DRAINAGE' WORK

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 143, 17 May 1928, Page 8

DRAINAGE' WORK

MAKERUA BOARD. AIONTHLY AIEETING. Tho monthly meeting of the Alakerua Drainage Board was held this morning, Air J. Biggins, senr., presiding. Other trustees present were Alessrs A. Seifert, J. Biggins, junr., H. Akers, R. L. Tippler and H. J. T. Hume. Tiio chairman reported that tho dredge had sunk. The insurance company had inspected it and given him instructions to have it raised, sixsevenths of the cost to be paid by the company. The continued rains had not improved matters. The overseer. Air W. H. Aliles, reported as follows:—Since last meeting of the board I have, been going on with tho cleaning of No. 2 drain and No. 1 drain. No. 2 drain has been completed and No. 1 will bo completed about tho end of the present week, having been kept back a good deal through the wet weather. Akers’ drain is progressing fairly well, but tho contractors have encountered a good deal of heavy timber, which has delayed the progress somewhat in tho meantime. I have had the railway sleepers removed from the Kara Stream bridge and returned to the Railway Department at Shannon, there being five short of tho number received from the department. 1 have also written the Horowhenua County engineer to hand over the balance of the board’s timber required in strengthening the bridge when the dredge passed over. . This timber will bo removed the beginning of next week or as soon as possible. Tho drain running between No. 2 and No. 1 drain requires deepening about a foot to allow the water in No. 1 drain to he lowered. This would only cost about £5 and would bo a benefit to tho lower end of No. 1 drain. —Tho report was adopted and it was decided to deepen tiio connecting drain as suggested. The chairman stated that there had been complaints that the drains were not being cleaned fast enough. Air Seifert suggested that contracts bo let for certain drains to hurry on the work.

The board, the chairman stated, had passed a resolution deciding to do the work by day labour. This would have lo be rescinded, and it would bo as well to wait till the other member of tho board, Air N. B. Gibbons, was present. This, said Air Tippler, was not necessary, as Air Gibbons had been in favour of letting contracts. After further discussion it was decided to call tenders for cleaning Akers’,- Seifert’s, Smith’s and Ross’s Drains. Further drains were left in the chairman and overseer to deal with.

It was moved by Air Tippler that the specifications of the contracts, where necessary, be revised, the words “shovel bottom of drain,” to be deleted and the words “drag bottom of the drain,” substituted. —Air Seifert seconding, this course was decided on. Air AicEachern waited on the board to explain how the dredge had become submerged. It had remained stationary while the river rose, he said, it would bo impossible to ascertain whether there was a leak until the dredge was pumped out, which could not lie dono until tho alter deck was clear of water.