WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE EROSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 113, 6 October 1914, Page 3

WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE EROSION.

ENGINEERS' REPORT. DISCUSSED BY COUNTY COUNCIL. A TOLL PROPOSED.

At a meeting of the Tawmailu County Council yesterday, the, following report from Messr* gladden and Palmer on the question of preventing the erosion at the Waiwafauho bridge was read:— In accordance with your letter of instruction dated the 9th inst., wo have made a careful inspection of the eastern pier and abutment of the above widgc, and have taken levels over the. slreem for a considerable distance, and beg to submit the following (replies to your queries:

(1) The erosion of Ibcd oi otream at 'bridge is due to the removal of largo quantities 0 f stone from the river, at P°>iits both above and below the- bridge, and this erosion may be expected to continue for some time if any consideraJble quantity of stone is removed from the river below the. bridge. (2!) The scour that has taken place at the east pier and abutment is certainly a menace to the'bridge, and should be attended to with as little delay as possible. It ie a difficult matter, with the depth of water at these points (.between sft and 6ft) • to ascertain the damage that has' been done, *ut apparently the east pica- is completely undermined in places. (3 and 4) The erosion couJd be stopped by the erection of a weir on the down stream side of th e 'bridge, and we submit herewith a plan showing the style of structure we would recommend. The crest of the weir is designed to 1 be 2ft 6in a'bove the present water level, and would back the water nn to a point beyond tho railway bridge! We estimate that tlho cost of the weir as submitted would be £1370, and in making up the estimate we have made a fair allowance for contingencies in the of floods during the progress of the work.

I* addition to this it will ho necessary to under-ipin tho east pier and abutment, and also protect the riverbank on the east side between the two .bridges. This work, provided your Council decide to erect a weir, should not cost more than from £l7O to £100."

Mr. Palmer attended the meeting and explained the plan of the proposed weir. In reply to Or. Hill, Mr. Palmer said he considered the weir was quite sufficient to iprotect the bridge. In reply to another question, he stated that it was proposed to provide nieaha for fish getting up-stream.

Cr. Morton .urged that tho plan shot"' be modified so as to provide for the very great pressure of wateT. iMr. Palmer stated that he had gone into the matter 1 thoroughly, and considered that his plan would be effective and less costly than if altered as proposed "by Cr. Morton. Cr. Morton said he was willing to pay a little more and run no risk.

The chairman considered that it would cost) at least £I2OO to put the two piers in order, and it would be onlv a matter o' timo when the two piers on the town side would have to be attend.-d t'

In reply to Cr. McAUum, Mr. Palmer recommended taking advantage of the low state of the river to protect the costern pier. He considered that to adopt Cr. Morton's suggestion, would entail an extra cost of about i'ffiO. The whole work would take about three months in fine weather. iMr. Palmer then withdrew. Or. Morton urged that his suggested alteration should be carried out. The chairman agreed that it would he better not to run any risk, as if the weir were made a success it would solve the question of erosion for all Umk.

Other councillors took the ~ame view. Cr. Morton advocated putting up a toll-gate to pay for the cost of protecting the bridge. Cr. Andrews said he had prepared a notice of motion to that effect. Mr. llorton considered that the matter was of such importance that t l ,< .-iiiiirmnn should go to Wellington and interview the Ministers of Public Works and Railways on the matter. Cr. McAl'lum- move' that a weir be erected according to Messrs Sladden and Palmer's plan, except that more slope should be given to the approach to the weir, up and down stream, as suggested ly Cr. Morton. The motion was seconded Try Or. J. Andrews and carried. . Cr. Morton moved—That this Council considers that it is desirable to erect n toll gate on the Devon road in orde.to rcfunc 1 to the Council the amount i,f the extraordinary expenditure likely to he entailed by the erectiim of ths protective works at the Wn.waka.ho Ibridge, the Minister of Public Works to be written, to asking that the necessary authority be given to the Council W erect such toll-gate, the Council agreeing t- remoee 'he gate whenever the r.e't revenue therefrom, has been sullicient to repay the amount expended on tho protective works, and that the chairman he asked to personally wait on the Minister in connection wrtn » nl The r 'motion was carried, it being un-deii-tood that the chairman's visit to would depend on the Mmj& -god that the work should bo started as soon as P?* either bv contract or day work, and that Messrs Sladden and Palmer be instructed to draw up the necess ury pUn and specifications. Ho ™ owl "" "" ""reotion, and the motion was carried.