PREVENTION OF FLOODS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 28, 30 December 1932, Page 10

PREVENTION OF FLOODS.

SCHEME AT GISBORNE, GISBORNE, Dec. 29. Flood prevention proposals for the Gisborne district, costing £38,870, are contained in a report submitted to the Poverty Bay River Board by the Public AVorks Department. _ The report was compiled by the distinct engineer, Mr 0. G. Thornton, who, after dealing comprehensively with the scheme, comments on the economic aspect and expresses the belief that the degree of immunisation from floods, which the proposed works would afford, would justify the expenditure on economic grounds. The great damage resulting from the last flood, and from others experienced in the district, is quoted in support. Provision is made in the scheme for the clearing of willows in both the Waipaoa River and Ngatapa Creek, the excavation of a pilot channel at Matawhero, the erection of groynes, a high-level cut at Tietjen’s, and stopbanking at Patutahi. The excavation of a pilot channel at Matawhero would entail a considerable amount of bridge work, including a new suspension bridge at Clark’s at a cost of £SOOO, and the lengthening of the existing highway bridge, at a cost of £3500. The annual charges over the whole scheme, at an interest rate of 51 per cent., and a sinking fund of 1J per cent., would be £2721 for a loan over a period of 30 years. At the end of the 30-year period Mr Thornton estimates that the total payments in respect of capital charges would amount to about the same as the losses which the works would prevent, but these annual charges would then disappear and the assets would remain.