WORK HAMPERED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 59, Issue 4252, 8 March 1950, Page 12

WORK HAMPERED

NO MACHINES TO BE HAD MAUKORO CANAL TESTS SCHEME MODIFIED In an endeavour to learn whether suitable machines could be made available to carry mit the experimental work in the Maukoro canal, the proposed scheme was the subject of a report recently handed to the chairman of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council at Wellington, stated Mr G. Davies, engineer to the Hauraki Catchment Board at its March meeting. x “We were informed,” said Mr Davies, “that the only suitable machine in the country was employed on an opencast coal site and it could not be made available. On the other hand it was thought that financial arrangements could be made to cover practically the whole cost of such works, and we were advised to reduce the sjze of the proposed cut to suit the size of machines that could be made available.

“With , the board’s approval this modified scheme will be prepared immediately and local enquiries .for machines will be made to determine the sizes generally available. “The report as submitted to the chairman of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control council will be tabled at the next board meeting,” said Mr Davies.

Mr D. G. McMillan thought that in view of the extreme difficulty in securing the necessary machines to carry out the experiment, the expert* ment might not be a true experiment. As the work was being done without proper machines there would be a' different flow of water in the canal to that which would have‘been in the canal if the, proper machines were used. The erosion would differ according to the flow of water. Mr McMillan expressed confidence that the problem would ultimately be solved but there were difficulties in carrying out the practical side of the experiment without Ahe proper gear.

Ministers Should Visit Areas

The speaker thought the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of, Lands Should be invited to inspect the whole area. Jhe experiment was of paramount importance tq the whole of. the Thames Valley and if the Ministers were invited to see the position for themselves the development of the district might be hastened very considerably.

The chairman, Mr H. M. Corbett, stated that he had in mind inviting the Ministers to the district on the understanding that the visit be confined to the Maukoro canal as he too regarded the experiment there as of very great importance.

The engineer, Mr G. Davies, explained that the experiments were twofold. It was not only an experiment in drainage but in soil research. The district engineer, Mr O. G. Thornton, expressed confidence that the result of the experimental cut would not be to create erosion.

Mr J. F. Mayn pointed out<thf need to proceed with *ll haste with the cut The Minister had to follow the advice of the engineers. There would, in his opinion, be no scouring if in the early stages boats were prohibited from using the canal. He supported the proposal to invite the Ministers to inspect the area. Limited Experiment Mr Davies advised >board members that provided the limited experimental scheme was adopted it was possible to get machinery. “Get the work done on a modified scale,” said Mr E. G. Clark. “The Minister might think the experiment was of no use.” The average depth of the cut, said Mr Davies, would be about 18 feet, with a maximum depth of 35 feet and a minimum depth of eight feet. How long would it take to construct the whole length of the canal, asked Mr J. F. Mayn. * t The engineer in replying said that, given the machines he thought about five to seven years would see the work completed..

The engineer’s report was accordingly adopted.