OHURA FLOOD DAMAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21468, 17 April 1933, Page 11

OHURA FLOOD DAMAGE

COUNTY COUNCIL'S LOSSES APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT SETTLERS* UNLUCKY PLIGHT Difficulties arising out of tho recent flood damage were discussed at a meeting of the Ohura County Council last week, when it was decided to ask Ihe Unemployment Board and the Public "Works Department to establish a camp of at least 50 men near Nilioniho to clear the Ohura River of willows between Toitoi and Nilioniho, and thereby prevent further flood damage to private and public property. Representations are to be made to the Government to grant some relief to settlers in the area affected. Failing a money grant, relief, it is suggested, could be effected by the provision of labour and material, the work to be under the supervision of the Public Works Department. The county engineer, Mr. H. Seerup, teported that damage had been done to the roads estimated at £6429. The heavy rain had brought down huge slips, washed out fillings and culverts, and destroyed six bridges, blocking all traffic on a number of the roads. The work of giving access in the most urgent cases was commenced immediately. Temporary bridges were erected, slips cleared sufficiently .at first to allow for horse traffic and later widened for vehicular traffic. The Opotiki, Arariniu East, Woods and Okaroa Roads were still impassable for wheel traffic, but the work of restoration was now in hand. An inspection hud been made of all roads affected and an estimate prepared of the flood damage as follows: — Ordinary roads, £5288; main highways, £1141; total, £6429. The district engineer at Taumarunui 4 was asked for assistance, and authority was received for £2OO to give access in the most urgent cases. That amount had already been over-spent, and no further work had been authorised thpn to clear the slips sufficiently to allow vehicles to pass. An estimate of damage suffered by private settlers, and already reported, as submitted to a public meeting held at Nihoniho on Monday totalled £2750.