Palmerston North River Board Affairs

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5614, 31 March 1931, Page 5

Palmerston North River Board Affairs

ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The monthly meeting of the Palmerston North River Board was held yesterday morning, the Mayor, Mr A. J. Graham, presiding. Also present wero Messrs. W. L. Fitzherbert, J. Batchelar, J. Hodgcns, W. R. Hopcroft, W. Anderson, M. A. Eliott, W. Newlands (clerk) and E. Fisher (engineer). Koehler Bros, wrote stating that they would care to see the board hindertake drainakc work adjacent their property at 'Te Matai and under the No. 5 unemployment scheme.

On the motion of Mr Fitzhcrbcrt it was decided to undertake the work and to limit the expense to the board to supervision costs only.

Engineer’s Report,

The engineer reported as follows:

Hopcroft’s Bend: All the timber required for the construction of two additional groynes (including blue gum piles) as scheduled and authorised had been deposited on the respective groym, sites. The erection of these groynes would be proceeded with on completion of the work of obtaining sufficient timber from the river channel required for the bodywork of groyne extensions at Mcßae’s bend. As instructed, and in order to expedite the execution of these particular works, he had employed additional workmen under the Unemployment Board’s No. 5 scheme. The labour supplied so far was quite satisfactory. There was considerable necessary work, lvhcre labour from this sourco could be usefully employed, advantageously to the board, as 90 per cent, of the cost of such work was for labour, and would serve to usefully absorb unemployed men. •Mcßae's Bend: For the groyne extensions as scheduled and authorised here, all the blue gum piles required for the foundation work have been deposited on the sites. The constructional work in connection with No. 5 groyne extension was in progress, as was also the work of hauling logs from the river channel to provide suitable timber for the body work of these groyne extensions. The blue gum piles were ot good quality and were obtained at a satisfactory price. General: The matter of the construction of a flood embankment across a depression originating from the river channel at a point at the foot of Ruahine Street should now receive consideration. A decision in connection witn this matter was recorded by the board at its meeting in April, 1929, authorisin o' the work to be executed, but subsequently owing to the need of funds for more urgent works, this work was necessarily deferred. During the intervening period altered conditions of the river channel had accentuated the liability of flood overflow, duo to some extent to a material filling of the lower portion of the old Fitzroy river channel, but primarily to the effect of an adverse clement at present operating against the direct and efficient discharge of flood water by way of tho new channel, which it was hoped would be ultimately remedied by the existing regulation works, designed and applieo to°serve that purpose with future high floods. Comparative flood levels recorded at the point of depression reveal that with the flood rise of lift, in May, 1929, there was a containing margin of 2ft. Gin., whereas with the flood rise of 12ft. 6in. in August, 1930, showed a containing margin of only 2ft., thus reducing the margin by Gin. with a 12ft. Gin. flood level In view, of the present adverse conditions causing increased liability of flood overflow in tho case of abnormal high flood rises in future, and the resultant damage to property in the Hokowhitu area, justified action for prevention. He estimated the cost of constructing the embankment at £llO, and strongly advised that the work bo executed without delay. It wms a 90 per cent, labour job, and he suggested the required labour be provided under the Unemployment Board’s No. 5 scheme. He had interviewed the occupiers of the lands in connection with an easmont on their land (required by the board),, whereupon the proposed embankment was to be constructed, and they had consented thereto, which remained to bo legally elfected. The total expenditure on works lor !he year ending March 31, 1931, was £1906 3s. Summary of expenditure was: New works, £1783 ,14s 4d. maintenance of works, £122 Ss Sd; total £1906 3s. The estimated expenditure for the year ending March 31, 1932, was: New works £1 maintenance of works, £200; total, £2050.