MARTON RESERVOIR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8263, 28 October 1912, Page 1

MARTON RESERVOIR

HOW THE DAM BURST. INVESTIGATION BY ME LAINGMEASON. Special to the “Times.” WANGANUI, October 2C. Mr Laing-Measou, consulting engineer of the jiLariou Boreugn Council, arrived at Marten last evening and made a preliminary investigation concerning the damage caused by the bursting of the Marion borough reservoir. Upon his return Mr Meason said he had been to the scene, but everything was just now in such if mess that it was impossible to say how the thing happened. There was evidently some weak sjiot, and it had been found out. The place where the dam burst was the last part to be made. While this work was in progress it had been necessary to keep a drain open underneath, and the only thing which the engineer could suggest was that water had managed to continue to trickle through, and tiiis had caused the embankment to give way. The dam was G-t Oft long, and the part which gave way was about 45tt to Skit long, tapering to 20ft at the bottom. 'lhe damage would take a couple of months to repair, and would cost .£SOO or ,£OOO, certainly not more than ,£BOO. In. the meantime the public would not be inconvenienced, for they had the other source from which to draw their water supply. The people need have had no fear when the dam buret. The water soon spre;d out and lost its force and volume. The Marlon dam was not like the gigantic dams in America which, in bursting, had devastated the countryside. Dams wore the most ticklish things in the world, for the least little fault, might mean a collapse. . A week ago, when Mr Meason visited the place, everything seemed in perfect order, and there was more, water in the dam then than when the accident occurred. In addition to the breach in the dam, a small ferro-ooncrete bridge to the valve was also carried away. The work of connecting the pipes with the old dam has been undertaken, and there is no fear erf any Shortage of water. The council will also be able to continue supplying the Railway Department with water.