PREVENTION OF FLOODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21377, 29 December 1932, Page 8

PREVENTION OF FLOODS

NEW SCHEME FOR GISBORNE ESTIMATED COST OF £38,000 [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] GISBOBNE, "Wednesday Flood prevention proposals for the Gisborne district, costing £38,870, are contained in a report submitted to tho Poverty Bay River Board by tho Public Works Department. Tho report was compiled by the district engineer, Mr. O. G. Thornton, who, after dealing comprehensively with the scheme, comments on the oconomic aspect and expresses the belief that the degree of immunisation from floods, which the proposed works would afford, would justify the expenditure on economic grounds. Tho great damage resulting from the last flood, and from others experienced in the district, is quoted in support.

Provision is made in the scheme for the clearing of willows in both the Waipaoa River and Ngatapa Creek, the excavation of a pilot channel at Matawhero, the erection of groynes, a high level cut at Tietjen's, and stop-banking at Patutahi. The excavation of a pilot channel at Matawhero would entail "a considerable amount of bridge work, including a new suspension bridge at Clark's, at a cost of £EOOQ, and the lengthening of the existing highway bridge, at a cost of £3500. The annual charges over the whole scheme, at an interest rate of 5£ per cent and a sinking fund of lJr per cent, would be £2721 for a loan over a period of 30 years. At the end of the 2X)-year period Mr. Thornton estimates that the total payments in respect of capital charges would amount to about the same as the losses which the works would prevent, but these annual charges would then disappear and the assets would remain.