WESTERN TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17070, 31 July 1917, Page 3

WESTERN TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD.

The monthly meeting, held yesterdav, was attended by Messrs J. T. Gibson (chairman), Jos. M'-Neill, James Miller, and It. A. Kempshell. A motion of sympathy was passed with Mr James Munro (foreman), and family in their bereavement caused by tho death of Mrs Munro. Mr Miller reported on a visit of inspection, in answer to a letter from tho clerk of tho Outraui Town Board, before the last mooting of tho board, concerning somo necessary repairs to tho Outram embankment. —After hearing Mr Miller's report, it was resolved to instruct tho engineer to inspect and report. Mr Johnson, Outram, asked that a concrete culvert bo erected over Duck Creek. Ho would oart tho gravel and assist with tho labour required.—Agreed to carry out the work. The board decidod to accept Miss M'Lean's offer for loan of pump and have it re-erected at tho Hejley pumping station. It was resolved, on tho recommendation of the City Electrical Engineer, to instal an ammeter iu circuit with tho motor, so that the attendant could see at a glance what load was being carried It was resolved to grant tho application of W. O'Leary to do some pumping on his property during tliu pleasure of tho board. Ho proposed pumping the water either into an old blind creek that ran through his property, or into tho. board's ditch that ran along (J Drain road, and connected with Kirk's drain

The quc-jtion of farmers installing small pumps lor clearing away tho last of the waters when it *-emained in tho ditches was thought a very advisable move. Tho clerk reported having written to Mr R. Scott, M.P., pointing- out the seriousness of the position regarding the damage to Berwick flat through the recent flood The damago was so groat that it was an impossibility for the board to attempt to cope with it. The board desired that the matter should bo brought under the notice o£ tho Prime Minister, and suggested that the Government iut into operation without delay that portion of the lecommendations of the recent commission referring to the Waipori River, leaving the question of.the allocation of the cost to be adjusted later. The Taieri County Council advised that it would support the board in its endeavours to have some remedial measures taken Mr Kempshell suggested that application be made to the 'Government for a dredge for deepening or cleaning the Waipori Riverbed, the board to pay for oost of working.— It was decided to delay this request pending a reply to the clerk's letter

Mr Kempshell said some people thought that the flooding .of the Berwick River only conoerned Berwick people; but he pointed out that if an eight-foot flood in the river at Berwiok was allowed to junction with say, a five-foot flood in the Taieri, the extent of flooding of land on the plain could be seen If the Waipori River should take a new course, which it now threatened to do, it would reach' the contour channel and annul all the value of this watercourse. Messrs John Miller and John M'Leod appeared before the board in support of applications for fuel to work private pumps on their respective properties.—Applications declined. In connection with the reinstatement of the banks near Lake Tatawai, or the continuation of tho contour embankment. Mr Kempshell moved that the enginer be instructed to ascertain tho cost of a Priestman dredge or steam navvy to carry out the work.—Agreed to. Mr Kempshell moved that the West Taieri pumps be discontinued for all time so far as the board is concerned. He said that when the Western Taieri Drainage Board came into existence there were 13 pumps working on the plain in a wet season. The board set to work to do away with these pumps, and built a big pumping station of its own. Ihe contour channel was cut so that it Would keep_ tho hill water from getting on to the plain. A big ditch was then cut from tho pumping station right up the centre of the plain. West Taieri was connected to this drain, and the district got first benefit. Tins pump had been running D ]Pi and y m a considerable time, and all the water that it pumped had to go through tho big pump again, which was not satisfactory, and was too costly to run for all the water it put out. The big pumps put out in one hour more water than the West Taieri pump would do in 2+ hours If West laieri was going to cost so much to pump it should be in class A, where it should have been all along.—Mr Miller said he would second the motion, if Mr Kempshell would alter it to read "during the pleasure of the board "-Mr M'Neill maintained that the pump did good work.—Other members agreed that the work done was good but out of all proportion to tho cost: and maintained that if this * pump was to be kept going, other private, pumps should be similarly treated.—ln the discussion it was pointed out that evidently a mistake had been made as to tho length of time this pump was kept running.—Tlie motion was earned after being amended as suggested by Mr All Her, and instructions were issued to tho effect to cease pumping when the present stock of fuel (which would last about six days) was exhausted, thereafter, any pumping required would have to be paid for by those carrying it out. It was resolved to ask one of the surfacemen to attend to six necessary chains of fencing at Mr Sparks, Maungatua.

Reports as to tho blocking of boxes at * Messrs Doull's (Henley) were received, and i instructions were given to liavo tho causo removed.

The balance sheet was reoeived from tho And it Office certified as correct. Mr B. B. Couston forwarded plans for tho work of reinstatement of the break in the Otokia River embankment. Thesowero approved, and it was resolved to ask him to call alternative tenders for t.ho work, either as a whole or in two parts. Tho rates as advertised were eoniirmcd. Mr B. B. Couston, engineer to the board, forwarded tho following report on flood repair:— Taieri River Embankment.—The rrvor burst tho embankment in six places between Momona and Henley. At the largo break in Taylor's paddock, abovo the railway crossing, five chains of embankment were carried away, and over two acres of land washed out to a depth of from 10ft to 14ft. It will bo necessary to erect a new embankment clear of tho washout and to protect tho land from further encroachment. Thirtyfive chains of embankment aro required at a cost of £65 per chain —a total of £2275 and £725 for protective works, making a total of £3000. There were two breaks hi Gprott's paddock, near Momona—one 50ft in length and tho other 110 ft in length. A contract has been let for reinstatement, amount £150. There was a break at the Otokia traffic bridge for tho width of tho roadway, and this, has been reinstated by day labour, cost £60, of which the board pays half, £30. There was a break at the Main South railway 60ft in length, and a break in Taylor's paddock, below the railway 98ft in length. A contract has been lot for reinstatement, amount £288 15s. The river overflovyed tho bank in other places and caused minor damage. The_ damage between B road and Henley is being repaired by contract, amount £25, of which the board pays half, £12 10s. The repairs to other portions of the embankmont will take £100 distributed from Outram to Henley. At Outram there is an underflow of water from the river to a low portion of- the town, which has not. yet been investigated, but the estimate for stopping the leak may be taken at the sum expended on tho last ,work of a similar nature—namely, £125. 'That is a total for the Taieri River embankment of £3706. Lake Banks.—Tho Lake Banks, and what is known as the Lee Creek Bank, were in some places washed away altogether, and in others wcro so badly fretted and broken that it will bo necessary to break down and rebuild. It is difficult to measure these, as so imich of the area is still under water, but it is within tho mai-k to say that £500 will be required for repair. Berwick Bank.—There is one very bad 'break jn the embankment, and a wash-out at Mr Withers's gate, which will cost £50 to reinstate; other minor repairs have been effected at a cost of £5: —total, £55. Contour Channel.—The contour channel embankments were in a number of places •washed away, and in others so disrupted that tho bank must be_ taken down and rebuilt. Tho work of reinstatement is in progress, and it is sufficient to name tho breaches and state the number of yards of material required, as the earthwork co-ts on an average Is 6d per cubic yard. The traps are at West Taieri Church, Rei'd's. Campbell's, Johnston's, Beattie's, and Miller's. These are the larger breaks, and will take 7000 yards of earthwork to reinstate, to_ which must bo added 1000 yards for minor Tepairs between Outram and tho Lake; —total, £000 yards, at Is 6d. Total £600.

Pumning Water from Plain.—ln order to get rid of the flood waters it was necessary, first, to stop the river overflowing at the big break at Otokia and a temiDornry tide bank was constructed at a cost of £50. Secondly, the embankment at tho Lake was cut in several places, and tho oost of this work- and re-filling the iraps is £60. Thirdly, the roads were earfi and temporary bridges constructed, and the cost of this work and the estimated co«t of reinstatement of roads is £40. _ Lastly, flio water line to be got off tho plain,_ and 1 after a month's gravity flow the pumping plants have been started, and (it is estimated) will bo worked continuously for three months at a cost of £2CO per month, to which sum has to be added the wages of two mrai for that time working in the ditches removin<r obstructions, etc.. from tho drains, cost £26 per month ; that is a total for mimpin? of £678, or, including all incidental works. £823. Rwrrmarv.—The total estimated cost of effecting flood damage repair is therefore as follows:—Taieri River embatclcment, £3706; contour channel. £600: Lake bank," £500; B-rwiok bink. £55; mrmping, etc.. £P?.fl • — total. £5699; winprvision, 5 per cent., £284; grand total, £5973.