BOURKE’S DRAIN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 162, 10 June 1929, Page 7

BOURKE’S DRAIN.

WORK ON FLOODGATE. The question of Bourke’s Drain Floodgate was before the Manawatu Drainage Board again to-day when it was reported that only part of the work of increasing its capacity had been concluded before the recent flood. Die view was expressed by members, however, that what work had been done had proved beneficial. . The engineer, Mr A. H. M. Wright, reported as follows with regard to the floodgate. “The work of incieasing the waterway was proceeded with, the new opening being made but not completed just prior to the recent heavy flood in the Manawatu River. The present opening is about equal to two of the original culverts, and assisted materially in carrying away the floodwaters. When completed it will be equal in capacity to four of the original openings.” Under date May 4, Messrs Harrison and Lett, of Rangiotu, wrote urging that the work on the Bourke’s Drain Floodgate be pushed on as rapidly as possible even if extra shifts had to work at night as in June heavy rains would commence. After then it would be impossible to proceed with the widening of the aperture. The writers felt that the rapidity of the work was of vital importance “We would have got it through if we had worked longer hours,” said the chairman (Mr P. J. Small) in moving that the board reply that they were doing the work now as fast as the water would permit. “There’s no doubt, n ’ said Mr M. A. Eliott “that it should have been finished before the flood. But, even so, the water got away twice as fast as it used to do.” Mr Eliott stated that he would iike to suggest an improvement. Between two doors on the middle tier was a blank wall. If this was bevelled off on the ins'ide it would shoot the water into the tunnels- The speaker illustrated his argument by photographs. The Local Bodies Loans Board wrote sanctioning the Rangiotu Floodgate loan of £SOO, the interest not to exceed 5} per cent. The hoard expressed the opinion that, in the present state of the market, it should be possible to raise money at this rate, hut if this could not he done permission could be obtained to raise it at a higher rate of interest.

Mr Eliott reported that a sufficient majority of the ratepayers had signified their intention to support the proposal and had signed documentary consent. The opinion was expressed by members that the cost would not be as much as £SOO.