Drainage Affairs

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 1423, 19 June 1936, Page 4

Drainage Affairs

TRANSACTIONS OF MAKERUA BOARD.

Mr H. Seifert presided at a meeting of the Makerua Drainage Board yesterday. Also present were Trustees T. D. Lynch, W. J. Ross, W. Jackson, J. D. Aitchison and G. Larsen. The statement of accounts showed that during tho month £125 14s Id had boen spent in drain maintenance, arid £4l 12s in river maintenance. Pumping plant expenses were £46 4s 4d; a sum of £325 14s lid had been expended on the Mukapai floodgate. Of tho 1935-36 rates, £2326 17s 6d had been paid. A further statement showed that the total of rates in arrears was £2342 10s, comprising £1421 14s lOd for the year 1935-36, and £920 15s lOd for previous years. v

The overseer, Mr P. Y. Tucker, reported:—The cleaning of the main drain north of Campbell’s road has been carried out, also Ross’ and Wall’s drains. A break in the protection at upper Whitanui has been repaired with a light brush groyne and willow fascines. Willows have also been planted where necessary on this length. The erosion at lower Poplar will next receive attention.

Tho Department of Internal Affairs advised that the Government had decided to bring down legislation for the purpose of authorising local authorities, if they so desired to postpone or remit the 10 per cent, penalty on unpaid rates for the year 1935-36. The chairman reported that a contract had boen let for the Kura floodgate. The board confirmed its resolution to levy general rates for the year 193637. Special rates wero also levied.

Mr A. Cave, following a previous letter, said ho could not name the drains at Opiki he alleged were cleaned by the board. He had been told the board was collecting money for tho work; now a loan was being sought for deepening Akers’, Lynch's, and Main drains, which wore not on the writer’s side of the Tokoiuaru river. Mr Cavo said he was willing to clean the road drain if the board stopped the water from the stopbank flooding his farm. The board, alleged Mr Cave, had sidestepped the question asked it as to whether or not his neighbour’s property was rated. “I also notice a childish remark by one member that he would ’swap’ his rates for my water. I will ‘swap’ my farm and his rates any time ho likes.” The writer also objected to the rating basis of his property, and asked members to make an inspection of the locality, and asked tho board to do something before the wet weather.— Received.