MANAWATU DRAINAGE BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9084, 2 December 1909, Page 8

MANAWATU DRAINAGE BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Manawatu Land Drainage Board was held to-day. There were present Trustees Sanson Collis, Voss, Guy, Clausen, Pronse, and P. Garrity.

A letter was received from the Railway Department stating that in consequence of letters, etc., received from Messrs Bell, Gully and Cooper, the work of increasing the size of the pipe culvert below the railway at Longburn had been -stopped, and it will not be started again until the Department received a letter from the Board indemnifying it against all claims with reference to the pipe. Mr Riddiford waited upon the Board in respect to the matter mentioned by the Department. He strongly objected to the Board's proposal to increase the carrying capacity of the culvert complained of by 6 inches, that is replacing the present. Ift pipe with an 18in pipe. In reply to a question Mr Riddiford said he would not consent to the enlargement of the pipe even if the settlers below him agreed to it. He also complained of the water from the Government artesian well going through the drain, and he considered that the Board should stop the Government putting its water down the drain. Mr Riddiford said he was quite determined that he would not agree to the Board's proposal, and he threatened legal proceedings unless the matter was satisfactorily adjusted.

Mr C. Can waited upon the Board, and asked that Mitchell's Creek," near his property, should be cleared out. Mr Rogers, senr., Rangitikei Line, was also in attendance. He desired to know the Board's intentions with regard to proposed work in connection with the Mangaone stream. These were , explained by the Board's Engineer, who also arranged to meet Mr Rogers on his property to-mor-row morning and further explain the propositions, after which Mr _ Rogers said he would in all probability sign the general consent to the work proceeding. Messrs Davidson, senr. and junr., also waited upon the Board. The former desired to know and was informed that steps were being taken to protect his property from the Mangaone, work commencing to-day. Mr Davidson, junr., presented a petition from settlers interested in the culvert at Scales' corner. They desired that the Engineer should be instructed to take the leyele and report upon the advisability of having the water-course through Mr Riddiford's property cleaned out. It was decided to receive the petition, and the Engineer will report upon it. Regarding the pipe drain at Longburn and Mr Riddiford's objection, it was decided to obtain the Board's solicitor's opinion on the subject. It was also decided that the Chairman and Engineer should communicate with the Government with regard to the artesian water flowing into the drain.

Mr Carr's request will be oonsidered when the estimates are brought down.