LAKE ELLESMERE DRAINAGE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20978, 5 October 1933, Page 5

LAKE ELLESMERE DRAINAGE.

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD ! The cut from Lake Ellesmere to the <ea has now bsen opened 15 times j and has closed 14, according to the j secretary of the Ellesmere Land Drainage Board, which held its monthly I meeting yesterday morning in the Tai I'fapu Dairy Company's rooms. Mr R. 'M. Morten was in the, chair, and also present were Messrs II• J. Macartjiey, W. C. Miller, J. Sharp, H. Pickering, W Downey, and J. McKenzie (secretary) An apology for absence was received from Mr F. Coop. c At 9 o'clock in the morning of September 6 the cut was last opened, and the lake dropped at a very slow rate to sea level, stated the secretary s report. On Sunday last the cutting was still open, and it appeared ■with the approaching summer it nugnt remain open for a longer period tban usual, but this depended on whether rough seas were, prevalent m tne meantime. On September 17 the lake was standing at one foot below zero, and on October 1; the height was still the same. A very fortunate north-east gale made it possible to achieve sucThe reduction of water in the lake had effected a lowering of water in the canal at Motukarara, and conditions had thus been improved for carrying out work on the canal bank. This had been carried put on one side for nearly a mile, and the 16 men in camp' at Motukarara under the 4B scheme had jinished their sixteenth week. . . Rivers and Drains. - ' "During the month," the secretary's report continued, "the weed-cutter traversed the whole of the river and canal from the Tramway road drain to the lake. A very satisfactory cut was made, the river at present being at a very low level. The sides have been trimmed for most of the length, and an endeavour was made to have the river free from floating debris and weeds at the opening of the fishing season. This was possible and the annoyance to anglers was reduced to a minimum." . A letter was received from the Unemployment Board about the transportation costs of relief workers proceeding to relief camps. Previously the board insisted on, relief workers Who did not remain in. camp a month refunding any transport costs advanced by the board. As this might prevent a camp worker from accepting private employment, it was proposed that the decision of refunding should be left to the discretion of the official in charge of the camp. Should a man afterwards return to camp, he must meet his transport expenses. Another letter was received stating that unemployed labour would be made available to farmers for full-time work ; under the No. 5 scheme for the eradication of ragwort. Farmers obtaining ! this relief must be prepared to provide food, transport, materials, and accommodation where necessary. The financial statement showed a j debit balance of £597 8s Id, and various accounts were passed for payment. | The total expenditure under the No. |5 scheme to date had been £5288 13s 13d. Rates outstanding to the extent 'of £99 16s had been collected.