FLOOD DAMAGE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13236, 11 January 1941, Page 3

FLOOD DAMAGE

COUNTY ROADS AND BRIDGES DOWNPOUR In katikati RIDING REPAIRS EFFECTED IN QUICK TIME A report on the damage caused by the flood in the Katikati ridingearly last month was made by the County Engineer (Mr T. Moornouse) cil Uic monthly meeting or me Tauranga County Council yesterday. he stated that severe nooding occurred in the area from Athenree soutnward on Saturday, December ±4, to Reas Road. ihe bridges washed away were the small bnuge on Tuapiro Road, which was replaced next day (Sunday) and the suspension foot bridge across Tuapiro river at end of Taylor's Road, a rope and boatswain’s chair being slung across in this case as a temporary measure. Both bridges on Willoughby’s Road,- were also damaged especially the upper one, but repairs to allow traffic to use road were made before Christmas.

Much surface damage to nearly all roads in the area was caused by the washing off of metal. All suen roads received a special grading within a few days and this evened up the surface but a good deal of metal would be required before winter. There were also some small slips and culverts blocked and the worst places were repaired before Christmas, A filling about eight feet high was washed out for about 40 feet but by putting on three lorries this was filled by Monday night.

Riding Report

Katikati: The portable crusher which was set up early in December on the bank of the Aongatete River crushed shingle from that river which was delivered to; —Walkers Road, West 27|yds (completed) Walkers Road East 42yds., Lunds Road 24yds. and Track 6yds. Willoughby’s Road received 4yds. over washout from Athenree.

Te Puna: The following roads received light sheeting and patch metalling attention with Te Puna quarry metal:—Te Puna 21yds., Crapps Road 36yds., Proles Road 30yds., Waipapa Block Road 21yds. and Te Puna Station Road 24yds. The following roads were graded:—Te Puna, Lochheads, Armstrongs’ Borrell’s, Te Puna Station, Wairoa, Crawfords and Whakamarama while several other roads received surfacing attention. A culvert was put in on Crapp’s Road. Waimapu: The scrub was cut back on the top end of Oropi Road, and also on parts of Glue Pot Road. Several sets of pipes were delivered for culverting Oropi Bush Road prior to forming for Government grant metalling. The following metalling from Oropi quarry was done:—Oropi Road 10 syds. (light coat on short length and patching) and Oropi Gorge Road 3 9yds, (start of metalling recently re-formed length from top of Gorge to Oropi Bush Road) while 3yds. of waste metal was delivered for Cameron Road footpath (opposite Hospital) and 6yds. to Shepherds Road. The followingroads were graded;—Moffats, Carmichael’s, Pillans, Otumoetai, Cambridge, Hastings, Oropi Gorge (reforming part) Omanawa Block Road Oropi (part) Gluepot, McPhails, and Belks, Hastings (reforming highway junction). Te Puke: The formation of 11 chains of approaches to Kiate bridge was put through sufficient width to open the bridge for traffic ' before Christmas and has since been completed except for a little creek straightening and for about two chains opposite the quarry which has been taken down to rock (thereby using quarry stripping for the fillings), The rock has been left to use for road metal later. Approaches to bridge on Matapihi Station road were built up. A 4Jft.XlJft. woodexx box culvert opposite Carruths on No. 3 Road shows signs Of collapsing—this is an important culvert (should be more hereabouts) and I propose to deepen and renew with a concrete fiat top culvert. The metalling of Rocky Outing road for 48 chains from the State Highway under Government Grant arranged to start next week. Arrangements made to start the improved formation improvements to steep hill and filling on Waitaha Road, this month. As regards the metalling grant for the lower part of this road, I propose that as soon as the above-mentioned improvements to Smiths are done, that the P.W.D. be approached again for a transfer to Kaitemako Road, on the grounds of altered circumstances, or alternatively that the application be made now to have the grant changed to be for both to formation and metalling to Smiths. The P.W.D. have asked when proposals will be submitted for metalling the lower end of the Waitaha Road. The following roads were graded:—-Rocky Cutting (part), Waitoa, Ohauiti No. 2, No. 3. Papamoa Beach and Otaimatu. The Ohauiti road received 30 yds. of Oropi quarry metal top end — more required after being graded for rough shape. From Alley’s quarry the Te Puke quarry road received 2i yds. and the Manoeka road 30yds. of quarry waste (dirty metal) and No. 3 road received 2|yds. of the same material.