£2500 of Drainage Rates Remain Unpaid

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 3

£2500 of Drainage Rates Remain Unpaid

REPORT TO MANAWATU BOARD The first meeting of tho Manawatu Drainage Board for 1936 was held yesterday, Mr. P. G. Mildou presiding. Other trustees present were Messrs W. E. Thomas, R. Tanner, F. J. Russell, A. W. Hamlin, J. Collis and D. Prouse. The overseer, Mr. M. Wilson, reported as follows: — Improvement Work

Main Drain. —Improvements to this drain were carried out previous to the holidays,'but owing to the growth of weed, clearing will have to be carried out lower down beforo this work can bo again undertaken. Mangaone Stream Protection Work

Fascine work to the banks of this stream have been carried out in Wood's and Bennett’s property. Several smaller washouts will be attended to later on.

As regards the Maia and Burke’s drains 1 would like to point out that if the board is not very careful these drains will not be completed before our season commences.

The financial statement included tho following items of expenditure: No. 5 scheme expenses £36 15s 6d; drain maintenance £44 2s 3d; R.S.A. wages (to be refunded) £l2 12s; interest and sinking fund £4O 16s Id. The total payments, including accounts authorised at last meeting, were £360 16s 7d. Lodgments included No. 5 scheme wages refunded £263 14s, rates (19351936) £230 '“i 2d, Manawatu-Oroua River Board refund re Hamilton’s bend £26 4s lid. The total was £539 3s 4d, reducing the overdraft to £1241 17s Sd at the meeting date. Rates in arrears still unpaid totalled £96 11s 9d, of which £sl 10s 9d was for the year 1934-35. The total levy for 1935-36 was £3091 7s 7d, of which £sll 16s 9d had sa far been paid, leaving £2579 10s 10s to be collected. It was reported that an old truck had been disposed of for £4. After a discussion on the request for banking of the Mangaone stream through Mr. J. T. Hill’s property, it was decided to make an inspection on January 29, commencing from Rangitikei lino at 9 a.m.

It was decided to take no action at present regarding the reconstruction of Moore’s floodgate at Rangiotu. The matter will in the interval be brought before the Kairanga County Council. The ten per cent penalty on unpaid rates will be imposed March 24. Pump Drainage Proposed

A deputation, comprising Messrs. S. H. Lett and J.. Puklowski (ratepayers) and L. A. Berkahn (representing J. B. Mac Ewan and Co.) waited on the board. Tho request was for assistance in purchasing and maintaining a pump to lower the water in the main drain'at Rangiotu Mac Ewan’s were prepared to instal the pump and give the board a trial free of cost, the board to be-its own judge of the efficiency of the plant. It was proposed by Mr. Lett that the finance should be raised by special area loan. 1

Mr. Berkahn submitted, , details of the working, capacity and cost of the pumps. Each would cost £425, and would-shift 263,000 gallons an hour. For the purpose of the trial, it was proposed to instal two pumps. There was a long discussion over the nature of the trial. Trustee Tanner pointed out to the board that if the two pumps put in on trial proved their worth, the board would be compelled to buy them, but might then find that, even though relief was given, further pumps were needed before adequate relief was given.

The chairman thought competent engineering advice should be obtained first. __ He realised the serious plight of tho area concerned.

Trustee Prousc said he would oppose any move to put the pumps in before the finance had been guaranteed by an attached area. The whole of the board’s area could not be expected to stand the whole cost.

It was pointed out that if the pumps proved satisfactory in trial, the board would be compelled to purchase them. Then, if the ratepayers turned down a loan the whole board’s area would have to carry the burden.

It was decided to invito Messrs Harrison and Lett to approach interested ratepayers seeking their assent to the constitution of a special rating area in the Taonui basin if the board is satisfied with the benefit afforded by the pumps on trial. Thus no obligation is on ratepayers or the board unless the trial proves satisfactory.