MANAWATU OROUA RIVERS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2313, 4 December 1925, Page 9

MANAWATU OROUA RIVERS

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Mana watu —Oroua River Board was hela yesterday, when Mr W. S. Carter occupied the chair. Other members present were: Messrs J. E. C. Harrison H. Wilton, B. G. Gower, H. ard A Akers. Recording the Floods. The engineer (Mr F. C. Hay) reported that he had been informed tha the apparatus tor electrical water lev el recorders to keep a permanent re cord would cost £2OO and those to in oicate the water level only, £144. In both cases the mechanism is actuateu by an ISin. copper float the movement of which is conveyed directly to a transmitter and thence by wires to the recorder, which indicates the level of the water by means of a pointer on a dial and in the first named apparatus, also records it on a chart. No. 11 apparatus would be sufficient for the purpose of reporting Hoods and issuing warnings to settlers, but the complete records kept by the other would be sufficiently valuable to • justify the extra cost. The cost of the installation would bo £260 for No. 1 and £2O-i for No. 2. As regarded the erection of the wire, the Rost and Telegraph department would charge £lO/10/1) a year for a line between the Fitzher'bert street bridge and the Palmerston North telephone exchange. He thought it advisable to install the apparatus at Palmerston North, as tho telephone exchange was a continuous one and the transmitting of flood reports could be done with promptitude and accuracy. The Woodville reports could still come to Palmerston North and would be sent on as preliminary warnings of floods. When a flood was on, arrangements could be made to keep the Foxton an\ Shannon bureaux open throughout the the night, or until the river began to go down. He had not received a definite assurance of this, but the Post and Telegrauph Department had indicated its willingness to help the Board in every way and if this were done and the cost were not made prohibitive he felt sure the reporting of floods would be on as good a system as it was possible to get. The engineer suggested that the Government might bo persuaded to finance the scheme and it was decided that he place the particulars before the Prime Minister, with that object in view. Correspondence. The Board was informed by Mr T. Ward, Wellington, that the Government Survey Department has passed the plans of the River Board survey. Tha Manawatu Drainage Board wrote in reference to the bridge" and floodgate at Rangiotu, asking whether tho River Board was prepared to contribute a fair proportion of the cost, even if the structures were erected before the loan money was available. —It was decided to reply that the Board would pay up to £F)00. Mrs M. Boddy, of Kopane, wrote stating that she had received a rate notice and considered there had been a mistake as she had been assured by the clerk that her name was not on tho roll and was therefore outside the proposed rating area. —It was decided to place the matter before th« Departmental surveyor for a report. The Depatment of Internal Affairs wrote acknowledging the Board’s ap> plication relative to the setting up oi a Commission to affix tho amount it any, to be contributed by the local bodies interested in the Board’s scheme and advised that an application should be made to the Govern-or-General. The Department assum ed that formal application would be made and forwarded a draft warrant appointing a Commission, but the actual personnel had not been notified. —lt was decided that Messrs W. § Carter, H. Akers, B. G. Gower, N. P. Nielsen and F. C. Hay comprise a deputation to wait on the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Prime Minister, urging them to give power to the Commission to hear evidence regarding national interest in thd Board's scheme. It was also decided to ask the Hon. E. Newman and Messrs J. A. Nash and J. Linklater, M’s.P. to accompany the deputation. The date of the interview with the Ministers to be left to Mr Linklater. The question of tho citation of the local bodies was left over until after the deputation had visited Wellington and then if necessary a special meeting is to be called to discuss the matter. An application for re-classification was received from IC. Dalrymple, of Bulls.. Tho financial statement showed a debit bank balance of £897/10/6, which, with accounts for payment £B9/7/7, made a total debit of £986/18/1. As against this, outstanding rates amounted to £924/7/7. It was decided to add ton per cent to all rates outstanding and sued for after December 21.