DRAINAGE TROUBLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17345, 18 July 1924, Page 8

DRAINAGE TROUBLE.

WATER AND QUICKSAND. Air J. R. Roots.' the contractor who was carrying out the work in connection with the No. 10 sewer contract, has intimated to the Drainage Board that he is not able to carry out the contract, unforeseen difficulties having made it impossible to continue tbo work. Trouble which will retard portion of the operations in connection with the new drainage work, has been encountered at Woodham Road, Lin wood, where water and quick-sand lias stopped the operations. Two da vs’ pumping had very little effect- in dealing with the water. On occasions. hen it seemed as though the pumps were getting the better of the water, geyserlike eruptions occurred, and in a short space of time matters were in as bad a state as ever. The trench has to be dug to a depth of eleven feet, and in some places a depth of nme feet has been reached when water has prevented further progress. It has been found necessary to heavily timber the trench, and a sump, nine feet long by lour feet wide, has been sunk and timbered. The trench has been opened for a distance of about 130 feet Discussing the position with a repor ter this afternoon the chairman of the Drainage Board (Mr Walter Hill) stated that trouble of this nature was not unusual and it was not unexpected. Tlio board, he said, would now take up the work and carry it on. 4he trouble is not likely to be verv serious,’’ lie said. “Of course, there will be water to contend with in nearly all the trenches, and perhaps in some, as in. this, there will he quicksand ” Ho stated that it was considered unlikely that the trouble encountered nt this particular spot would extend very far, and was inclined to believe that the contractor had merely struck a bad hole and perhaps had lost heart. However, the board would now carry on tho work and lie did not think it would have any great difficulty in carrying it to completion.