Evening Post 17 Jan 1905

The annual Corporation picnic to the waterworks at Wainui-o-mata took place yesterday. Favoured by fine weather, the outing was a great success, and His Worship, Councillors, officials, and friends spent a very pleasant day at what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful picnic resorts within reach of Wellington. As to the business part of the outing, the only serious matter to consider was the damage which recent floods have done to the overflow dam. The huge volumes of water which have come over this dam – an immense concrete structure – have worn some holes of considerable size in the side walls, one of which acts as a buttress to the pressure of water in the reservoir. Any weakening of this support is, naturally, a matter that calls for immediate attention, and it was remarked with satisfaction that the Engineer (Mr Morton) has taken remedial measures of a most complete description without delay. The main wall of the dam, which shows some leakage, and the side walls, are already being repaired, and it is anticipated that the present spell of fine weather will enable the work to be carried out without the slightest interruption. While expressing great satisfaction with the prompt measures taken by the Engineer to remedy the defect, Councillors marveled at the revelation it afforded of the class of material employed in the construction of the dam. Some of the material,
supposed to be pure concrete, could be crumbled between the fingers, and one could only wonder that the scouring of the overflow had not done a greater amount of damage.