RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 263, 11 August 1915, Page 2

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

ENGINEER’S REPORT FOR JULY. Early in the month avc experienced very heavy rains with floods but comparatively little damage was done to the roads. The heavy rain had the effect of washing them clean and the subsequent fine weather has put them in a good travelling state. Rangitira Riding. Scads generally good. The flood in Pourewa damaged a p:cr in bridge near Silverhope Creamery, I but it has been repaired. ( Wangaehu Riding. The flood in Wangaehu River and heavy rains did a good deal of damage to Okirac Road, which is badly blocked with slips, and a water drive about 100 feet long is badly scoured out. It will bo necessary to concrete this drive throughout to prevent a total collapse. Generally, roads arc in good order. Otairi Riding. Several slips occurred on diflerent reads, but none arc serious. The worst parts of gravel on Ongo and Turakina Valley Roads have been repaired, and men are engaged breaking boulders to complete this work. Fair progress has been made with Morton’s Bridge over Turakina River, and foundations for towers on each side, have been completed satisfactorily. The cables have arrived from Horae and are delivered on site. Te liapua Riding. A few slips and small washouts occurred but none are serious. The roads are all open for traffic. I Awarua Riding. No slips of consequence occurred in Awarua. Contractor for Makino Bridge has completed it satisfactorily and is hot.' engaged erecting protective fence, Omatano North Road. Fencing contract on Tuhoe Rond Extension has boon completed and this road is now open for traffic. I interviewed Mr. Geo. .Hopkins re his cl rim for fencing and for royalty j cn gravel taken for Omatano North . Read.. Mr. Hopkins requires a royalty ; of sixpence per cubic yard on all j gravel taken exit of the pit. However, j L find that three parts of gravel taken was o ll lside Mr. Hopkins’ boundsry. and I recommend he be paid threepence per cubic yard on the quantity taken from his property. The exact amount will be accurately ascertained. I find j Mr. Hopkins' erected one chain protective fence on Omatano Road, and I estimate the > Value of labour at .15/-, which 1 recommend be paid. I also interviewed Mr. Brough re his claim for royalty and he agreed to accept the usual amount of threepence per cubic yard and to fence the pit himself.

Erewhon Riding. Roods generally in good order. . Several bad slips occurred on Pokaka Road, but are being cleared off. Fair progress has been made with work on Erewhon Road Deviation. General Matters. • The recent flood in Rangitikei River lias again caused damage to bank near Scott's Ferry. The whole river has now broken through the gap in Amon’s Point as anticipated, and is scouring away the west bank at the old ferry. Above Scott’s it has broken the protective works in a fresh place close alongside the road. Above this the river is cutting a new course for itself near east bank which tends to throw its."full weight on to the weak side near Scott’s. Reviewing the actions of the river since my report about IS months ago, what was then predicted is steadily taking place and one really exceptional flood is likely to do an inestimable amount of damage to County Road and the properties of Messrs. Scott and Amon. I cannot recommend with any certainty of success any temporary repairs and can only emphasise the urgency of immediately dealing with the river in n comprehensive manner as previousty reported. f desire to draw the attention of Council to a recent discussion in Parliament whereby it is proposed to deal generally' with erosion of rivers throughout New Zealand. I Pel confident that unless something is done shortly to remove the cause the time is not far distant when an exceptional Hood will put the. river entirely out of control, and both the County Road and many acres of valuable land will be wiped out of existence.

As a result of our interview with the General Manager of Railways re a siding at Greatford Ballast Pit. Air. Thoms and myself mot the District Engineer, Mr. Koch, on the ground, and we inspected the proposed routes. : T propose during the month to m he a trial survey, and submP to the Department for approval. The only feasible route is generally along +he Rangi'tikei Cliff and join the main lino at Greatford Railway Station.

As _instructed, I inspected the Hope crusher and engine offered for sale at Ttj Kuiti. T find the-plant is in first-class-order and of, good value, but is too large and* heavy f<fr' •otit' require-" wonts./ The. capacity of crusher la from 100 to 150 cubic yards per day, anil woahl vrpighj mounted 'bogey,

ibout six tons, which would make it unsuitable for our requirements. Tu pursuance of our conversation with the Commissioner of Crown Lands when in Wellington, I would recommend that tlio Department be written to stating that we are prepared to exchange a reserve at Omatane for the two acres for a gravel pit as previously applied for. The road roller is now working on hire for Tnihapc Borough Council. There are a number of County Reserves throughout the County that arc at present not required, and I would recommend that these be scheduled and leased for short terras. The following loans are required during current year: — Xamunui Road £I3OO Mat-area Road 400 Pukemapou Road 1400 Balance Turakina River . . 250 Total £3350 A loan has boon applied for by Messrs. Dunlop and Wheeler for Ohaumoko Road, but there seems some uncertainty as to whether they intend fo proceed with it at present.