DAMAGE BY FLOOD

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1935, Page 14

DAMAGE BY FLOOD

EGMONT COUNTY POSITION THE ESTIMATED COST £l5OO. REPAIR MEASURES ARRANGED. In comparison with other Taranaki local bodies the Egmont county appears to have escaped lightly during the recent floods, the cost of repairing the damage as estimated so far by the engineer being £lO2O. It is also estimated that the roads suffered to the extent of £3OO or £4OO through surface scouring. The bulk of the damage occurred in the Wiremu Road district, and the council decided to make a tour of inspection on Saturday, so that all councillors would have a comprehensive idea of the damage and the steps necessary to effect repairs. During the discussion reference was made to the necessity for taking steps to prevent settlers from dumping timber into creeks when clearing their properties. In a special report on the subject the engineer said that time had not permitted a detailed examination of all bridges and roads, but with the exception of the Okahu-Wiremu Road the damage was not very apparent, and should not be expensive. The main highways were passable at all times, except for a short period when part of the road at Warea was under water to a depth of two feet, due chiefly to obstruction of the waterway under the bridge. It might be necessary to straighten the Waiweranui stream above the bridge to minimise future flooding. The small wooden bridges spanning Dirtyman’s Creek on the Warea main road and Okahu Road were completely destroyed. Abutments and fillings were scoured out, necessitating new spans of about 25 feet. Extensive washouts occurred at the abutments of the Waiaua, Mangahume and Punehu bridges. The flood water poured across the low filling at the Waiaua and scoured the road out, and changed the course of the river above and below the bridge. The filling over a three-feet pipe near Kiri Road was completely washed out, and smaller scours occurred elsewhere. The centre pier of the Mangahume bridge was underscoured and settled a few inches, while the pier at Punehu bridge appeared also to be in a dangerous state. On the Parihaka Road timber piled up above the handrails of the bridge, but the steel girders stood the strain remarkably well. WHOLE STAFF, AND MORE. The whole staff, as well as extra assistance and men from the relief camps had been engaged restoring communications, but until a detailed examination was made he could only give the following rough estimate: Waiweranui bridge, Main South Road, clearing logs, £10; stream diversion, £5O; total, £6O; Matanehunehu stream, protective work, £2O; Dirtyman’s Creek, Warea Road, temporary bridge, £7O; Dirtymans Creek, Okahu Road, bridge, £6O; new bridge, £300; total, £600; Okahu bridge, Okahu road, protective work, £2O; Otahi bridge, Wiremu Road, stone pitching, £3O; Waiaua bridge, clearing and repairs to road, £35; P rote ?J^J* banks, £5O; Mangahume bridge, Wiremu Road, washout, etc., £5O; pier, £5O; Maungarewa culvert, Wiremu Road, repair washout, £10; Punehu bridge, Wiremu Road, repair £7O; underpinning pier, £5O, RarihaKa Road, Waitotoroa bridge, clearing logs, protecting abutments, £5O; general clearing work, Wiremu Road, £100; total, £lO2O. ... , There was other damage, probably to the extent of £3OO or £4OO, that would be difficult to estimate;, it consisted of scour to road metal, filling in of watertables, etc., said the engineer. . Cr. Tosland said he had seen the Parihaka stream recently and was astonished at the quantity of wood that had been brought down. He estimated the quantity at over 500 cords, and he. thought the only way that such a quantity could come down was because the settlers had been depositing timber in the bed of the stream when clearing their land. That was a dangerous practice which should be stopped. He also referred to the- necessity for taking some steps to deal with the erosion at the Waiaua River on Wiremu Road, as he considered they were very fortunate that the bridge was not left high and dry. NOT OVER-LIBERAL. The chairman (Mr. W. C. Green) said that he was quite satisfied that the engineer had not estimated the flood damage over liberally. Immediate steps must be taken to repair the damage before the next flood. It was of no use saying that there would not be a flood for a long time again, because after a spell of A ll ® weather there was likely to be a flood in April. Indeed, they generally had their worst floods in April. Regarding the Waiaua River bridge on Wiremu Road, Mr. Wann wanted the council to take some immediate action. He had explained to Mr. Wann that at present the council was not in a position to do much, but he would propose that the works committee inspect the scene. Mr. Wann had suggested that the council should put in a protection wall, but the chairman pointed out that the council had to be very careful in such matters, as if it constructed groynes that diverted the natural flow of the stream and caused damage on some other property the council would probably be held liable. He thought the riding members and the engineer or a committee for the council should inspect the flood damage and devise repairs. He did not know whether the council would get assistance from the Public Works Department. Probably it would as the department had been very good in previous cases. A new bridge would be required over Dirtyman’s Creek on Okahu Road. The council could not build new bridges out of its revenue and had no loan money available. There were also the by-roads in the north to consider. These were “going back” badly owing to lack of money and unless something were done the roads would require reconstructing in two years’ time. Cr. T. Willcox expressed the opinion that the bulk of the timber that came down the streams during the flood had been dumped in the streams by settlers. He had brought the matter up previously and was of the opinion that the council should take steps to prevent settlers so dumping stumps and timber. Cr. Tosland agreed that steps should be taken to stop 'the practice. The accumulations of timber in the Parihaka stream showed that it had been used by the settlers above as a dumping ground for stumps, providing an easy means of getting rid of timber. In time of flood that timber was not only a menace to bridges but also carried away settlers’ flood gates. The council should take definite action to let settlers know that they must not use the rivers as a common dumping ground for their wood and weeds. Cr. Holmes said there were no settlers above the Waiau River bridge and yet timber came down there in considerable quantities. He had seen a rata tree 12 feet thick washed down through the river changing its course. A committee should inspect the Waiau bridge immediately, as after another flood, and not a big one either, the bridge would be left high and dry. The bed of the river had been raised eight feet and unless some action were taken the bridge would not be wanted where it was.

The chairman; That applies to many streams.

It was decided that the whole council inspect the flood damage. Cr. Tosland held that the council should be familiar with the whole position in view of the necessity for finding ways and means of repairing the damage. The Unemployment Board wrote that unemployed relief workers would be made available for repair work after the recent floods, the board providing a subsidy of 35s a week. Members considered this would not be very beneficial to the council as in bridge constructing material was a considerable item;