Flood and Flood Damage

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 142, 17 June 1941, Page 6

Flood and Flood Damage

ADVISORY ENGINEER REPORTS TO RIVER BOARD PLANS FOR THE FUTURE Mr. A. E. Mansford (Mayor) was in the chair at yesterday’s meeting of the Palmerston North River Board. Others present wero Messrs J., T. J. Heatley, J. Hodgens, M.P., E. H. Smith, M. \V. Voss, P. V. Koehler and P. R. Hardie (secretary). The Mayor extended a welcome to ’the new members, Trustees Voss, Koehler and Smith. The Mayor then moved that the board’s appreciation of the services of Messrs \V. Anderson, J. Batchelar and W. MoUidey be placed on record. He added that Messrs Anderson and Batchelar had been members since 11)27 and that Mr. Mouidey had had three years’ service. The motion was seconded by Mr. Koehler and carried. Messrs C. E. Larsen, M. E. McCool and R. Field, settlers near the river abftve the..board’s area, wrote reporting tiiat part of the protection works erected by them had been swept away by the recent flood. They recommendeu that the board’s area snould be extended to the Gorge, and suggested that thy protective work now required was too oig a job to bo undertaken by one settler. The Mayor explained that the area referred to in tiie petition was outside that controlled by the board and he moved that a copy of the letter be sent Mr. Hodgens, member for tho city, and another to non. J. G. Cobbe, lnomuer tor Oroua, requesting tiiat, tne matter be referred to the Minister. Mr. Hodgens stated that he had discussed tne matter with Mr. McCool and Mr. Field and that he had advised them to get into touch with the Hon. Mr. Co-boe and also that he would do what ho could to help them. The chairman’s suggestion was adopted. Works and Flood Damage. The advisory engineer (Mr. E. Fisher) suomitied a comprehensive report covering tne recent flood, the damage to the ooard’s works, and suggested improvements to the existing protection works. Extracts from the report aro as auder: — * ‘ The flood level as recorded at the gauge at tne city bridge was 1 lift. 3iu. aoove summer level. At Child Bros, works, Albert Street, it was 23ft. above summer level. At Fitzroy the level oi overdovv was 26ft. Din. above summer level. The extent of this overflow was 28 chains. The top level of the flood bank at Fitzroy at the broken point is 25ft. 3in. above summer level and 1 have computed that ithe depth of overflow was Ift. 6in. in this locality to the extent as before stated, xno excess flood level at Fitzroy compared to that at Child Bros.’ works was 3ft. 9in. and to that on the gauge at tne city bridge 7ft. bin.

“1 am satisfied that the major contributing factor that caused tne excessive flood rise at f itzroy was the intensified formation of siuugie deposits within the river channel. These deposits, developed very extensively as a result of the flood of lift, in February, 1936. Therefore, the congested state of tne river channel in the case ox tne recent flood not only reduced its carrying capacity but impeded and restricted tne flow of flood water. These shingle bodies are most prominent in the channel at Fitzroy, City Council property and abovo Cnud Bros.’ works, wkicn being in close proximity to each other have caused intense ponding of the flood water in old Fitzroy Bend, which mainly accounts for the uispanty of the flood levels mentioned and ino oreaking of the flood bank at Fitzroy. Another factor that contributed to me exceptional flood rise at ± itzroy was the nuge volume of flood water xrom Stuart s, Te Matai, where a formidable spillway has been scoured out, and also from Anderson’s, Aokautere, where tne flood bank broke, resulting in the combined flood waters converging at Fitzroy. “Damage to works: As was expected with a flood of this magnitude, the board’s works sustained considerable damage; though extensive, it is not oi a serious nature.

“The board’s punt with plant attached, broke away from its moorings during the height of the flood and lodged on a beach about a mile below. The pile-driving derrick was badly smashed in contacting the bridge and one hand winch. The punt and engine