TAIERI RIVER TRUST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19816, 15 June 1926, Page 8

TAIERI RIVER TRUST.

Tho monthly meeting of the Taieri River Trust, was hold yesterday. Mr R. T. Sack! presided, and there was a full attendance of commissioners. The Elt.ham I.and Drainage Board wrote to the effect that the Land Drainage. Acts in the Dominion appeared to bo insufficient in ninny respects to enable land drainage boards successfully and expeditiously cany out. the objects for which the Acts were originally intended. Amendment, was required in the matter of payment of travelling allowances to members of hoards and also regarding classification clauses. To consider these matters, a conference was suggested.—The letter was received. As the trust was working under its own special Acts, no action was necessary. The Acting District Traffic .Manager, New Zealand Railways, advised that messages concerning the state of the Taieri River when a flood was threatened, received at the Mosgiel railway station from Mr Logan, county clerk, were to be immediately telephoned to the K<_. Icy railway station during the rime the staff was on duty at that station. The member in charge at Henley had been instructed to exhibit the information received in a conspicuous place af the station. Any message concerning flood matters received from tho Telegraph Office at Dunedin would be immediately transmitted to the Henley railway station.—lt was resolved to forward a letter of thanks for the concession. 11. W. Wilson, Henley, forwarded a petition signed by 21 ratepayers, drawing the trust's attention to what they considered would cause considerable damage to their properties —viz., diverting Duck Creek into “B” drain. —In referring to this request, Mr Kempshell said he decidedly objected to Duck Creek being put into -IT’ drain, or any of the existing drains. Duck Creek had a big catchment area, and L. wet weather it brought down the plain from a high level a big volume of water. To put it into “B” drain, as suggested by the Public Works Department, would block all the drains that ran into “B” drain, and flood all the adjoining properties. A point that must be borne in mind was that in heavy rains there was a flooded lake which stopped tho pumps, and all this time Duck Crock would be flooding Henley, and that would make the internal drainage worse than it had ever been. Duck Creek should be piped under the new bank and run down the borrow pit, then it would get the benefit of all the low tides, and would relieve the land of an immense amount of water. Should any pumping be required a drain could be cut from the borrow' pit direct to the new pumping station. To pump Duck Creek from "B” drain would prove an endless undertaking, and be very costly. He moved that the trust should endorse the petition and send it on to the Public Works Department. —Mr O'Leary seconded the motion. —Mr Elackie moved as an amendment that the petition be sent on without any comment. —Mr Miller seconded the amendment, which was carried, Messrs Reid, Blackie, Miller, Lindsay, and the Chairman voting lor it. Mr Evans did not vote.

Alf Halland (Waipori Falls) wrote regarding claim for rates.—Clerk to interview Messrs Adams Bros, with a view to the collection of the rates.

The Assistant Engineer, Public Works Department, Allanton, forwarded the following letter: —“With reference to the suggestion put forward at last meeting of the trust by Mr O’Leary that when the new embankment approached C drain, arrangements, if possible, bo made with the Railways Department temporarily to conect the embankment to the railway line in times of emergency and cut the bank at Otokia, I have to advise you that I have gone into the question of levels. I find that the level of the present bank between Otokia railway bridge and the bottle neck, some 20 chains down the river, averages 58.0 ft above datum. The rail level on the bridge is 61.4 ft above datum, but immediately off the bridge the level falls rapidly, 13 chains away the level being 55.20 ft above datum, and 32 chains, or 12 chains above C drain, the level being only 51.29 ft above datum. This means that at a point only some six chains from the railway bridge, or where the existing bank on the north side of the railway abuts on the railway, the rail level is equal to the level of the existing bank. The district engineer of railways, during an interview that Messrs Sadd, O’Leary, and myself had with him, considered he could meet the trust, provided the temporary junction with the railway line were made at a point on the line which was no lower than the present bank. It therefore appears useless to consider the suggestion further, as he would certainly not agree to the removal of the present protection for one at all lower, and I feel sure that the Public Works Department would itself not attempt to influence the Railways Department in the circumstances. I am of the opinion, therefore, that it would be useless to pursue this idea further, but if the trust wishes the question could be mentioned at the next meeting of the trust.” Mr O’Leary did not agree with the letter. The deputation, he said, had approached Mr Benzoni and received a promise. Then Mr Evans commenced drawing sketches and pointed out levels, bringing possible objections in the way of the work being carried out. This had prevented Mr Benzoni taking further action. Otherwise, they would have at once got the permission. Mr Kempshell: Mr Evans should not have been on the deputation if he did that. The Chairman: Yes; get permission, so long as it does not jeopardise the railway. Mr O'Leary: What if it did? What would a little water on the railway do, so long as the lands were saved from a flood and much loss ?

The Chairman: Though a verbal promise from the engineer might have been given, the official statement would not have been given without due inquiry and attention to detail that was customary with the department. Mr O'Leary: You are anticipating that. Had it not been for Mr Evans, further inquiry might not have been made. Had the deputation retired at once, they would have had Mr Benzoni’s promise without any conditions. He would hold to that view no matter what suppositions were offered to the contrary. Mr Rlackie: What would you think of Mr Evans if he concealed such information from the Railways Department? He is to he commended for placing all matters before the parties: not condemned. Several members mentioned that MiMarks had promised a survey of the matter before the work would be commenced, and this would come before the trust. —Mr O’Leary said they had not had that officially.—Mr Evans replied: “Are there not a few honourable men in the the department?” What had been promised would be done, Mr Blackie moved, and Mr Miller seconded, a motion that the matter he left with the chairman. Mr Evans, and Mr Marks to interview Mr Benzoni as to having the banks joined up as early as possible.—This was agreed to, Mr Kempshell and Mr O’Leary voting against it. The Foreman reported that the understructure of M’Donald’s bridge. Duck Creek, had decayed, and was not fit for heavy traffic. He recommended that a concrete culvert he inserted.—Agreed to. The Foreman reported that George Patrick had complained of the width between the planks on the contour bridge on the Otokia-Maungatua road.—To be attended to.

— | I The afternoon meeting was principally occupied with the confirmation of the rates as advertised, and the perusal of the new draft agreement as between the Dunedin City Corporation and the trust in connection with power for pumping on the plain. In regard to the rates on the land_ between ti’.e new embankment and the river it was decided to charge administrative and ail loan rates on tins land for the current year. It was decided that Mr Evans should furnish the trust with all particulars regarding the land bought by the Public Works Department, and the price paid for compensation or purchase; also the names of lessees of any such properties, the rentals paid, and the terms of lease. FOREMAN'S REPORT. The Foreman of Works reported as follows; —The following work has been done for the month: — The West Taieri gang cleaned the upper half of Kirk's drain, cleaned drain to Thomson's lagoon, grubbed gorse .on Wylie’s Creek division, and repaired washout mi weir at Thomson’s Creek. The Maungatua gang cleaned the lower half of Kirk’s drain, and drain from pump to Lee Creek, repaired fences on countour channel and railing on contour bridge, Maunpatua-Otokia road. For next month it is proposed that the West Taieri gang should grub gorse on contour channel, and that the Maungatua pang should clean Robertson's and B drain, and repair the box on the drain pump at Lee Creek. The banks have been attended to, and are all in good order.