DAMAGE BY FLOODS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 14, 11 December 1916, Page 7

DAMAGE BY FLOODS.

<»’ OMOANA COUNTY. At Saturday’s meeting of the Eltham County Council, the engineer reported as follows on damage that had been done by the recent heavy rainfall as it had affected the Omoana Riding:—Owing to' the heavy fail of rain on the 27th ult very extensive damage was caused over the whole riding, probably the worst that has been experienced. A cart track is now open to Omoana and a horse track to Mocroa. Practically every filling between Omoana and the eastern boundary of the county has been washed away. Application has been made to the Minister of Public 'Works for assistance and the Government Overseer is now making an estimate of the amount of damage done. Shortage of labour will seriously hamper the work of reinstating the roads.

The raising of the level of the bed of Mangatororairo creek and the adjoining land by the recent floods introduces a very serious problem. The road is now considerably below the level of the 'Country on either side of it, and the creek, owing to silting, is gradually rising above the level of the concrete culvert. With the enormous amount of timber on the upstream side of the road, lying in readiness to he swept down with the next flood, it is very difficult to decide on the best course to pursue. The same conditions in regard to timber also apply to all the fillings that have been washed away. If they are renewed the next flood will ,of a certainty, wash them out again. One filling has already been washed out three times during the past four years and one other twice. It appears that something cheap and of a temporary nature must be used until timber is all removed by floods or time. In reply to Cr. Pease, the Engineer said that everything possible bad been done to make the Waingongora bridge safe for traffic. That was providing another flood did not occur. To make it absolutely safe it would probably cost £IOOO. It was decided to approach the Eltham Borough Council in the matter.