SAFEGUARDING NO.1 HIGHWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4543, 13 December 1930, Page 4

SAFEGUARDING NO.I HIGHWAY.

(/Concluded from page 2). ■any great difficulties and would afford a big measure of relief and greatly assist in keeping the highway clear. ODn reply to Mr. 'Carter the chairman said that the Board already had the authority to raise a loan of £I,OOO for floodgates. 'The clerk pointed out that the Government had authorised the work and the Loans Board the money, hut when the matter had been put to the Highways Board some time ago that body had turned the proposal down. The chairman explained that the first proposal introduced had been to erect two vertical doors on the north side of the Main Drain floodgates giving a 66ft. opening where they now had a 54ft. one and at the same time to carry out the work of widening- the drain. Mr. Purcell was of the opinion that the Main Drain was already serving a very useful purpose. 'The chairman considered that if the Main Drain, was widened another 18ft. much more relief would be afforded the whole area than erecting forty foot land level gates at Duetk. Creek. It was a wellknown fact that one drain would deliver more water than two smaller drains. In his opinion the Board should concentrate its expenditure on darning in the present gates from side to side and reconcreting the existing leaks and then extending the gates. Mr. Purcell said that in flood time with a westerly wind blowing the water was prevented from escaping from the Main Drain when at the same time there was a threefoot run out at Duck Creek. The Main Drain in his opinion was in the wrong place which was proved in flood time by the flood water all making out at Duck Greek. The water met the river at an angle there and was carried out down stream. At the Main Drain site it was backed up by reason of it having to force its way out against the run and prevailing wind. The chairman said that there was. no doubt that Duck Creek was a natural outlet, but he was afraid of erosion there,. The last flood played havoc and he was dubious as to the wisdom of erecting floodgates there. Mr. Carter said the erosion could ibe checked easily enough by means of ti tree and willows. Mr. Barber suggested that the location of the site Ibe left to the Public Works Engineer and it was decided to hold any action in the matter over until after an inspection of the two sites had been made on December 22nd.