TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 14186, 11 October 1909, Page 6

TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD

The lust meeting of the present Taieri Drainage Board was held at Mosgiel toand was attended by Messrs Shand (chairman), Kempsliall, Fnrkert, Macaudrew, Wilrnot, Findlay, Callander, and Gibson. Some correspondence was dealt with. Mr A. Gordon Smith wrote a lengthy letter detailing particulars of a complaint and a remedy concerning the discharge of “ illicit bodies of gravel and water, weeds, and other noxious detritus” on certain highly-taxed lands belonging to him and other settlers. He suggested as a remedy the erection of a gravel trap of willow crates of given dimensions.—The letter was received.

Mr M. Elliott. engineer, - reported on work demo ajid in hand. The details showed that drains in different areas had been cleaned out. Be recommended that a drain through Mr Hewitt’s land be taken over by the Board, From investigations made by an officer of the. Board it appeared that the line of this drainage is the most suitable for the surrounding properties, and that the Loch Latrine channel is the most suitable outfall; that an application of Mr Craigie re erecting pump on “C" drain bo not entertained, as it will be better to draw the water from the river bank, which is high land to the lowest points, and pomp from there. The application proved that the boxes on the river are not sufficiently efficient for drainage- Regarding the accommodation bridge across Wylie’s Greek at Thomson’s, which is in a bad stale of repair, the estimated cost of erecting a new bridge, using as much of the present timber .os possible, would be £l6. He had made some investigations in Australia as to excavating plant, and he recommended that a eorm mittee be set up to investigate the information available. A plan showing position of drains and levels of East' and West Taaeri districts is in course of preparation, Ho proposed to lay cot the diversion of the Lee Creek and to prepare an estimate of cost. £415 had been spent in cleaning drains and £175 for pumping up to October L Tile clauses of the report were taken seriatim and discussed conversationally. It was decided to take over the drain in Mr Hewitt’s property and to renew the bridge across Wylie’s Creak. The engineer was instructed to report on matters referred to in a letter from the Hon. G. M'Lean, and to make a recommendation to the Board. It was decided to leave the recommendation regarding the investigation of information about excavating plant to the new Board to be elected in the near future.

The Board then went into committee to consider tenders for the construction of a new channel for tho Silverstream. It was resolved to submit the two lowest tenders to the first meeting of the new Board.