FLOOD DAMAGE

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2122, 28 June 1898, Page 2

FLOOD DAMAGE

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE , TOWN BOARD.

A special meeting of the Board was held on Saturday, night, when there were present: Corns Gavin (Chairman ), Knock, Gallagher and Bygrave. The Chairman stated that he had brought them together to see wh»t could be done in the way of repairing flood damage, particularly as regards the creek. He thought there was no immediate need to repair the damage below Whitaker Street. The gravel could all be cleared away and would prove very useful-in the filling up of ReWi Street, which was about to be formed. He was afraid the idea of cutting the creek, straight down past the Post Office and Pound into the river would have to be abandoned. He was not quite sure if they could get permission to do so, and. in any case the cost would be too much Mr Vickerman, the engineer, reckoned, without Jgoing into details, it would take £3OO to £4OO to make the_cutting and flume it, as would have to be done. He (Mr Gavin) thought it was more urgent that money should be spent in securing the creek between Whitaker-street and Gilchrist’s bridge, especially at the rear of Oalder’s, Rjbson’a and Mclndpe’s sections, as great damage might be done if another flood 1 came. ' ■ V

, jA.il the Commissioners. agreed with jthiß, and : Com Gallagher thought they should get Mr Pavitt and go over the ground, and see what was required. This was agi eed to, and the Board decided to meet on Sunday afternoon, an i go up *he Creek with a view to seeing what was the best course to pursue. The Chairman thought the work should be taken in hand at once, and an application made to the Government for a special. grant. As the Government had a big interest in the place, he thought there ' wouhf .be no difficulty-in getting either a grant or a £ for £;subsidy, at-auyrate they had a right to expect it, and he suggested that the application should be made forthwith.

Com. Macky suggested that perhaps some assistance might be gob from the ground landlord who drew the rents. The Chairman said they would get nothing, and need -never expect anything -from that source/

i. On Sunday afternoon the members of the Town Board met by appointment, and accompanied by Mr Pavitt vveht along the course of the creek. ;;As a result of the consultation, it was decided to face certain of the worst sarts£;.of the creek with piles and eheatKing. The Board decided as a result of their inspection that it was useless to think of removing the creek from its present course through Mr. fi*urchas’ 80Qtion8j.|tack to its origins 1 ixiinse.f Mr Pavittftwas instructed to prepare a plan and estimates for the limbering of- the creek, giving the respective of kauri andrimu. The tirhber will only be carried as far as the front of Mr Purchas’ section for the present. That gentleman will be written to, and as soon as his consent is obtained, the present course of the creek through his sections will be dealt with in a similar manner.