FLOOD DAMAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5500, 13 November 1929, Page 2

FLOOD DAMAGE.

SEVERAL ROADS IMPASSABLE. REPAIRS IN HAND. Throughout the Ohinemuri County a good deal of damage was inflicted by the heavy downpour of Friday and Saturday last. The county engineer, however, has lost no time in having the roads kept open fofe traffic, and where labour was procurable men have been placed on the work. Maratoto Read. The greatest task is on the Maratoto road, where every available man has been given work. It will take several days to make the road passable for wheeled traffic, but good work has already been done. Whangamata Road. On the Whangamata road there are two big slips near the Parakawai stream. Owing to the engineer being unable to get men to put on this work the Forestry Department has undertaken to clean up this road. Golden Cross Road. The Golden Cross road suffered considerable damage, having slipped three chains in one place and two chains in another. The nine groynes in this road, weighing over- a ton apiece, have been washed away and carried down-stream for several chains. A bridge on this road which was badly damaged has been temporarily repaired to permit of traffic. In the opinion of the engineer it will be necessary to divert a piece of the road near Waitekauri, On the Waihi side of the range there was not a culvert large enough to take the water that came sweeping down, but only minor damage was done. Komata Road. Settlers residing on this road have been engaged to make urgent repairs. The creek has never before been known to reach such a height as it did on . Saturday. The bridge at Devil’s Elbow, which has has never’ before had water up to the had its hand-rails washed away. Te Aroha and Thames Roads.

Both Te Aroha and Thames roads have suffered considerably from scouring, the metal being completely washed away in a large number of places. The extent of the damage cannot at present be estimated.