MANAWATU RIVER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 285, 30 October 1933, Page 6

MANAWATU RIVER.

MEETING OF BOARD. The Palmerston North River Board met this morning. Those present were Trustees A. E. Mansford (chairman), J. Hodgens, G. Tremaine, R. L. C. Aitchison, VV. Anderson, J. Batchelar and AV. R. Hopcroft. The report of the foreman of works (Mr A. Lane), which was received, was as follows: —Mcßae’s bend: An extension of 35 feet on No. 7 groyne has been completed at a cost of £39 11s 7d, or per foot, £1 2s 7d. The work of strengthening No. 8 groyne has been completed, the total cost being £66 17s 4d. Owing to the depth of water around this groyne and the amount of timber it collects in flood time, it was essential to have an extra row of piles driven and necessary stays and braces attached. Gosling’s east: The work of constructing No. 5 groyne is in progress, all the piles having been driven and the sta3’s attached. The work of placing the booms is now in progress. All ’the timber required for this groyne is deposited on the site. Relief work: An average of 15 men per week lias been employed on treeplanting, repairing fences, and groyne work. The trees planted are on the following foreshores: Golf Club, 500 trees; Mr Heatley’s, 100 trees. These have been supplied free. The work of repairing fences for the protection of the willow plantations is as follows: Golf Club foreshore, Mr Creswell’s, Mr Gosling’s west foreshore, each 10 chains. General: The hauling of the necessary timber from the river at Gosling’s east is nearing completion, and as soon as it is completed, this plant will proceed up stream to commence hauling the timber from the river for groyne extension work at Anderson’s Bend. Owing to the excellent weather and river conditions that have prevailed, good progress has been made with grojme work and the hauling of timber from the river. During the past month the highest fresh recorded was 3ft. 6ins. above summer level, on October 22. The statement of rates for the year 1933-34, presented by the clerk (Mr J. It. Hardie), showed that the rates struck, as per estimates, amounted to £2255 and payments to date had totalled £lOl7 14s, leaving £1237 6s outstanding. The amount of rates outstanding at April 1, 1933, had been £634 7s 9d, and payments amounting to £194 7s lOd had since been made, leaving the amount now outstanding in arrears at £439 19s lid. Unemployed men working on river protection operations applied for the cycle allowance given other No. 6 scheme workers. It was decided, on the motion of Trustee Hopcroft, seconded by Trustee Aitchison, that the allowance should be made, being retrospective to October 1. The chairman said that the allowance would amount in all to about 2s 3d a day. Trustee Tremaine brought up the matter of scouring by the river at the rubbish tip. It was decided that the foreman should furnish a report to the meeting of the board next month. The meeting decided to draw the attention of the Public Works Department to the scouring of the river above the Longburn railway bridge, the foreman reporting that he thought it would he detrimental to the bridge.