MAITAI RIVER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 115, 20 May 1918, Page 6

MAITAI RIVER

PROTECTION OF COUNCIL'S PROPERTY.

The following is the City report upon the proposed protection of the Council's property on the Maitai river below Cohngwood-street:— I am of opinion that a retaining wall along the bank of the river is the only permanent work which the Council could undertake with any sort of assurance that there could be no claims for compensation. There is evidence that the month and lower reaches of the river are much silted up. and it is to be expected that the deposits of gravel at Hanby Park and other parts of the river will eventually be carried down and cause further

silting. The time is not distant when | fomething must be done by way of an opening through the mudflat if the river is to be kept in its present channel and the low part of the city is to be protected against overflow. ' The effect of such an opening would be to lower the whole river bed- for some considerable distance upwards

from the mouth. W r ith such a contin- ! gency in view it is necessary that the J foundation for any work such as that : proposed must be well below any possible erosion or lowering of the bed of the river.

It would not be possible, except at very great expense, ito excavate to the depth required, and I would suggest

as an alternative that a. row of sheet •piling should be driven along the whole length of the work and a foundation be built on the soHoT"oehTnd it. The sheet piling need reach only to the surface of the water, and would not require heavy walings or auxiliary piles such as woud be necessary for sheet piling extending above flood level. It would be kept in line by means of a light waling and anchors in the solid every 6ft or thereabouts. On such a foundation a. solid concrete or masonry wall could be built with safety, or the bank could simply be pitched with rough stone laid «" a flat 6lope. Three diagrams of the orooosed work (C) Birch £1503: totara £1634; harda* follows:—(A) birch £1300: totara £1355; hardwood £1476. (B) Birch £825: totara £880; hardwood £IOOO, (C) Birch £1503; totara £1635; hardwood £1904