THE KAITANGATA LAKES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16507, 6 October 1915, Page 9

THE KAITANGATA LAKES

THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM. FEASIBLE SOLUTION OFFERED. At tho conclusion of' the ordinary business of the Brace County Council yesterday a deputation consisting of Messrs P. M'Skimming, jun., A. Morrison, W. Morrison, Thomas Parker, and Jas. M'Crostie was received from tho Lakeside district. Mr M'Skimming, who was the principal speaker, said that a committee had been appointed to go into tho question of the beet methods to bo adopted for the drainage of these lakes. They had visited Dunedin and had obtained some very valuable information. Mr Blair Mason, after discussing the question with them, had gone out and inspected the place. Mr Mason recommended: (1) That the council build a pontoon 40ft long, 17ft wide, and 4ft deep, fitted to carry a grab crane dredge. (2) That arrangements, be made with the Otago Harbour Board to allow jihe hire of a Priestman dredge to be placed on the pontoon and carry out the work at a charge per working day, which charge would represent a cost of about 4£d per cubic yard of material liftedj The estimated total cost of bringing the drain to its former width of 24ft and deepening the same by 3ft whj> £934. To this had to be added the cost of building the pontoon in hardwood. (£200), also a small sii'm for altering bridges, etc., making the sum necessary for the work £1200. The pontoon could be built under contract alongside the drain, north of the Kaitangata railway crossing/ Continuing, Mr M'Skimming said that Mr Mason had suggested that the council might obtain the use of' one of the Harbour Board dredges for cleaning out the canal, and while this work was in operation it might be a good thing to. build a pontoon of hardwood. He suggested that it would be wise to call for tenders for the use of the lakes frontage, and it might be found that from this source sufficient money would be derived to pay interest on a loan to complete tho whole of the work necessary. _He asked the council to take the matter into its favourable consideration. During the last six years the rents from these frontages had amounted, to £40 a year. Mr M'Crostie endorsed Mr M'Skimming's remarks. •

Mr : Parker said the deputation was present to prove to the council that the settlers were in earnest, and they looked to the council to carry the work to a successful issue

Mr Morrison advanced the opinion that the necessary cleaning at the end of tho canal could be done by manual labour, and he favoured the idea outlined by Mr M'Skimming, Kaitangata ratepayers had assured that they also favoured' therecommendation* He considered that the committee was fortunate in being in a posi-' tion to place such information before the council.

Cr Scott said that while in sympathy with the suggested movement, he would like to see some definite agreement drawn up between the council and the ratepayers. Once a poll was carried sanctioning the raising of.a loan, then he thought it was the council's duty to help along the movement in every way possible. The Clerk saidl that it would take about eight weeks before a poll could be held. Mr A. Morrison said that if tenders were called for straight away the council would know how it stood.

Cr Scott said that his point was that if a loan were obtained more money could be obtained for the use of the lakes frontage than otherwise.

.Cr Boyd considered' that the council should set up a oommittee to draw up conditions subject to the approval of the county solicitor, and then tenders for the use of the lakes frontage could be called, and if the ratepayers! found that these tenders would be sufficient to pay interest on. the loan they would readily sanction the raising of tho money. Or Russell said that after visiting thei lakes district with Mr Mason aqd the members for the riding he could see that the ratepayers had some reason*' for anxiety, as. the lake had risen 2ft, and if the ratepayers oould be assured that the lake would be adequately drained there need be no fear about getting good rents for the frontages. It was now over 20 years since the drainage canal had been cut, and it had served well for a number of years, and he felt sure that once the canal was properly, .cleaned out it would be sufficient'.to per-' form, all the drainage necessary in future. , The Chairman (Cr Clark) said that the opportunity afforded by the offered 1 use of the Harbour Board dredge was a chance which the council might not get again. Cr Boyd that a new dredge would cost £2500, and this, added to Mr Mason's estimate for the work, would mean an ex-, pense of about £3500. ■ He believed that the dredge could be shifted easily with a crane.

Cr Driver said_ he thought that the coon-' cil would be quite justified in acceding to the request. ' I Cr Boyd moved that a committee, consisting of the chairman, Crs Driver, Russell, Adam, Begg, _ and Boyd, be appointed' to draw up conditions, call for tenders for the whole of the lakes frontage, and also for tenders for the supply of a hnrdwood pontoon, the committee to meet at Milton on Tuesday. The motion was carried.