TAIERI RIVER TRUST

Evening Star, Issue 19276, 15 June 1926, Page 9

TAIERI RIVER TRUST

THE MONTHLY MEETING

Mr R. T. Sadd presided at the monthly meeting of tho Taieri River Trust. =

The Acting District Traffic Manager, New Zealand Railways, advised that messages concerning the state of the Taieri River when a Hood was threatened, received at tho Mosgiel railway station from Mr Logan, county clerk, were to be immediately telephoned to tho Henley railway station during tho time the staff was on duty at that station. Tho member in charge at Henley had been instructed to exhibit tho information received in a conspicuous place at the station. Any message concerning flood matters received from the Telegraph Office at Dunedin would be immediately transmitted to the Henley railway station.—lt was resolved to forward a letter of thanks for tho concession. DIVERSION OF CREEK. H. W. Wilson, Henley, forwarded a petition signed by twenty-one ratepayers drawing tho trust’s attention to what they considered would cause considerable damage to their properties—viz., diverting Duck Creek into B drain.—ln referring to this request, Mr Kompsholl said ho decidedly objected to Duck Creek being put into B drain or any of tho existing drains. Duck Creek Iliad ft big catchment area, and in wet weather it brought down tho plain from a high level big volume of water. To put it into B drain, as suggested by the i.ublic Works Department, would block all the drains that ran into “B” dram and flood all the adjoining properties. A 'point that must be borne in mind was that in heavy rains there was a flooded lake which stopped the .pumps, and all this time Duck Creek would be flooding Henley, and that would make the internal drainage worse than it had ever been. Duck Cx*eek should be piped under tho new bank and run down the borrow pit; then it would get the benefit of all the low tides, and would relievo the land of an immense amount of water. Should any pumping he required, a drain could bo cut from the borrow pit direct to the new pumping station. To pump Duck Creek trom “B” drain would prove an endless undertaking, and be very costly. He moved that tho trust should endorse tho petition and send it on to the iublio Works Department.—Mr O tMf.v seconded tho motion.—Mr Blackie moved as an amendment that tho petition bo sent on without any comment. Mr Miller seconded the amendment, which was carried, Messrs Reid, Blackie, Miller, Lindsay, and -the chairman voting for it. Mr Evans did not VOt °’ OTHER MATTERS.

The Assistant Engineer, I’ublic Works Department, Allanton. torwarded the following letter;— With •reference to the suggestion put toiward at last meeting of the trust by Mi O’Leary that when the new embankment approached 0 drain arrangements if possible be made with the Hallways Department temporarily to connect the embankment to tho railway hue m times of emergency and cut the bank at Otokia, I have to advise you that I have gone into the question ot levels I find that the level of, the present bank between Otokia railway budge and the bottle neck, some twenty chains down the river, averages oa.Utt above datum. The rail level on Jic bridge is 61.1 it above datum, bvit immediately off the bridge tho level lulls rapidly, thirteen chains away the level being 55,25 ft above datum, and thirtytwo chains (or twelve chains aboie 0 drain) the level being only olJJlt above datum. This means that at a point only some six chains from the railway bridge, or where the existing bank on tho north side of the railw ay abuts on the railway, tho rail level is equal to the level of tho existing bunk. Tho District Engineer of Railways, during au interview that Messrs baud, O’Leary, and myself had with him, considered ho could meet tho trust, provided the temporary junction with the railway lino wore made at a point on the lino which was no lower than the present bank. It therefore appears useless to consider the'suggestion further, as lie would certainly not agree to the removal of the present protection for one at all lower, and 1 feel sure that tho Public Works Department would itself not attempt to influence the Railways Department in the circumstances. I am of the opinion, therefore, that it would be useifess to pursue this idea further, but if the trust wishes tho question could he. mentioned at tho next mooting of the trust.” Mr O’Leary did not agree with the letter. The deputation, he said, had approached Mr Bcnzoni and received a promise. Then Mr Evans commenced drawing sketches and pointed out levels, bringing possible objections in tho way of the work being carried out. This had prevented Mr Bcnzoni taking further action; otherwise they would have at once got tho permission. Mr Blackie moved, and Mr Miller seconded, a motion that the matter be left with the chairman, Mr Evans, and Mr Marks to interview Mr Benzoni a-s to having the banks joined up as* early ns possible.—This was agreed to, Air Kempshell and Mr O’Leary voting against it. Tho Foropmn reported that , the under-structure of M’Doiiakl’s bridge, Duck Creek, had decayed, and was not fit for heavy traffic. He recommended that a concrete culvert bo inserted.— Agreed to. The Foreman reported that George Patrick had complained of tho width between the planks on the contour bridge on the Otokia-Maungatua road. —To be attended to.