LAKE ELLESMERE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20026, 6 September 1930, Page 7

LAKE ELLESMERE.

DRAINAGE BOARD. Mr R. M. Morten presided at the monthly meeting of the Ellesmere Land Dralnago Board, and there were also present—Messrs P. Miller, John Sharpe, G. W. R. Osborne, H. Pickering. H. J. Macartney, and J. Wood, . . The engineer Reported upon the opening o» the Lake Ellesmere outlet last month, and stated that the water had since receded to a low level. He considered it safe to anticinatO that it would romain open for a lon K®r period than usual. The cost of Jetting out the lake would total a little over £4OO. lhe Holswell river had been w j?f tton { *"^_f n g and the drains were incapable of carrying the surplus water. The committee had con sidered the/ question of having a reclassifies tion of the district carried out, and a re port would be ready for the October meeting. Mr Donald Cameron, of Ladbrooks, T">te asking for relief from a drainage trouble. It was agreed that Messrs Pickering a d Sharp should investigate and report to the B °The Commissioner for Crown -jands w rote concerning the revenue from Board over McQueen's legoon. The Land Boara was prepared to consider leasing the areas and paying the revenue to the Drainage Board.* Tho matter had been submitted to the head office of the Lands oad Department, but there was no aut .^® under which revenue from the «•»•»* °* Crown lands could be t0 ® ny side body or person. . . Th l "7 nr « ™ erasing the lagoon would therefore be re , tal Mr d asked permission! to place before the Board schemes which he thought would provide an improved method of draining Lake Ellesmere. The Board agreed to give consideration to any , o{ TimarUi w ho submitted a lake drainage feheroe to a previous mee£ ing, furnished plans and details of a new proposal which he estimated would wet £SOOO. In « subsequent letter, no amended hi# proposals and estimated the cost at nearer £IO,OOO. His idea was to install six sets of 3ft Bln pipes. The members were all agreed that the pipes take the volume of water that would have to bo dealt with. . Mr D. Jensen, of Invercargill, also submitted a scheme involving theuee ofpipes, the cost of which was estimated at £16.800, A business firm recommended the use of a tractor with revolving scoop. The outnt would handle from 850 to 400 cubic yards of material in a day of eight hours. The engineer said that two such plants, working continuously, should open an out'otMr Ortorne'Vuggested that If the firm felt confident about the ability of its plant to sooop a channel, it might consider the opening of an outlet by contract, on the «rderstanding that if the plant proved satlsfac tory the Board would consider its purchase It was decided to write enquiring whether the firm would be willing to consider the opening of ah outlet when the work required to be done again, and upon what terms. Mr A. F. Wright waited upon the Board in regard to the drainage of a farm in the Ladbrooks-Tai Tapu district. A pomp had been installed by the' owners to gst rid of surface drainage water. They olSo proposed to build up certain banks, and asked the Board to raise the banks of a drain by 2ft to 2ft Sin, which would materially reHave the /land of flood waters. The Board decided to give the matter consideration during the and to discuss it further at next meeting.