DRAINAGE AFFAIRS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 45, 22 January 1926, Page 5

DRAINAGE AFFAIRS

MAKERUA BOARD MEETS. The monthly meeting of the Makerua Drainage Board was held yesterday ,Mr J. Liggins presiding. Others present were Messrs H. J. T. Hume, N. B. Gibbons, H. Akers and R. L. Tippler. , CORRESPONDENCE. From the Horowhenua County Council calling upon the board to cease all work on the Main road between Shannon and Kingston road in the vicinity of Kara creek until the board submitted a definite scheme for approval.—Mr Tippler moved and it was agreed to that the board’s engineer be instructed to get into immediate touch with the engineer of the council and ascertain exactly what is required. From R. Prior, Shannon, stating that ho had decided to pay his rates, but thought it unfair that ho should liavo to pay them after the way the board had allegedly treated him. If something to prevent his farm from being flooded during the coming winter was not dono, he would have to take action. It was decided to advise the writer that the Public Works Department was to blame for the trouble as it had diverted the overflow from the Mangahao power house into the board’s drain. The complaint, therefore, had been forwarded to the department. From Cooper, Rapley and Rutherfurd, on behalf of C. H. Spiers, stating that the latter proposed having certain work done and claiming compensation for alleged breach of contract. —Received. ENGINEER’S REPORT. f The engineer reported that the dragline dredge No. 1 showed a return totalling only 3730 cubic yards of stopbank for the month, or an average of 70.4 per hour worked, mainly due to the Christmas holidays. On Wednesday he inspected the work being done and found that a drain had been cut along the county road from Kara road to the excavation near peg 38. With the allowance for Christmas holidays, etc., No. 2 dredge made good progress during tlio month, having built 31 chains of stopbank, totalling 17,732 cubic yards, the average output per hour worked being 61.3 cubic yards. This dredge was at present in the Main drain and was completing the stopbank on the left bank of the Main drain; when this was dono it would return and top the right and left banks of the Tokomaru stream deviation to the required height, working from there to the completion point at Loughnan’s floodgate. Regarding bridge construction and concrete work, he was unable to report fully, as at the time of writing Foreman Campbell’s return had not been received. At the present timo work was proceeding on Tane road bridge over tlio Main drain; six piles ,had been driven, and it was expected to shift tho pile-driving gear downstream to Craw’s farm bridge on Monday and thenco to Ashlea road bridge, leaving tho rest of the gang to complete tho superstructure of each bridge in the same order. He asked for instructions in regard to Birnie’s creek stopbanks, from the stopbank on tho loft bank of tho Tokomaru stream to the railway, as this work should be done during the summer months.—Adopted. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The overseer (Mr W. H. Miles) reported that the outlets of all the small drains leading into the Main drain had been deepend. No pipes had been put in on account of the dredge having to raise tho water for coining up the Main drain. Most of the drains were in good order and it would not take long to put the pipes in when tho dams wore taken out.— Adopted. ■ GENERAL. It was resolved that Akers’ drain be cleaned only from the intersecting channel up to the top end. Mr Loughnan waited upon tho board and asked when work on his land was to be commenced.—lt was resolved to obtain a report from the engineers as to the cost of having the work done prior to making a start. Accounts amounting to ±3285 8s 7d were passed for payment.