WESTERN TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15855, 29 August 1913, Page 9

WESTERN TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD.

THE OOTRAM EMBANKMENT.

The monthly meeting of the Western Taieri Land Drainage Board, held yesterday, was attended by Mserg J. T, Gibson (in the chair), W. Lee, W. Thomson, D. Doiill, and James Miller.

The matter 61. the unsafe condition of the embankment near the transformer station, at Outran), was referred to in the engineer's report, andHvas also brought before the board by a letter from Mr John Grant (clerk of the Outram Town Board), who wrote stating that at a meeting of his board on August 23 he had been instructed to write to the Drainage Board drawing attention to the dangerous state of the _ river embankment, and the urgent necessity of having the West Taieri River, embankment regularly inspected The rabbit Ijurrows required to be properly filled and rimmed, and cattle tracks over the embankment made good, as many of these latter were nearly 2ft deep. The Engineer suggested that tho board should visit tho locality and see the state of affaire for itself. He would suggest that the inside of tho embankment should be filled up with a view to putting sufficient weight on it to prevent tho water from •bubbling vip through it. At present the river probably found its way under the bank and rose up through it. The Chairman agreed with this view, and stated tihat before anything was done tho bank should be cut through, aa tho source of the trouble seemed difficult to locate It would be a fairly costly matter, and he thought the ratepayers in Outram should contribute something over, and above the rates for tho work, as it meant protection for them. _ Mr Doull: They are talking of holding an indignation meeting :n connection witt the matter. , Mr Thomson: I think the engineer should be asked to attend- the meeting.—(LaughIt was decided that the whole board should visit . the embankment on September 4. engineer's heport. The adoption of the engineer's report (already published) was moved by the Chairman, and in doing so he asked Mr Strang what tiho cost of raising the embankment on the Berwick Bide of Lake Tatawai would be.—ln reply, the Engineer stated that the cost of raising and repairing the bank would probably ho about £12C.— In connection with the > flooding of Kirk 9 road, a letter was received from Mr Wuliam Baird, and the engineer's report also . referred to the matter.—lt was decided to erect a bank on tho side of the drajn instead of raising the, road,—ln reference to the flooding of Leo C^eek (< Mr Miller agreed to ask these ratepayers interested to approach the county counci 1 in the matter. —It jras decided to apply again to tno county council to metal that portion of the roadway alongside the river below Berwick, the whole of which had been more or less washed out.—lt was also decided to ask the permission of the Railway Department to effect repairs in the leak that had been discovered in the embankment at Otokia.— The motion to adopt the report was then seconded by Mr Lee, and carried. THE CONTOUR CHANNEL. Mr Doull asked what the board intended to do with reference to the contour chan : nel.' He stated that until it was completec the ratepayers would continue to suftei from floods. „ , ~ ~ The Chairman stated that the matter was one to which the board should give immediate attention, as it fully. recognised the serious nature of tho position. The engineer had submitted an estimate of the cost of the work, and it had shown thai an expenditure of £8000 would be re quired. Tho position was that some time ago the work *had been discontinued al tlie request of the Government, and to le fresh contracts for it would cost the boarc close on an extra £6000. He would sug gest that Mr M'Lean should be sent U Wellington to try • to get a subsidy o: £5000 from the Government. This suir could 'be used-to push forward the worl and also amounted to a refund for the ad ditional expenditure that had been cntailec upon the board The chairman's suggestion was agreec to, arid it was decided to despatch Mi M'Lean on his mission forthwith, so as tc have a report before the next meeting ol the board. ") CORRESPONDENCE. James and F. 'M. Dow (Outram; wrote stating that the pressure of 'watei from the creek on his property caused tbc /- drain pipes to become blocked, thus Hood' ing the road and his land. Ho asked the I board to put a box in at the foot of the drain.—ln connection with_ this mattei A. A. Thomson wrote objecting to the ap plication by Messrs Dow Bros., as'he eon sidered it should not be granted. The writers, he contended, had the best drain age in the locality.—Messrs Dow Bros, letter was referred to the engineer to act 1 and Mr Thomson's letter was received. > D. Carruthers wroto . drawing the 3 board's attention to a drain in block I\ i of the district leading to Kirk's road, r which was blocked up, causing tho lane l on both sides to be flooded. He askec r that the matter should be remedied.—l 1' was decided to reply that as the drain wa: . a privato one it did not como under the j board's control.. . Charles Robinson and 10 other rate payers at Berwick wroto asking the boarc to clean the drains on Merse street, fron Greenlaw street to Melrose street. —It wai decided to refer tho matter to tho engi j necr. A. Hamilton and 6ix other rate payers of Berwick wroto asking the boarc to give them a culvert across Merse street opposite section 1, block Vl.—Petitioner; ' referred to the County Council, H. Sutherland (Kaitnngata) wrote stat ing that he would accept the board'i offer of £75 for compensation for lane taken for tho contour channel, providee the board would pay all costs.—lt was do cided to adhero to the terms of tho offei !by the board. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., wroto enclos ing a copy of a Land Drainage Amend rnenfc Bill which he was endeavouring U put through the House, Tho Bill woult lie fully dismissed by the Lands Committee and he desired to know if the board wishec to be represented when the committee wai taking evidence. The Bill was drafted bj tfie Kltham Drainage Board.—Tho clerl stated that tho Bill was very similar t< that formulated % tho Taieri Board las! year.—Received. G. A. Lcwin (town clerk, Dunedin] wroto stating tlmt the croction of tho powoi line, etc., to the board's punr : ng station would be commencod as soon as possible, I— Received. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £1036 8s 10c! were passed for payment.'