SAFEGUARDING THE NO. I HIGHWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4543, 13 December 1930, Page 2

SAFEGUARDING THE NO. I HIGHWAY.

RELIEVING FLOOD WATER. AT WdTTROKTNO. A matter which vitally concerns tho welfare of the No. 1 Main Highway hotwoon Wellington and Foxtail, in that it. will provide moans ol' relieving tli'o Ilnod water from Wliirokino, was dismissed by |],o Monton Drainage Board on Thursday evening. The subject was introduced ibv Mr. W. E. Barber who brought forward a notice of motion to the effect that all previous resolutions on the Board’s hooks relative to land level floodgates at the site known as Duck Creek be rescinded. Mr. Barber said that he had taken tin' opportunity during the recent visit of the Main Highways Board to the Manawatu of iinpres---i11o• upon the engineer (Mr. Furkert) the necessity for Hood gates at Duck Creek. He had pointed out that such an installation would be of threefold benefit in that it would assist in keeping the No. 1 main highway open during Hood time, assist the Settlers and help the llax industry generally. Plans end speci.li.cn t ions for the proposed work which would cost in the vicinity of CBHH were submitted and these the visiting engineers failed to find any fault with and in Air. Barber's opinion the proposal was within reach. The chairman (Mr. J. Ohrystall) was of the opinion that the outlet decided on was very eircumserihed. Mr. Barber suggested that the best tiling to do would he for the Board to acquire the neeessary land and do the job properly. The whole of Iho settlors right through to the Moutoa were suffering at present because the existing outlet provided was not large enough to cope with the wafer. If the spring this year had been wet, he said, it would have been impossible for any of the settlers to have got on to their properties. •Mr. W. S. Carter said that something was seriously wrong hut he was sceptical as to whether constructing Hood gates at Duck Creek would improve Iho position. The chairman said that they had all agreed that extra Hood gates .wore necessary but the. question was as to where the best: place was to put them. That was the reason Tor MV. Barber’s notice of motion. Air. Barber said that in his opinion the Alain Drain should have had its outlet at Duck Creek. 'The chairman said that unless a channel was cut between the Alain Drain and Duck Creek when the proposed flood gates were erected they would give little relief to the Afoutoa. Alternatively lie suggested that the outlet be located ten or fifteen chains on (lie other ,-id'e of the Alain Drain. Afr. Gower did not approve of the latter suggestion as lie considered that an outlet so sitnated would not tap such a large area as if located a tDuck Crook. Air. Curler expressed his disapproval of land level flood gates. There was no doubt that the present outlet was totally inadequate Iml possibly the situation could he improved by widening apd deepening this drain. 'Mr, Barber said the Alain Drain should be widened by 25ft. or 30 ft. and land level flood gates erected at Duck Creek as well. The chairman: Widening the Alain Drain is the most urgent woiik of all. Afr. Carter: If the drain is widened the present outlet will have to -jbo increased. The chairman said that they already had a 54ft. opening for a 40ft. drain. Mr. Carter: The whole, thing is too small in flood time though. At this stage it was decided to consult, the engineer to the Alanawatn County Council on the matter of levels in the locality and Mr. Bond was communicated with on the telephone. He advised Ilia! there was a good fail from the Alain Drain to Duck Creek and that there was also " a fall from the Whirolkino Hoad to the same locality. The work of erecting the gates in his opinion did not present (Concluded on page 4).