PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22492, 29 January 1943, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT

Mostly On Defence Buildings

Protective Work On Waitaki River (N.Z.P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 28. Men and plant of the Public Works Department in the South Island are still very largely concentrated on defence works, Including hospital jobs, but a certain amount of civil work is being done gradually by small groups of men. The main job in hand is protective work on the island in the Waitaki River at the site of the Hakataramea bridge. Straightening of the river above the bridge has removed the danger to the old structure which developed during a flood a few months ago, and the work was more successful than at first appeared. Snice then a new danger has had to be faced in the erosion on the island. Concrete blocks are being used for protective work because stone in the neighbourhood is not suitable.

Good progress has been made with the formation of a new mile and a-half of the Double Hill Runs road, replacing a length washed away by the Rakaia River in a flood last spring. An Ashburton County bulldozer is being used. Work has now advanced to the stage where it will be possible to bring out the wool clips from the four stations served by the road, which is. however, negotiable only in good weather. For weeks station holders had to pack in supplies, but more recently they have had a truck on the other side of the gap. reducing the pack-horse distance to that length. Tire department has been able to continue on a small scale with protective work in the Ashburton River.