MAKERUA DRAINAGE BOARD

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6613, 18 May 1928, Page 12

MAKERUA DRAINAGE BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. At. tlic monthly mooting of the Makcrua Drainage Board yesterday it was decided that in order to expedite the cleaning out of 'drains that contracts be let for the main works instead of day labour as at present.. There wore present: Trustees J. Biggins (in the chair), A. Seifert, J. Biggins jur., H. Akers, E. B. Tippler and H. J. T. Hume. Overseer’s Report. The overseer’s report stated tha* since the last meeting he had proceeded with the cleaning of No. 2 and No. 1 drains. No. 2 drain had been completed and No. 1 would be completed by the end of the week having been kept hack a good deal through wet weather. Aker’s Drain was progressing fairiy 17011, but the contractors had encountered a good deal of heavy tint ber, which had delayed the progress of this work somewhat in the meantime.

The railway sleepers had been removed from the Cara bridge and returned to the Railway Department at Shannon, there being five short of the number received from the Railway Department.

Ho had ■ written the Horo.whonua County Engineer to hand over the balance of the Board’s timber required in strengthening the bridge when the ’dredge passed over. This timber would be removed tho beginning of next week as soon as possible. The drain running between Kb. 2 and No. .1 drain required deepening about a foot to allow tho water in I No. 1 Drain to bo lowered. Tills would only cost about five pounds and would bo a benefit to the lower end of No. ' 1 drain. ! Chairman’s Report. Tho chairman reported that since tho last meeting tho Board’s dredge had sunk. Ho had conferred with the insurance company on the spot and it had been agreed (hat the Board should contribute one-seventh of tho cost of raising the dredge and the insurance company the remainder. He was apprehensive of the fate of tho dredge in view of tho recent heavy rains.

The custodian of the dredge reported that during the fresh in the stream on April 23, the water had risen over the dredge. Previously ho had pumped out the dredge to within a foot of the bottom. The dredge had remained at the same heigh He was unable to state whotndr fTTs was due to the dredge leaking or merely being held in position by the suction of the water. Captain Walker on behalf of the insurance company had advised that the dredge be left as at present with the custodian standing by. Nothing could bo done until the water subsided at least six inches below the after part of the dock. Word was then to be sent to the Captain, steam to bo got up, aud coal held in readiness for pumping operations. The chairman’s action in authorising the custodian to stand by the flrcdgo and to act in accordance with Captain Walker’s instructions was endorsed by the Board. Tt was furlhor resolved that the custodian be paid £5 a week until such time as the work of pumping out and raising the dredge was completed. The actual cost of this work was estimated by Captain Walker to cost very little. Contracts for Main Drains. The resolution that day labour be employed in clearing out tho Board's drains was rescinded. It was decided that tenders be called for the cleaning out of Smith's, Seifert’s, Aker’s (from 30 chains below Tane road to the top end) and further drains bo left in the hands of the chairman and overseer with power to act. Tho specifications for cleaning out drains by contract were amended, the words shovel bottom of drain being deleted and the words drag all woods from tho bottom substituted.

If. was resolved that the rate proposals for the ensuing year be fully discussed at the special meeting of the Board on May 20.