TUAPEKA NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 19919, 16 July 1928, Page 2

TUAPEKA NOTES

[I'EOH OUB CORRESPONDENT.] LAWRENCE, July 13. The business people in Ross place, who suffered so severely by the' heavy flood which occurred here less than twelve months ago, occasioned by a break in the railway embankment which . separates the sludge channel (carrying chieily mining debris) and tho drainage channel, are greatly dissatisfied at the inaction of the Government in carrying out an effective remedial scheme- Early in last two engineers from the Public Works Department were on the ground, making a close inspection, with tho object of submitting a scheme for the prevention of further damage in flood time to property-owners in the low-lying part of the business'area. Two schemes, it is understood, were duly outlined—one temporary, and the other permanent; tho latter entailing considerabe outlay if given effect to. So far the Government has not indicated which scheme is to be adopted, and in consequence there is a good deal of uneasiness among those who have already suffered. This "is accentuated by the discovery that, following a fresh in the sludge channel recently, Die railway embankment whore the former break occurred showed decided signs of weakness. There is no disguising the fact that unless the embankment at this particular place is properly strengthened it will again collapse in the event of a flood, repeating, probably in a worse degree, the disaster to those who have property in the low-lying part. The Government appears to be fully alive to the necessity of bridging tho Molyneux River at Tuapeka Mouth, brought about largely by the recent agitation of the settlers on either side of the river. The punt at Tuapeka Mouth has not been too satisfactory in its operations for many a day. Frequently it has been held up 'by the high river and strong winds, causing the suspension of traffic for several days at a time, and thus inflicting hardship on the settlers. Tho Public Works Department is now engaged in looking into the question of the most suitable site for the proposed bridge, and, it is said, favours a site at the Clydevale ferry, mainly on the score of'least expense. I mentioned a week or two back that the settlers at Tuapeka Mouth, Upper Clydevale, and Rongahere would prefer a site about halfway between the Tuapeka Mouth punt site and Upper Clydevale, as it would the better meet the requirements of the larger number of settlers. The question of site, however, will probably be only a secondary consideration.

It will lie great news for motorists to learn that the Manuka Creek section of the main highway is now in very great order. The potholes have been filled up, as well as the ruts, thus dispensing with the unpleasant bumping and jolting that made this piece of roadway,, for so long, a time the dread of motorists. Another piece of the highway, known as Moore’s Hill, between Clark’s Flat and the Lawrence Borough boundary, is receiving a good deal of attention just now_ at the hands of the county authorities. It was in a very bad state at the beginning of the winter, due chiefly to the heavy motor traffic and the bad spell of broken weather. A good foundation of Logan’s Point metal has been laid, covered by a substantial coating of local gravel, which should carry the traffic with very little for many a day. There is little or uo stir locally in matters political.' It is understood that delegates representative of the Reform Party are to meet shortly at Alexandra to select a candidate for the fight in the party’s interests at the approaching election. It has been given out that the Labour Party has mi intention of running a candidate. : The weather still continues very cold and changeable. A great deal of rain lias falen, chiefly at night time, during the week.