H.B. RIVERS BOARD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 220, 4 September 1929, Page 9

H.B. RIVERS BOARD

WORK FOR THE MONTH. OVERSEER’S REPORT. At yesterday's meeting of the Hawke's Bay Rivers Board, Mr. Phil Scullen, the board’s overseer, reported as follows:— Ngiiruroro.—Fernlull to Pakowhai: The breach at Yule’s, Karamu, has been completed at a cost of £639. Repairing fences and cutting blackberry off stop-bank cost £l7 12/4. Tractor: Making a crossing over the bank at Karamu cost £22. The tractor is being overhauled, and broken and worn pe.rts are being replaced. Twyford: Repairing fences and minor repairs to bank cost £8 12/4. Omahu to Pakowhai: Repairing fences and clearing cost £8 12/6. Repairing the Waima bank cost £6l 13/3. Tuki Tuki.-Planting silver poplar, fencing and fascenes has cost to date £43 18/7. Overflow Papakura. — Repairing fences and minor repairs to bank cost £4l 14/7.

REPAIR AND PROTECTIVE WORK. A report was also submitted to the board by Messrs Phil Scull in and Guy Rochfort on repair and protective work necessary. Tho report read:— Tuki Tuki (Mcßobbie’s).—At the point the protective work (willow planting) has hean damaged in the last flood and there appears to be danger of the river cutting into the low land nearby; another danger, point on Coupar’s higher up the river is a low area over which it is feared the river may spill and flood the whole of the flat down to Nelson's; with regard t" the upper point it is recommended that five chains of planting be done in the most dangerous section at a cost of £5O. With regard to the lower point the recommendation is that the present protection work can be made good and strengthened at a cost of £6O. Expensive works were suggested at this point, the idea being to turn the river from the present channel and direct it down the centre of the shingle beds; we have considered this proposal and have come to the. conclusion that if success is to be assured two or more large and expensive groins will be required costing probably up to £4OO each. Taking into account the excellent protcctiio belt of willows existing and the small amount of damage done during the past two years we are of an opinion that the work suggested above nnd extended as funds permit to provide a continuous planted belt from the Te Mata crossing downwards is all that is necessary.

MAKING OVERFLOW MORB EFFECTIVE, Tutaekuri River.—Powdrell’s Bend to Harbour Reserve Boundary: Recent floods have overflowed at various points in the river between Powdrell's Bend and the Harbour Board's reserve and protection has been asked for by way of the erection of new or the raising of old levees; our ecommendatirin is that any money ■ vailable should be used, in making the overflow more effective, and in this manner do away with the necessity of spending any more money below the overflow on the old river except for ordinary maintenance. With regard to the ploughing down of the old levee near Robertson's farm suggested bv the Harbour Board: our recommendation is that this can be done with safety if depressions in the river bank ftdioining Beatsnn’s. Robertson’s nnd Collins' be filled up and the outlet of Beat son’s drain attended te. At present the ol.t levee serves no useful purpose and only results in nording flood waters escaping from the Tnta°knri. Tr’tecknri River above Powdrell’s Rend. Wo recommended raising nnd strengthening Torndelo - Moennee levee for a distance of 17 chains from Gunpy’s road to O'Shnughnessey’s bneech at 8 COSt Of £l2O. Ti e recommendations contained in the rerw-t were unanimously agree'' to by the board.