DAMAGE BY FLOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1921, Page 5

DAMAGE BY FLOOD.

BOROUGH COUNCIL’S WORKS; ENGINEER’S RECOMMENDATIONS. The effects of the recent heavy rainfalls were referred to at last night’s meeting-of the New Plymouth Borough Council, as the result of reports received from the engineers on damage caused by flood waters. In connection with the position which arose in the centre o-f ! the town, Mr. W. H. Cook (the borough .engineer) recommended the diversion of | the Mangatuku stream to another course. Mr. Cook submitted a detailed report, on the flood damage to King and.’ Brougham Streets, caused by the rising of the Huatoki and Mangatuku Rivera. The footpath in King Street had collapsed aa a result of being undermined' by the overflow. The flood reached top level about nine inches over the top of Brougham Street bridge. With the exception of King Street 'bridge no bridge was large enough to take the flow; consequently much water was banked in private properties. The engineer recommended that the river be diverted at Queen Street direct to the sea; failing this, at King Street bridge, in a direct line to its present outlet. Valuable land in Devon Street, now under water, could be used for storage cellars The Mayor said they al) knew what wanted doing, but the Council was not in I a position to do it. There were places, other than those mentioned in the report, that had been damaged. Cr. V. Griffiths .said one of the culverts was erected on a wrong angle, and asked who was responsible for it. The Mayor: “The engineer who erected it.” The Mayor moved that the report be referred to the finance committee. This was seconded by Cr. J. Kibby and carried. The matter of draining John Street was also referred to the finance committee. Mr. Cook recommended that the council allot £295 for the re-erection of Belt Road bridge, which was in a bad state of repair. Cr. T. N. Blackball asked if the couuril would be liable for damages should an accident occur on the bridge. The Mayor: ‘ I doubt it.” Cr. Blackhall: “If it is dangerous we should divert the traffic.” It was decided, on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Blackball, that the engineer be authorised to make temporary repairs to the bridge, and to bring the question of a concrete bridge before the council at a later date. The consulting engineer at the hydroelectric works (Mr. Pearlese) reported: ‘Owing to the heavy rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday last the “A” tunnel was flooded. The hand-pump, etc., were sufficient until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, when the soakage, both from the root of the tunnel and from the sides of the water race, overcame all efforts. I recommend that a pump and motor suitable for the work be procured. The effect of the flooding cannot be ascertained until we have pumped out. I expect it will take 24 hours’ continuous pumping to overcome the accumulation of soakage. To prevent a recurrence of the flooding ie a difficult • matter until the excavated section is concreted. The total amount of reinforcing needed at the intake gates is practically 1J tone at, say, £45 per ton landed on site.” It was reported that the motor had been installed, and was then engaged in pumping operations. The report was deferred pending further information from Mr. Fearless.