WORK ON WATERWORKS DAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1917, Page 3

WORK ON WATERWORKS DAM.

ENGINEER'S REPORT PROGRESS. The borough engineer (Mr. W. IT. Cook) has reported to the Now Plymouth Borough Council on the progress of the work at the No. 2 dam, Mangorei, up to May 31. The design adopted as best meeting the requirements was that of a massed concrete wall for the main portion, with side retaining walls of reinforced concrete. The walls proper are to be carried down to a safe bearing foundation, and the watertight core carried to such lower level as will lie found necessary to effectually prevent any serious loss by leakage. The total length of the wall will be 105 feet, varying in thickness according to the head of water and pressure. A sand bag dam lias been erected on tho lower side of the scour hole, and a bridge and approach made over the water race, which enables a large quantity of storcd-up boulders being easily hauled to the crusher site. A roadway had also been made and metalled where necessary to prevent any stoppage through wet weather. A trial breaking has heea made with the crusher obtained from the Inglewood Council and steady work will now be continuous. The roadway from the forebay to the* ford has been recently dressed up to permit of easier haulage, while the growth at the site of the dam has been cleared and the river put into one channel. Agood start has been made to excavate for the foundations, and the prospects of making a sound wall for the bed are promising. A competent man has been placed in charge with already satisfactory results, leaving the engineer more time to attend to matters within the borough. The engineer's first very rough estimate of the cost was £2OOO, but having gone into the matter thoroughly he has now added £450 to that estimate.