MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 117, 18 April 1931, Page 14

MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. i (From Our Own Correspondent.) FOXTON, April 17. Tho monthly meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board was held last night, presided over by Mr Chrystall. Also present were Messrs Carter, Barber Gower and Purcell. The treasurer reported that the bank balances were as follow: —Bank of New Zealand at debit £6 10s 9d, P. 0.5.8. at credit £BB 7s 4d. The balances of the main ledger accounts were as follow: General account in debit £2B 14s 9d, interest account credit £l6 4s, contractors’ deposit account credit £6, workers’ dwelling loan account credit £BB 7s 4d. Since last meeting £269 14s 6d was paid out in wages to men employed under the No. 5 scheme, making a total to date of £464 13s 6d, the whole of which has been recovered from the local certifying officer. The board’s financial year ended on March 31, but the balance sheet has not yet been returned from the Auditor-General. The year ended with a credit balance in each of the revenue accounts as follow: General acocunt £35 17s 3d, interest account No. 1 £l6 4s, interest account No. 3 £Bl 7s 4d. Accounts amounting to £414 15s 6d were passed for payment. The foreman reported that during the month the boards gang of men cleaned 93 chains of tho Main Drain from Langley’s Bridge to the head of the drain. Trustees remarked on tho phenomenal growth of weeds in all drains during the past season. The report was adopted. Tho chairmain reported that the engineer had made an excellent job of repairing the leaks in the Main Drain floodgates. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: —From the State Advance Office in reply to the board’s request, stating that it could not see its way clear to entertain a loan proposal at the present time.—Received. From Messrs Innes and Oakley on behalf of Mr F. S. Easton asking for a more satisfactory answer to their letter in regard to tho effective cleaning of tho Diagonal Drain and repairs to the floodgates.—The secretary reported that ho had furnished the information sought. From the Labour Department, asking the board to endeavour to employ the men previously engaged under tho No. 5 scheme during the period of suspension of the relief work. —The board regretted that it could not comply with the request. The treasurer reported that the estimates for the current year had been prepared and it would be possible to effect a reduction in the rates for the coming year. He stated that a greater reduction would have been posible only for tho revaluation of the Moutoa Estate, the unimproved value of which had just been reduced by £18,256. The estimates were perused and approved and the balance sheet read and adopted. A formal resoltuion striking the rate was passed and it was decided to offer a five per cent discount on all rates paid on or before due date this year. The chairman reported that he had interviewed Mr A. P. Easton with a view to obtaining his consent to the board lowering the floodbank between Duck Creek and the Main Drain. Three property owners were concerned. The Public Trustee and Messrs A. P. and S. Easton. Mr S. Easton was agreeable to the proposal and the Public Trustee said he would give his consent only if tho other two were agreed on the work. Mr A. P. Easton, however, was opposed to the proposal as he considered floodgates should be erected at Duck Creek. It was decided to call tenders for cleaning Cook’s and Saunders’s drains.