TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3234, 8 March 1916, Page 3

TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Wester* Taieri Land Drainage Board was held 00 tho Ist ins*.; present—Messrs CampbelL. Kempshell, and M'Neill. In the absence of the chairman (Mr J< Gibson), Mr Campbell was elected chair* man for the meeting. The Chairman briefly welcomed Mr M'Neill, who took his seat for tho first time, _ expressing tho opinion that Mr M'Neill's experience in draining in different parts of Otago would be of great benefit to the board.

Mr M'Neill, in reply, said he would endeavour to do his best in the interests of tho board and the ratepayers. THE LAGOON BRIDGE. A deputation consisting of Cr Blackia and Mr Logan (county clerk), representing the Taieri County Council, waited ■ on the board, and stated that tho bridge over the lagoon on tho road adjacent to Berwick required renewing. They pointed out that the council was of the opinion that a smaller etructuro would meet requirements, and they asked for the board's consent to a smaller bridge being erected. Having heard the deputation, the Chairman moved that tho Taieri County Council be informed that the board objects to a smaller bridgo being erected. Mr M'Neill seconded the motion, which was carried. engineer's report. Tho ■ board's engineer (Mr Strang) reported that during the. past month the Upper Hicks's road drain had been completed, and Duck Creek had been cleaned out from tho river to the Otokia road. The vegetation in the contour channel on Mr John Miller's property had been cleaned out, and the low part of the embankment had been made up to grade level. The embankment and outlet boxes had been inspected as usual. Messrs Spratt and Anderson's contract had been completed, and the concreting of tho Woodside road ditch was now in hand. Tho Taieri River road embankment, between A and B roads, had boon surveyed, and tho total length wa3 75 chains. Twenty-two chains at the Henley end had already been metalled, but, tho remainder had not been metalled. Fourteen feet was in fairly good condition, the greatest depth below grade being four inches, and tho average depth 2£ inches. Twenty-six chains were badly disturbed in the centre, tho average depth being fivi inches. The remaining 12 chains was the new part of the bank at the B road end, which had been constructed six years ago, and which had an average depth of four inches. There were a few pot holes lower than the averago grade, but these would make very little difference to tho quality of material required to bring tho whole length up to an even grade. They would bo dangerous in a river flood if allowed to remain as at present. Tho quantity of material necessary to make tho bank up to an even grade throughout was about 2.70 or 300 cubio yards.—Tho report was adopted.

GENERAL. Accounts amounting to £137 4s 8d were passed for payment.