FLOODING ON LEVINWHIROKINO HIGHWAY

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4467, 19 June 1930, Page 1

FLOODING ON LEVINWHIROKINO HIGHWAY

SETTLER- SUBMITS PROPOSAL FOR RiEIVFFJDY. A proposal having for its object tin* prevention of Hooding both of a pim* of farm properly and a length of road between what is known as the dangerous bend and the Whirokino bridge, on Ihe Le-vin-.Foxt.on highway, was placed before the Horowhemui County Council on Saturday by Mr. S. Sloan. The bend referred to is one which it is proposed to eliminate by means of a deviation when the last section of the Fusion Road within the Horowhenua County is being re-constructed. Mr. Sloan, who was introduced by Cr. Catley, stated that five or six chains of the road were, very low and subject to Hooding, and lie wished to know if the. Council would raise that piece of road. In all, some fifty chains of the road were more or less liable to be affected by floods. He was erecting a slopbank lo protect his land, and if, in (opjnnctioii with that woik|, the Council would raise the straight piece of road which he had first referred to, it would render the road immune from Hood. Even with the proposed deviation, a good length of the road would lie liable to be flooded. Adjacent to the road there wns plenty of material wherewith to raise it. He understood that a pari of the present road was on his property and should be shifted hack oil the sandhill, but if the Council would raise the road lie would have no objection to the road remaining where it was. The chairman (Mr. 0. A. Monk) said it was a question of how much the road would have to be raised. According to the situation of ilie bridge, it might improve the road to raise it. Mr. Sloan said it would improve the road. If he put in I lie stop-hank and the small pori ion. of road was .not raised, both his property and the road were liable ,to be flooded. His scheme would cost him £3OO. He was putting the bank Ift. higher than the level of the 192(1 hood, which was the highest for 20 years. For this level he had taken an old concrete block, on which had once stood the engine of a mill.

Cr. Gimblett: I have seen the water in the engine-room when I wns working there. Mr. Sloan added that at the place where the raising should be done the Council had a road reserve three chains wide. Cr. Gimblett asked if Mr. Sloan’s bank would be in conjunction with the continuation of the Aratangata Drain works, Mr, Sloan: No; mine is a separate scheme. Cr. Gimblctt: That strengthens the position quite a lot:. The bank north is going to he a trouble for some- time. The chairman informed Mr. Sloan that the Council would give consideration to his proposal. The iualter was to some extent involved with the highway scheme, and ii appeared, from Mr. Sloan’s information, that it was quite feasible that the work should be done. He asked when it was expected that the bank would be completed. Mr. Sloan stated that the work was started on Friday and the time for completion was ten weeks. He would like the other work to come In af l he same tune if possible. The chairman: That may not be possible, Wle have some survey work to bo done there yet and we have to submit that to the Highways Board,

Mr. Sloan offered to accompany tiny of the. ‘Councillors, over the ground and show them the position. lie then thanked-the Council for having heard him, and withdrew. The engineer stated Lhat he had the levels of the road, and it only remained to procure the Hood levels. Cr. Gimblett stated that he had previously brought the question bcfore the Council and it had been deterred until they should know what the Highways Board was going to do. He was glad that Mr. Sloan had come to the Council, because lhat gentleman had put the position before them as it was. The ehaimiau said that the engineer might be asked to give an esii.uu.ile of the cost. H was resolved, on the motion of Ihe. chairman, seconded by Cr. Cathy, that the matter be referred to the engineer for a report, the same to be submitted to the Highways Board; and that it be treated as a matter of urgency.