FLOOD DAMAGE IN WANGANUI COUNTY IS REVIEWED BY ENGINEER

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 June 1948, Page 6

FLOOD DAMAGE IN WANGANUI COUNTY IS REVIEWED BY ENGINEER

The progress of the reconstruction work on No. 50 highway has been delayed temporarily because of rough weather but will be continued as conditions permit, reported the engineer (Mr. R. R. Dawson) at yesterday’* meeting of the Wanganui County Council. “The grader will be employed at the earliest oppor« tunity to grade off the shoulders of the sealed surface to improve the drainage. “A small slip occurred on the Denlair Road, and will be removed at an early date. There have been numerous small slips on the Mangamahu Road, the majority of which have been removed by the use of one of the council’s bulldozers. The necessary metal repairs will be made immediately. “There have been a considerable number of slips on the Wangaehu Valley Road and qlthough there are none of a serious nature it would appear that this is the forerunner of further similar trouble for the next few months. It is proposed to have the largest of the council’s bulldozers stationed in the Mangamahu district to cope with flood damage repairs and have the lighter machine for transporting to other parts of the county as required. Metal repairs will be made on damaged portions of the road as slips are removed. “Other than the blockage by slips on the Burma Road and the bluff near Colliers Bridge, the upper Wangaehu roads have not fared badly. Light metal repairs are being made on the Wangaehu and Field’s Track Roads.”

Dealing with the Kakatahi roads, the engineer said the Raupiu Road was blocked by a slip which would be removed by a bulldozer at an early date. The sharp corner half way up the hill on the Te Hue Road would be improved by a bulldozer this month. Light metal repairs would be made on this road and also on Mackintosh’s Road.

“A considerable number of slips occurred on the Parihauhau and Mangowhai Roads These roads have been opened to traffic and a considerable amount of metal repairs are necesary to repair the damage. “The new metalling work on the Matahiwi Road has been suspended for the winter months. It is reported that there have been small slips on this road and the Road although generally the damage ha., not been serious. Metal repairs will be made on the Morikau Road at the earliest opportunity. The damage on Upokongaro Road has been rather severe particularly by the loss of metal caused by scour. The rainfall in this area was particularly heavy. The creek has over flowed its banks in many places to a much greater extent than has been known for a long period. Metal repairs will be carried out as expeditiously as possible.

“The rainfall in the Okoia area was also heavy and the roads suffered accordingly, although not so badly as might have been expected. The necessary repairs are being effected and will be completed as soon as possible. The flood waters overflowed the No. 3 Line to a much greater extent than previously due principally to the new road formation between the road and railway. An inspection of the damage was< made with a Public Works engineer and the cause of the damage will require to be rectified.”