THE WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 87, 8 September 1914, Page 3

THE WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE.

EROSION QUESTION. REI'ORT (IF RAILWAY ENGINEER. FURTHER ADVICE TO HE TAKEN. The District Engineer of Railways, reporting to the Chief Engineer, Wellington, states that in past years large quantities of stone have been taken from the river below the bridge, thereby lowering the fiver bed. Since the destruction of the weir the river-bed has tended to approximate to an even slope fur some distance below and above the bridge, probably a quarter of a mile on eacil hide. So far as could be gathered, the drop in the level at the bridge dui'lil* the last twelve years was about four feet, and the, engineer judged that, under present conditions, the tied will drop another foot before conditions become stable. In lflOSt tiiere was considerable scour round the middle pier; since then the drop has been considerable round the other piers, and at the south abutment it has scoured slightly below tho general level of the river-bed. A private contractor has a lease of the river-bed from the bridge to some distance below, and material is being taken from what was originally t'.le south bank, aliout a quarter of a mile below the road bridge; if the river takes a shorter cut, as it may do after a Hood, the bed will correspondingly fall as the even slope works Howard. Tf no material were taken from the bed or banks, the general tendency would be for the river to accrete. There is a larger quantity of llrst-class coarse shingle with depth of about six f':vt above water k-vc',, and Considering the difficult-.- of obtaining such material, its removal should not be stopped, even if the local body had the legal power to do so. The better plan would be to compel those taking tile material to contribute towards the cost of a weir across the river below the brhlge. The question of tile rights of riparian owners to take gravel from the bed of the river was a legal one. but there was always a remedy at common lav,- for any damage done.

Sb'.minansiner, the engineer was of opinion: (a) That a weir should be constructed across the rivir at ail earl.' date to protect tlx- road bridge, say 3:jft below the read 'bridge. Tin- approximate cost would be £2r»o to aim lie submitted a design that would probably suit rciiuircmenrs. The above report was submitted to tbc Taranaki County Council at its meeting yesterday. An opinion was impressed that it was a pi tv the railway engineer had not invited' a representative of tile Council to be present when he made the inspection. The chairman said the Council bad .di. Ho lid's views, which favored groins and another pier at a cost ot .€.>()<). In reply to Cr. .Morten, the chairman said the 'erosion was now alfroting llueastern pier. Cr. ITopson contended thai lac most urgent work was to prevent the hunks washing away. A number of suggestions were tmu.o. b'.lt nolle seenved to have the merit of ellicacv; moreover. the ilil'ieiiifv ot o.)i jectioiis liv the Railway Department was 'held to 'be a factor. Cr. Morton suggested that councillors should see what the Mangorci Dairy ( ». had done with the groyne it put it, the action of the river having cxpenucd the |" <>. Morton urged that the (oHivil I should obtaii\ the opinion, of a eonagreed, adding that the Council should get the best engineer available. , , I'ventunllv Cr. Mc.Allum moved t.u* Messrs Sladdcn and .lVmer be employe'* to report to the Council as to the means of overcoming Ule difficulty. IVc motion was seconded by Cr. llopson and 01 Cr" J Andrews moved that the Council meet the engineers on the. site on t,.<17th inst. to discuss the ma.tcr wit 1 iliein it being understood that Die .101ougli' engineer would be invited to he present.