TE ARAI WATERWORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2152, 30 March 1908, Page 1

TE ARAI WATERWORKS.

THREE PIPES UPTURNED. 'DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT . £3OOO. CONTRACTORS STUDY CONVENIENCE OF PUBLIC. HOUSEHOLDERS TO HAVE WATER. TURNED ON BY TUESDAY.

Word was rcboivcd in Gisborno on Saturday morning that tlio To Arai river had risen about ten foot on Thursday night, and tho groat floods had altered tho wliolo of tho configuration of tho country, and had carried away about three miles of pipes along the cree’k running from tho intake to tho river. Tho water oamo over tho ground in torrents, and tho pipes, unablo to resist such a heavy strain, a strain they woro never meant to bear, wore strewn like pieces of candlo on the sides of tho valley. Mr. Bignell, who is in cliargo of tho work for tho Wanganui Spiral Steel Pipo Company, who have tho contract, was in tho district, and at oneo wont to the scene. There desolation met him everywhere. The' pipes at tho time of the fresh had a full pressure on, and with tho doublo strain had given at tho points. Whoro they had lain on tho ground- was a -creek several feet deep, with the pipes*, sagging, of parted from others. The auxiliary ‘'intake, which is built of concroto, was torn up and shifted somo yards out of position. Tho damage extends tho whole way down stream from tho intake for a distance of tlireo miles. In one placo the pipes have, been piled up tho bank as if they had been carefully placed there in stacks. T'licy had been torn out and floated U" there by tho water. One lis lying at an angle of 45 degrees, and tlio casual observer, not knowing what had happened, would think that the pipo had been puroosely placed that way. Tho pipes have been- given a most fantastic appearance, tho position of the wholo placo being such as to well deservo a visit just tp view tho effect of tho flood. Tlicro had been a great rush of debris, and a great quantity of earth lias been scoured out, big boulders in the bed of the creek remaining bare. Two largo logs were brought down, and accumulated a mass of debris at the intake, but tho accumulation really proved a good thing, tho water rushing over and no damage to tho intake being done, except a breaking down of the fixing and a slight.scour at ono sido. No actual estimate can bo given of the damago done, but allowing that tho wholo contract for 22. miles is for £38,000, and that three miles of piping has beon swept away, tho amount can be placed at £3OOO or £4OOO, but the pipes, although washed out, have not been materially damaged, except rerliaps a few; some, indeed, appear to bo not even scratched.

THE EFFECTS OF THE DAMAGE. Tho effect of the mishap was to at once stop tho water supply of Gisborne, but Mr. Bignell on Saturday despatched twelvo men to Te Aral to niako temporary repairs, so as to provido a temporary intake from tho main river, 'and it is oxpected a household supply will bo resumed by tonight or early to-morrow morning. Mr. Bignell left for Wanganui by the Monowai yesterday, where ho will report to his firm. As sooii as the Mayor (Mr. John Townley) was acquainted with the news on Saturday, he sent a telegram to Mr. Hay, the engineer for the works, who resides at Dunedin, and it is expected that Mr. Couston, Mr. Hay’s assistant, will at once set out for Gisborne to watch tho repairs on behalf of the Borough Council. The ‘damage-done, runs into several thousand pounds, .a rough estimato being £3OOO. ’ Tho work at this portion was practically complete, only the final testing remaining to be done before it was handed over to tne Council. Tho company are therefore placed in an invidious position. Their work has been destroyed by no fault of theirs. They have carried out every condition of their contract, and circumstances over which they had no control swept it away in a few hours. They were asked to lay pipes on certain land having a certain formation, and, Mr. Bignell .states, they question will probably arise, can they be expected to relay the pipes on ground that is no longer there? However, that is a matter that will probably bo discussed in tho future between the contractors and the Borough Council. The pipes themselves have been very little damaged, and most of them will be available foxuse again. A new line of demarca-. tion will have to be made, and that line will need a new survey. In conversation with a “Times” reporter on Saturday, a leading ratepayer said tho formation at Te Arai was altogether unsuitable for the spiral pipes. The pipes had proved most successful in tho Coolgardie (Western Australia) and other waterworks where they rested upon solid ground, but where the ground was of soft and shifting formation, and easily displaced, lie was sure there would be constant trouble with tho joints, which opened when the pipes sagged. The spiral pipes have many advantages over tho cast-iron pipes, but their suitability for the Poverty Bay country has yet to be demonstrated. ' ~ It is probable that Mr. Couston will reach Gisborne by the boat arriving on Wednesday. Mr. Bignoll will probably return from Wanganui with him.