DAMAGE TO ROADS IN WAIROA AREA

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 10

DAMAGE TO ROADS IN WAIROA AREA

Result Of February Floods

COUNTY COUNCIL’S HOPE FOR GOVERNMENT AID By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, March 23. Damage to highways and county roads in six counties, extending from Matakaoa to Wairoa, as a result of the disastrous flooding on February 18, is estimated to amount to approximately £43,000. Damage to highways in the area is set down by the Public Works Department at about £22,250, and counties estimate the total damage to county roads at about £21,000. No account is taken of damage to service roads fo r railway works in the Kopuawhara section or damage caused to actual railway construction work. In addition, heavy destruction was caused on farm lands and property, an estimate of which is almost impossible. The heaviest sufferer is the Waiapu County, where the damage is estimated by the county clerk at £0670, including £1303 on secondary highways. The Waiapu County is in an unfortunate position, in that it has not yet been able to recover properly financially following other severe flooding during the past two or three years, following which the Government declined to grant assistance for restoration of roads. An adjoining county—Uawa—was the next heaviest sufferer with damage to roads estimated at about £5200. This county is somewhat similarly placed to "Waiapu in that its finances are in an embarrassed condition.

Details of the estimated amount of damage to roads other than highways in each county are as follows, the figures being approximate: Waiapu £8367, Uawa £5200, Cook £4845, Waikohu £l3OO, Wairoa £lOOO, Matakaoa £4OO, total £21,112. For ordinary maintenance restoration on highways the subsidy generally granted by the Main Highways Board is on a basis of £3 for £l. A full and comprehensive report has been prepared for the board by the Public Works Department, and when this’ is received the board will consider the extent to which it will subsidise restoration. In the case of bridges the customary subsidy is £2 for £l, although occasionally a little more is granted. County councils throughout the district are hopeful of Government assistance to enable them to restore the roads to their previous state. In some cases backbloek settlers are still cut off and their plight is regarded' with concern. Efforts have been made to expedite the work of providing access, but the task has been enormous, specially in the Waiapu and Uawa counties and parts of the Cook County. Many farmers are still placed in a most unenviable position as a result of silting of properties, in addition to heavy financial loss caused by property damage. The Minister of Lands manifested interest in the unfortunate position of dozens of landholders and asked the Lands Department for a general report on the result of flooding in respect to Crown and other land. In accordance with this request the department, netting in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, has furnished a report on the position.