RIVER BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 154, 1 June 1937, Page 3

RIVER BOARD

REPORT ON WORKS. The monthly meeting of the Palmerston North River Board was held yesterday, Mr A. E. Mansford presiding over Messrs J. Ilodgens, M.P., Jos. Batchelar, J. T. J. Heatley and G. Tremaine. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs Anderson and Hopcroft. There was a discussion as to the lasting qualities of hardwood piles as against blueguin, the foreman stating that hard wood piles had been in use for over 20 years-and were still sound, while biuegum piles were showing signs of decay after 10 years. Mr Heatley: The life of a hardwood pile is about 50 or GO years. The chairman: The hardwood piles, then, are obviously the best proposition. Mr Hodgens said that biuegum piles had been used extensively in the past, and it would seem that the reason was that the money had not been available for others. The board then had had to be guided probably by the limited finances. He would say that in fairness to previous boards. It was decided to ask the foreman to report fully on the advisability of using hardwood or concrete piles as against biuegum. The report of the foreman of works, Mr A. Lane, was adopted aes follows: Steady progress is being made with the construction of the new groyne authorised at Anderson’s bend. To date all the front piles have been driven and the fitting of the boom work and the driving of the stay piles is in hand. The splitting of the logs for groyne "Timber which was hauled fronj the river during the last month at, Gosling’s east for the new works at Anderson’s bend is being carried out periodically when the river conditions are not suitable for the constructing of groynes. The transporting of this timber to the groyne sites is also being carried out. The repairing of the groyne damaged by fire at the old racecourse has been completed. Owing to the sup-ply-of biuegum piles on hand not being sufficient to complete the works at Anderson’s bend, it will be necessary to go afield for bur requirements. Some 40 poles are available on Mil-son's Line above the Bunnythorpe-Kairanga Road. The cutting and cartage of this timber will be carried out during the coming month. The floodgate adjoining the stopbank near the Defence Department’s property above the new bridge has been cleared of debris and sufficient filling removed around the gate to allow it to open and close freely. The frequent occurrence of. small floods and adverse weather conditions has had the tendency to retard the progress of works. The highest rise was 9ft 3in on the 10th instant. The financial statement showed that receipts to May 31 totalled £354 12s 7d, including £250 advanced by the City Council, while the expenditure amounted to £484 13s 3d. The debit-balance was £126.