WAIRARAPA WEST COUNT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2311, 3 June 1886, Page 2

WAIRARAPA WEST COUNT.

The following is tho Engineer's report presented at Saturday's meeting of the Council:— '

. Sir.—l have the honor to report on the Public Works under the control of

tho Wairarapa West County Council,

Wainuioru Bridge,

When I inspected the works at this bridge previous to the heavy flood, which occurred on the 16th inst, the piers were framed, braced, and completed (except planking on the external sides), one of the trasses was framed and a largo quantity of material for the other one prepared., The works throughout were executed in a satisfactory and workmanlike manner. When the flood occurred nearly the whole of the material (except the tension roads) for both trusses weri on the scaffolding. The river is reported to have risen a perpendicular height of eighteen feet in seven hours, and to have brought down a large number of lugs which lodged against the scaffold poles, and eventually carried them and the trusses resting upon them down tho stream. The piera remain in position uninjured, The contractor, (Mr Joseph Dawson) has informed me that he will at once procure fresh materials and endeavor to complete the contract during the winter. A report from the clerk of works (Mr James Tweeddale) is appended, Contract No. 1, on the Wainuioru Bridle Track is completed in a successful manner. On Contract No. 2 two thirds of the scrub cutting, and about thirty, three chains of the formation i 3 done. W aiohink River, Aereeably with your instructions, I examined the right bank of the Waiohine River immediately above the road bridge, I considered that the instructions which I received did not warrant my executing ft survey and preparing plans, estimates, itc. At a point about twenty-one chains above the bridgo tho Groytown Eiver Board put in a protective work some five years ago, which had to a large extent protected the bank between this point and the bridge. A 'recent flood destroyed a portion of the protective work, and the stream has since cut away a considerable portion of the soft soil of which tho river bank is composed. About fifteen chains of the bank is rather low and during a high flood the wator flows ovor the adjacent land, I saw no svidenco of its havini! crossed the road, but it will probably do so shortly, as owing to tho decrease of tho volume and volocity of the Btream near the left bank a considerable deposition of shingle is taking place there, and causing an increase of the volume and velocity of the stream alone the right bank. If the flood water is allowed to cross the main road and fall into the river bed again below the bridgo it. will in my opinion, do a great amount of damage. The works that appear to nie to be necessary for the protection of the bridge and'road forming the southern approach thereto are as follows The restoration 6f the Greytown River Board's protective work; the protection of the bank of the river against the wearing action of the currents, and the construction of an artificial bank about 30 feet back from the natural bank sufficiently high to stop the overflow during high floods. 1 am, etc,, John Kino, County Engineor,