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Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22314, 26 April 1947, Page 6

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WORK OF DAM COUNCIL’S PROVISO COMPLETION BY OCTOBER For various reasons work on the Mangapoike dam and the new pipeline has been delayed, and at this week’s meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council it was decided that a specified date should be set for when a certain amount of the work must be completed. It was pointed out by the Mayor, Mr. N. H. Bull, that the original contract specified the completion of the dam and pipe-line laying by Septembyi, 1946. Last winter, however, the j- tractors applied for and were granted leave to suspend operations during the winter months, which extended the time for the completion of the contract to January, 1947. For various reasons, including the shortage of labour and lack of cement and materials, the contract was still only partially completed and winter was once again approaching. Heavy Traffic Restrictions A further complication, said the Mayor, was the imposition by the Cook County Council of the heavy traffic restrictions on the route to the dam. This would tend to delay the completion of the work still further. So far as the pipe-line was concerned, all the materials were on the job. The council considered the above questions in committee at its meeting on Tuesday night and several matters were decided on the advice of the consulting engineer, Mr. G. F. Clapcott. It was decided that the council would reconsider the question of the infliction of any penalties incurred under the contract provided: 0a) The laying of the pipe-line contracted for was completed by October 31, 1947. (b) The concreting of the stilling pool at the dam was completed by June 30, 1947. (c) That the dam was raised to the J 516 feet above datum level an'd suitable wings to provide for the overflow were constructed by June 30, 1947. (d) That the whole contract be completed by October 31, 1947. Overcoming Drought Conditions Commenting on the above, the Mayor pointed out that according to the consulting engineer’s advice the raising of the dam to 1516 feet would result in the impounding of between 40,000,000 and 50,000,000 of water, which would be available next summer, and which, in the engineer’s opinion, would be sufficient to tide the oorough over any drought conditions which might occur next summer. The council felt it was very unfortunate that the dam could not be erected to its full height in order to take advantage of this winter’s rains, but the water that would be impounded would be of great advantage during the forthcoming summer. The council also realised that extraordinary difficulties had been experienced which no one could reasonably foresee, and it bad perforce to meet the situations which had arisen in as reasonable a manner as possible having due regard to the duties of the contractors, their difficulties and the interests of the general public of Gisborne.