DRAINAGE WORK

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 134, 7 May 1928, Page 8

DRAINAGE WORK

MANAWATU BOARD’S MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Manawatu Drainage Board was held this morning, the following trustees being present: Messrs P. J. Small (in the chair), M. A. Eliott, R. Tanner. D. Collis and E. Wood. The resolution with reference to the raising of a loan carried at a special meeting a few weeks ago was confined and it was also decided to give public notice of the intention iof the board on May 2.3 to consider a motion to apply to the Local Bodies’ Loans Board for sanction to raise the loan. SETTLEDS It-EQUESTS.

A deputation consisting of Messrs J. Sanson, A. J. Grey and J. -Pratt waited on the board wtih a request for it to take over 70 chains of drain running through their properties on Lockwood Road. The chairman said that lie was in sympathy with the deputation, but,' unfortunately, they were not the only ones with water on their farms. At present the board had 94 miles of drains and if it took over all the drains that the ratepayers wanted it to do, there would bo 200 miles to maintain. In his opinion it mould be advisable to discuss the question _ on the spot when it could be ascertained whpt the deputation was prepared to do to help tho board. A further deputation consisting of Messrs N. Campbell, C. 0. Saunders and H. W. Bennett also waited on the board asking for new drains to a length of lo chains, together with culverts, along Dalton’s Road, Awahuri. They, tho deputation, had spent £4OO on rates and had. never had any work done. Mr Small stated that the board recognised that something should be done.

Mr Eliott asked if the Kairanga County Council would contribute to tho cost. The chairman: Yes, I think so.

It was pointed .out by Mr Small in response to an enquiry from Mr Wood that the cost would ■ he quite small. It was decided that tho board should inspect the locality and form some decision then. In connection with both these matters Mr Eliott said that it would be more satisfactory for the hoard to give a subsidy and get the settlers to do tho work and not to accept the. liability. There was another drain along Lockwood Road which had been dug last year by Messrs Gray and Holden, the Lockwood Land Company, the Kairanga County Council and the board and, for about six chains of this, tho banks, being sandy, had fallen in. Providing that the cost was not too great and also that the same parties would contribute towards the cost, pipes should be put in. He moved in this direction and Mr Tanner seconding, this course was decided upon. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer, Mr A. H. M. Wright, reported as follows: Tenders were ’invited for the cleaning of 335 chains of Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Road drain and one at 3s 9d per chain, being the lowest, was accepted. Tho work has sinco been commenced, thirty-five day men have been employed and work carried out as follows:-—Main Drain cleaned out and in places widened to the Junction with Whiskey Creek. Bourke’s Drain: A length of one mile cleaned. No. 1 Aorangi : Tho cleaning of this drain has been proceeded with and will be completed in a few days. Karere Road Drain: One mile has been cleaned and bottom regraded. Boundary Drain: Grass has been cut foY a distance of 45 chains. Kaua Creek: Two hundred and thirty-four chains liavo been cleaned. Meagher’s Drain: Twenty chains have been cleaned. Mungaone: The lower bridge across the Mangaone stream in Mr Devine’s property lias been partially renewed, the expenditure being approximately £7O. Straining blocks •on the upper bridge in the same property have also been tightened up. I have again interviewed the district engineer. Public Works Department, and understand unofficially that the department will probably offer to fine half the estimate cost of banking from Boundary Road to Richardson’s Line, namely £650. I have written to the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board asking that it remove willow and macrocarpa branches cut by its men and now lying in the Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Road drain. The estimate cost of cleaning out Saunders’ Drain, inspected by the chairman and the engineer, is £4 4s, being .15 chains at 4s and 8s at 3s per chain. The cleaning out of Burrell’s Drain will be commenced to-day. BOURKE’S DRAIN. Messrs Jicltell and Gilmour, consulting engineers, reported in connection with the combined bridge and floodgate at Bourke’s Drain, Rangiotu, as follows: —During the month 21 cubic yards of concrete have been built ill situ, and 664 cubic yards of filling in ramps and 127 cubic yards of metalling done. Two floodgates have been placed in position and 11 others are on the site, but have not been hung owing to tho .non-arrival of hangers, The contractors for the supply of the gates, etc., have assured us that the gates and hangers will be on the site in tho course of a day or two. GENERAL.

It was resolved to take no action in connection with wages paid to temporary men.

It was decided to repair tho stopbank in Mr Bennett’s property, provided ‘ that he contributed half the cost.

The question of fixing the rates to be levied was held over.