WATER SUPPLY BOARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 617, 1 February 1916, Page 12

WATER SUPPLY BOARD.

WAIMAKARIRI-ASHIEY. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Waimakariri-Ashley Water SupplyBoard was held on January 27, when there were present: Messrs Dixon (chairman), Wayland, Ryan, Cooper, and Moderate. The surveyor's' report, which was adopted, mentioned that during the previous six weeks the daily average depth of water on sill of intake at Brown's Rock hoadworks had been 4ft 7in, and during the :>5 days the water-' 'ace had been running the daily aver-1 age depth of water passing the Hume at the block cutting had been 2ft I in. On Monday, January S, a breakaway] occurred in the head race at the lower end of Clew's flume, scouring out the race at that part and depriving the country of the water supply at a very trying time. The accident occurred between and fi and 7 a.m. Mr B. Glew was the first to notify the surveyor, at II a.m. The surveyor inspected the damage in the afternoon, and at f» a.m. next morning ocdered by telephone all necessary materials to repair the damage, this being done by extending the flume 16ft. The materials were on the ground on Wednesday, and the work was completed at 12 noon on Saturday. On Sunday at midday a half supply was put on, and in the evening a full supply, which had been continued since, and is all that with safety can be given. Owing to the accident occurring in dry weather, the small races dried up and cracked, and it would take a long time to get them in proper running form again.i The surveyor could only account for the accident by reason of the accumulation of silt in the head ra.ee below this place backing up the water until it got behind the concrete at the end of the flume. There was no overflow. The by-washes (the materials of which were on the ground), which were about to be placed in this part of the head race, would relieve the race .of this accumulation, and all risks of overflow or breakaways would lie removed. The chairman also reported that he visited the locality on two occasions, and endorsed the report as to cause of accident. He considered the work of repairs had been efficiently carried out. A unanimous wte of thanks was passed by the board to Mr B. Glew for his promptitude in opening the sluice gates along the head race, tfcus preventing further damage, and for notifying the surveyor. Messrs Lord and Mehrtens interviewed the board re Mr I). I'ihl diverting water from a creek through his land. The board gave all the information available, and quoted Mr Harper's opinion on the subject. The secretary was directed to write Mr Pitil that the water must lie allowed to proceed along the ditch beside Ashworth's Road, in the ; course where the board had put it,, on its way to the outfall into the ereek on Aseher's Road, by removing the dam put into the ditch by his orders. If this were not done at once the board would take proceedings. Ou the proposition of Mr Ryan, seconded by Mr Moderate, it was unanimously resolved: "That any person tampering in any way, without permission, with the water-race system be prosecuted without further warning." A petition was received from several ratepayers complaining of a ra-e being turned into a well, thus depriving them of their supply. The secretary was directed to reply that, the principal cause of complaint having been removed, the board hoped there would to no trouble in the future. The secretary was also" directed to write the person who caused the grievance. Mr Wayland reported that the turning of the Cast township race into the Cast at night time was not satisfactory, and it had been discontinued. Referring to the wator supply from the board's race at BennoHs for the train services, the secretary was directed to advise the District Engineer that the charge would be £5 per annum if the department would make it an annual one. The proposed alteration to Cast township was left to, the chairman and the surveyor to demlc. It was agreed to batten the sides of Clew's flume, so as to jjet a further supply of water down Ihc country. As there were no applications for the position of teamster, the secretary was requested to advevtisj again in a fortnight.