MOUTGA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4404, 13 October 1934, Page 2

MOUTGA DRAINAGE BOARD.

monthly mooting. The monthly mooting' oi the Monton Drainage Bonnli was held in the Board’s ollioo on Thursday evening:, presided over by Trustee J. Chrvstall (Chairman). Also present were Trustees W. E. Burlier, D. Pureell. F. Woods, and the elerk (Mr G. V. Fraser). An apology for absence was received from Mr It. Seifert, who was granted two months’ leave ol absence. TREASURER'S REPORT.

The treasurer reported that the hank balances to din to were as follows: Bank of New Zealand, eerdit, CldlJ 17/1 ; Post Office Savings Bank, credit, £!H> 17/d. The balances of the main ledger accounts were as follows: —General Account credit, £124 5/2; Interest Account credit, £3l) 11/11; Worker’s Dwelling Loan Interest Account, credit, .CIKI 17/4.

The ratepayers’ list for the currest; year was submitted to the Magistrate on September 21st, and there being no objections, was duly certified 1 as correct.

The treasurer was congratulated on the return of the Board’s balance sheet from the Audit Office,’ minus any “tag” and accounts unmounting to £l)2 0/1 f) were passed for payment. FOR KM AN’S RKPORT.

The fore/nan (Mr T, A. Robin son) reported as follows: —

Since last, meeting the following work has been carried out : Glean ing out Carter’s drain in the upper section and finishing of same a distance of 45 chains (time 2d days); cleaning Smith’s drain tor 27 chains out of the 53 (7 days); tree planting along the banks of Carter’s and Lean’s drains on the properties of Messrs Chrystall, Dr. Wall and W. E. Barber (10 days). Fescue had to he grubbed and a considerable amount of rubbish had to be removed before the trees could be planted along Lean’s drain. One hundred and fifty two-vear-old pinus, 100 lusitaniea and a few wyeh elm were planted on this section; 20 pinus and a. few wyeh elm on Dr. Wall’s property; and 50 lusitanica and! a few wyeh elm on Air Barber’s drain. Mr W. E. Barber supplied 150 2-vear-old pinus trees and a man to plant same. Air Carter planted a 15-chain belt of lawsoniana further up. The lusitaniea were making good growth and looked the healthiest in the wettest places but the experiment should be well worth watching. Silt had to he removed from the floodgate doors after each small Hood during the

past two months and something should! be done in connection with the silting up of the south side of the Alain Drain outlet. In this eonneetion, the foreman suggested the deepening of the Alain Drain between the floodgate and the Levin Road bridge should he completed (his summer as all the pressure of water at present was forced' on to the north side of the drain and if this pressure was evened up over the whole width of the drain, there would be little or no trouble with the silt on the outside.

Trustee Purcell said that the silting had been so bad that rushes were now growing in the drain on the south side, causing a deflection of the water to the north side. He thought the foreman’s idea was a good one and should bo given effect to.

Trustee F. Woods concurred. Trustee Purcell: The foreman could do the work as time permitted. Only 27 chains of drain remains to be done.

The Chairman said that he did not agree with the proposal. In his opinion the Board should concentrate its efforts on checking the growth of swangrass in the drains. This was a far greater menace and to give it the necessary check he considered the infested areas should be cleaned' twice a year. November' was a suitable month for the carrying out of this work and il it was done he was convinced that at least half, the hulk of swangrass irr the drains would he removed. In any case it was most necessary that the swangrass should Ire cut before it seeded. Trustee Barber: Art attack on it in November will certainly do a lot of good. Trustee Purcell: But in the meantime the floodgate doors arc getting sprung through the silt a I the floodgates. It scorns a great waste of money to trte to allow this to continue.

Trustee Barber suggested rising the,doors in such a manner as lo create a cross current to scour the silt out. For instance, if the doors on the north side of the floodgate were blocked shut the only outlet would! he on. the south side where the silt was and this would consequently he swept away. The report was adopted, however, and the deepening proposal held over for future consideration. A vote of thanks was accorded Trustee Barber for the donation of trees and assistance in planting. Lengthy correspondence was received from. Mr W. S. Carter admitting responsiblitv to some extent for- the state of his drain hat in the main contradicting the foreman’s report on this drain submitted to the last meeting. The foreman submitted a further and detailed report on the state of the drain, which had also been inspected during the month by the Chairman and Trustee Barber. It was decided to furnish Mr Carter' with a copy of the report. The 'Cleifki was instructed to write to the secretary of the Manawatu Drainage Board asking what action the Board could take to prevent, pig stye and cow bail refuse being run into private drains under the Board’s jurisdiction. It. was decided that on eomple-

turn of the work already authorised by the Board, and weather permitling, the foreman ho instructed to commence going up the Main Drain and removing swangrass hv cutting if with a hook or fern scythe. Trustee W. E. Barber asked if the Board intended to try salt oil the weed and il was decided to apply two ton in the Mile Drain when the current ceased. "Trustee Barber said that he had made tentative arrangements for a demonstration to the Board of the new flame-throwing weed killer and it was agreed to finalise a date as early as possible.