DAMAGE DONE AT OMOANA.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1916, Page 8

DAMAGE DONE AT OMOANA.

DEVASTATING FLOODS. '.' Reporting to the Eltham County Council on Saturday concerning tJjo damage dine by recent" floods, the engineer (Mr'. F. Basham) wrote: Owing to the heavy fall of rain on November 27, 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 Moeroa. Practically 'vnny filling between Omoana ami 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 or' the amount of damage done. Shortage of labor will seriously hamper the wo"rk of reinstating the roads. The raising of the level of the bed of the Mangatoromiro Creek and the adjoining land by the rrv-cnt floods introduces a very serious , r-hlem, proceeded the engineer. The road is now'considerably 'below the level of the country on either side of it, and the ereek, 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 be swept down with the next (Icod, it is very difficult to decide on Hie best course to pursue. The same ""ions in regard to timber also apply ..il the fillings that have been washed .ivay. If they are renewed, the next flood will, of a certainty, wasli them out again. One filling has already been washed out three times during the pas. four years, and the other twice. It appears that something cheap and of a temporary nature must be used until timber is all removed by floods or time. Cr. JlcWilliam said one of the worst results of the floods was the damming of the creeks by stacks of timber. ]ii the event of another flood he feared for the safety of the bridges. The engineer estimated the damage done at £2OOO. Cr. McWilliam said settlers had helped to a great extent in clearing tracks. Too much, however, could not be expecte of them, for they had their sheep and farms to attend to. The county workmen had been assiduous in their efforts to improve the position. Cr. MeWilliam said hi? was quite in accord with the engineer's ideas. The worst feature was the clearing of the mouths of tunnels built to divert the courses of streams. The Council resolved to renew its application for a £1 for £1 subsidy from the Government, and to call for tenders to augment the efforts, of the county workmen in clearing away the debris and making the rivers safe and loads passable.