MAKERUA DRAINAGE BOARD

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2715, 24 June 1925, Page 11

MAKERUA DRAINAGE BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting: of the Makerua Drainage Board was held on Monday, when Trustee J. Liggins occupied, the chair. Other members present were; —Trustees A. Seifert, H. J. T. Hume, H. Akers and R. Tippler. Works Committee’s Report. The works committee reported that the No. 1 dredge during May constructed 30 chains of bank on the Tokomaru, excavating 24776 cubic yards of spoil, an average of 122.6 yards per hour on time worked. Owing to wet weather, there were many days when the dredge was idle. The No. 2 dredge had had a fairly good tun since repairs were completed, and was now on the last section of the main drain in the Ashlea property. 30 chains were completed during May, excavating 16133 cubic yards, an average of 124.1 yards per hour on time worked. This -was Very good W'ork considering the dredge was stopped foi repairs from May 1 to 19. The Tokomaru river bridge was completed but had not yet been passed 1 by the County engineer as it did not conform to the engineer's plans. Some slight negotiations were necessary before Mr. Anderson would pass it. The total cost was £*1209 9/-. The bridge over the intersecting canal is in a bad w'ay having sunk 7.inches at one end. The engineers had inspected it and would report. Wall's stock bridge was finished. The embankments abutting the big floodgate was also completed. Williams’ stock bridge was under way and should be finished Wednesday week. The 4 inch floodgate at Loughnans, Kingston road, would be finished in two days and then this gang would go to Tokomaru to complete the main drain floodgate. The position of the owners in the Makerua area ; where the bank was now being built required consideration as to what the actual position would be when the bank was completed down to the Kara creek. Overseer’s Report. The overseer (Mr. W. H. Miles) reported that owing to heavy rains, very little headway was made on the Bank road, two chains of the protection bank had been renewed while all the heavy beams for the four bridges at Tokomaru had been delivered to the various jobs. As regarded the protection bank, from the Manawatu river up along the Mangere stream for about twenty-five chains, had sunk nine inches lower than the remaining portion of the bank during the last two floods in the Manawatu river. The bank along the Tokomaru river had been cut through and left open and it was only the efforts of Mr. Phillips that prevented very serious results. General. A letter of appreciation is to be sent to Mr. Phillips in respect to the work of filling up the gap in the Board’s bank. It was decided that steps be taken to obtain the ratepayers’ consent to the raising of a further £IO,OOO in respect to the banking loan at 6 per cent. It was decided that the Board immediately authorise the banking of both sides of the northern branch of the Kara stream from Kingston road to Hebbel's boundary provided that Messrs. A. Seifert and Co., paid the extra amount it would cost to carry out the work. Accounts amounting to £2731 2/11 wore passed for payment.