STORM DAMAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21086, 12 July 1938, Page 4

STORM DAMAGE

ENGINEER’S REPORT INTENSITY RAIN GAUGE In his report to last nights meeting of the Timaru Borough Council, the engineer <Mr T. O. Fox) made reference to damage caused in the Borough by the recent storm. The report stated: “As previously mentioned at the last meeting of the Council. 50 feet of the northern outfall sewer has been carried away. This consisted of 24 inch concrete pipes of which there is no trace. They were originally laid on a concretee base, which is still intact, and I consider it would be perfectly safe to replace them on this base provided the pipe line were arched over in concrete keyed thereto with dowels. In the meantime a free outlet is being maintained at the end of the break. “The force of the seas was sufficient to displace and overturn a concrete manhole sft square and over 7ft high. At the Waimalaitai outlet some planking was broken, but the seas were so high that- there was a continual stream of sea water flowing over the shingle bank and preventing a free flow of the rain water in the channel. This, occurring at high tide, made it impossible lor the culvert to function, and even had it been twice the size flooding was hour J to occur on the lowlying land of the Waimataitai Valley. “Before the last rains special attention was givci. to all the other outlets on the sea front, but nevertheless very few of the stormwater culverts were able to take the abnormal flow. For the 12 hours ending at 9 a.m. on July 1. 2.l7ins. of rain fell, but practically the whole of this occurred between 3 and 6 a.m., thus coinciding with high tide. This downpour, at time when the whole area was saturated, resulted in a ’run off’ which probably reached 80 per cent. In this connection I would recommend the Council to apply to the Meteorological Office for the installation of a rainfall intensity gauge at the Gardens. Without this a proper estimate of what our stormwater drainage system is called upon to carry cannot be made.” In connection with the report, the Works Committee resolved that the Borough Engineer should furnish a comprehensive report on the flooding of this area, and the measures proposed as a result thereof. In regard to a rain gauge. t v e Town Clerk reported that he had received a letter from the Meteorologisal Department stating that it was customary for town authorities to make their own arrangements in this respect—Resolved that the purchase of a rainfall intensity gauge at an estimated cost of £22 be authorised.