WESTERN TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17148, 30 October 1917, Page 6

WESTERN TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD.

The- monthly meeting of tho Western Taieri Laud • Drainago Board was held yesterday; present—Messrs James Miller? A. R. Jvempehell, Jos. M'NeilL, and W. G. Reid. Mr Miller was elected chairman. Four ratepayers at Outram petitioned tho board regarding an accumulation of water that had been lying , on a considerable area of ground for over tlireo months.—Referred to foreman for a report. Mr John Matheson drew attention to the state of tho bridgo on the Otokia road drain fronting his property.—Held ov«r till next meeting for inquiries. Messrs Downio Stewart and Payne wrote on bahalf of Mr Wolsoy Kain protesting against the board cutting tho HenloyBerwick road in any way. Their client would hold the board responsible for any damage ho might sustain by the cutting of the road. Hβ considered ha would suffor considerable damage by the board carrying out the work proposed.—Received. Mr John Matheson and five other ratepayers asked the board to reinstate the box on the Otokia road drain at the comity< hut. —Resolved to insert tho box at tho most suitable point, provided' it was in good order.

Twelve ratepayers at Momona, asked that something be done to tho drain running through the Momona settlement. Tho timber had given way, and tho drain had fallen in, which kept back th« water on their land.—To be attended to.

Mr R. Scott, M.P., forwarded a letter from Mr Massey (Minister of Lands) with reference to the serious position of lands adjoining the Taieri River, more particularly on the Berwick Flat. Mr Massey stated that he was unable to comply with the request of the Western Taieri Land Drainage Board at present. The difficulty in getting machinery and men rendered the undertaking, of such work inopportune, and in any case a proper guarantee would bo required for the contribution of a proportion of the cost from those benefiting, should the work eventually be undertaken. —Mr Reid said this moaut serious trouble to the Taieri. Henley was flooded from Waipori on the last occasion before <ih& Taieri flood waters reached it. —Mr Kempehell repeated a proposal ho had made at the conference at Berwick, to the effect that the three local bodies should combine, and that .the City Council, instead of spending £5000 on a new road along the hillside, should spend it on a dredge, and the other two local bodies would work it. Before the difficulty would bo overcome, and an excellent road would bo assured for the City Council. —Mr Reid said some of the settlers were endeavouring to get the Prime Minister and the southern members of Parliament to visit tho district, as the result of the flood had been the loss of thousands of pounds to the country. The greater portion cf the trouble was from silting. He suggested that a petition be got ready for signature.—The Clerk said they mfght act under clause 2 of the now River Boards Act. —The matter was left to the cferk to see what chance there was of Mr Massey visiting tho locality.

The clerk handed in copies of telegrams and correspondence between Mr Scott, M.P., and himself in connection with an increased grant for flood damage repairs. Tho Minister had promised that immediately the flood waters had subsided ho would get a report on the damage dono from his engineer.—The clerk reported that no further developments had taken place since the receipt of the letter.^ A statement of the expenditure to date in repairing flood damages showed that the outlay was £1682 11s Id. The board confirmed the action of the deputy chairman and clerk in accepting an offer from the contractor for the re-erection of the temporary stop-bank at Otokia that had been washed away by the last flood. Mr M'N<;ill said the decision of a meeting at Maungatua to instal a.' pump at tho county hut had not been "iven effect to, and that the pump had been erected at 0 drain. An explanation was made that a pump could sfcill be put there if it was desired, but that the shifting of tho pump was in the best interests of all concerned.

It was resolved that the box on C drain lie repaired when the water was low enough, and that a lid be put on the box on Mr Hamilton's property at Henley bridge. A discussion took place on the best means of repairing banks, deepening the outlet at the end of contour channel at Lake Tatawai, etc., and the Harbour Board's offer of the loan of the Priestman dredge to carry otit the work was considered. It was decided to got the dredge. Details were left in the bands of the clerk.—The board decided to vjsit the district at an early date. When discussing the necessity for erecting more pumps, Mr Reid said ho desired 'that an extra wheel pump bo put in at the Henley pumping station. The drains were laid to that point, mid the power and men were thero also. He favoured eomo more good outlets beinp; put in, and one or two pumps that would discharge a fair quantity.—The Chairman said he did not think any definite stops could bo taken at tho meeting.—Mr Reid said he did not expect that anything would bo done immediately, but ho was- pleased to know that members favoured additional outlets.

The Chairman said he had been .approached with a view to starting pumping at Patrick's.—Resolved to > start all pumps at the same time.

Accounts amounting to £716 14e 9d were passed for payment.