. These will be made permanent later on, when the weather permits. Owing to slips from the hills a large quantity of gravel and debris has found its way into the dam, thus diminishing the holding capacity of the dam, and this will require removing when circumstances allow. It is my intention to forward to the Public Works Department within the next few days my estimate of the flood damages, which 1 have been unable to arrive at up to the present time. “1 may add that I am receiving from all parts of the county results to repair damage caused by the floods. These are mostly of a minor character, and will receive attention when the more important works Eave been done. “On the evening of the 6th inst., when cranking up the motor truck, I had the iqisfortune to receive a which broke my right arm near the wrist. Up to the present I have been able to keep about,’bjlt the future, of course, must depend upon the doctor s instructions. "Practically no ordinary work in the ridings has been carried out during the month, all the men having been engaged on repairing flood damage. A distance of 36 chains of the Paeroa-Te Aroha main road has been scarified and rolled, thus saving a large quantity of metal. It was my intention to continue this work in the vicinity of.Tirohia, but owing to the weather conditions it was found impossible to carry out the work. 1 intend R bring the roller into Paeroa when the road is suitable, as the borough wishes to hire it for a short period. “The stone-crusher has arrived »na is now at the wharf, and I Intend having it assembled and brought to the county yard at an early date.”