ELSTOW DRAINAGE BOARD

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5480, 27 April 1917, Page 3

ELSTOW DRAINAGE BOARD

A meeting of the Elslow Drainage Board was held in the clerk s office, Waihou, on Saturday last, when there were present Messrs J. A. Clothier (chairman), E. Fitton, G. W. Horn, Albert Davey and W. G. Cooper. - WORKS IN PROGRESS Matters arising out of the minutes were reported upon as hereunder by the engineer Referring to Contract No. 4, for improving Clothier s ou'let, the engineer reported that he had let this work at his estimate, which was £1 16s per chain. Re Contract No. 6a, this had been let at the estimate, but the contractor had been unable to carry out the work for the price arranged, and as the work was likely to be stopped, he had conferred with the chairman and it had been agreed to increase the price to £1 per chain. Re Contract No. 1, the contractor having finished his previous work, he had extended this contract for another 85 chains at his estimate which was £1 10s 3d per chain. All the contractors were making good progress with their respective works. Ihe engineer’s action was approved and confirmed. A COMPLAINT Mr Fittou complained that the drain work along the Ngutumauga road to give him an outlet had not given him the draiuage he had expected. He thought that more depth could have ; been given at his side-drain intersection. The engineer stated that theio was not much more depth available, if the usual gradient was to be left in the ( drain. The trouble was that the old , drain had been badly graded when ; previously constructed, l.ut if the j Board thought it advisable another | foot could bo brought up by making j the gradient almost level throughout the full length. , i It was decided that the chairman, j Mr Fitton and the engiuoer be a committee to visit and report to the next meeting.

brinkley's outlet The engineer reported that he had endeavored to let one mile of this outlet to one of the Board s contractors, at his estimate, but the coutrac'or wanted 35s 6d per chain, and as he did not feel justified in accepting the offer made, he now referred the matter to the Board for its direction. It was agreed that the engineer s estimate be the price fixed for doing this work.

DRAINAGE CONFERENCE Messrs Horn and Johnson reported having represented the Board at the recent conference at Paeroa. Mr Horn explained that he thought the conference would do good, generally speaking. Some important questions had been discussed. He thought that perhaps the most important of these questions in so far as the Elston Board was concerned was the opening up of the Te Awaiti stream and also the setting up of a Board of control to work in conjunction with the Public Works Department, in expediting the works now under way, and works to be taken in hand in the future. The Board would be asked to appoint a delegate to sit on this Board of control.

Mr Johnson said that after hearing what the numerous speakers had to say it was very apparent that there were throe vital questions envolved. These would become very pronounced when matters arrived at the stage of actual being. The questions to which he referred laid in the method of constructing the protection works. Firstly, if the river embankments between Tirohia and Mangaiti were put iu hand trouble was going to happen with the property holders on the lower section of the river. Secondly, if the Te Awaiti stream dredging work was put in hand before the aforesaid ernho.uk men ts were coustiucted, such stream would only become a laigcr sump for the Waihou flood waters; and thirdly, the procuring of the necessary labor to carry out the work in a reasonable time. If it were possible to procure sufficient labor to put the three big works in hand at the same time, tliero would piobably be little trouble. But it would appear in view oE the difficulties above mentioned, that the first work to be undertaken was that of improving the lower reaches of the Waihou river to a sufficient extent to ensure it dealing with the extra flood waters which at the present time overflowed into the Te Awaiti stream. Mr Johnson said he had heard that during the visit of the Minister 1 of Lanas to the Te Awaiti area, the opinion had been expressed that the Elstow Drainage District should be extended in order that the Te Awaiti lands should be included, and he thought that something further would be heard from this quarter.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Board’s representatives for their representations.

DELEGATE Mr Horn was appointed to represent the Board on the united board of control in the above matter. contractor's application Mr M. J. Begovich, contractor for Horn’s outlet, applied for an increase bf his price for completing this work, owing to the country being a network of timber. After some discussion it Was agreed that Mr Horn interview the contractor, informing him that the application will receive favorable consideration when the work is completed. WAIIIOU DRAINAGE AREA Mr R. s. Hanna, Piako County Clerk, wrote stating that the Board’s application for the abolition of a portion of the Waihou drainage area, had been granted provided that any contingent expense incurred would be payable by the Board.

OTWAY ESTATE PETITION /A letter was read from the UnderfSeoratary, Office of Internal Affairs, enclosing copy of the New Zealand Gazette, bearing the Order-in-CounciJ, purporting to extend the boundaries of the Elstow Drsinage District to include the Otway estate lands in ;such district. SUPPLEMENTARY RATEPAYERS’ LIST 'The Board’s returning officer, Mr 'W. R. Johnson, was instructed to proceed with the necessary formalities to place this portion of the district on a workable footing with the rest of the district. drainage scheme The engineer was directed to visit the Otway estate with the object of something being done to relieve the flood waters for this year and to propound a proper scheme of drainage in order that a loan may be raised to properly drain the area next season. Any expense incurred while raising •- the loan to be advanced by the general

account and refunded when the rates were collected from this area. PETITION TO GOVERNOR The engineer was directed to proceed with the petition to the Governor, having for its object the extensio < of the Board’s district boundaries to include that portion of the Waihou drainage area (recently abolished by the Piako County Council) within the Elstow drainage district. NEW BOBOUGU BOUNDARIES Some discussion having arisen in respect to the new boundaries of the Te Aroha Borough, it was decided that the chairman and clerk interview the Board's solicitor respecting the position.

EASTERN AREA EMBANKMENTS Mr Davey introduced the matter of the settlers within the Eastern Area carrying out the work of erecting the proposed embankments to prevent the river flooding their properties. He said he hid interviewed the ratepayers interested and all were willing to carry out the work provided something definite were laid down. The settlers were prepared to do the work free of cost to the Board in order that their interest rates may bo kept down. The chairman said this was a proposal well worthy of the Boatd’s favorable consideration, and he moved that the engineer and Mr Davey be empowered to make the necessary arrangements for carrying out the work.—Carried. rowe’s stop-bank Mr Davey brought forward the question of completing the stop-bank at Mr Rowe’s proporty. Ho thought it was only fair that the greater portion of the cost of this work should be debited to the account of the Ngutumauga area. The engineer was iustruoted to go into the matter and report to the next Board meeting.

soldiers’ farms The chairman (who is the chairman of the local Board of Trustees) brought up the matter of the Government taking over soldiers' farms, if suitable, when farmers had been drawn in the ballots. He said this was a matter that was engaging the attention of the Efficiency Board and thought it would not be out of place for the Board to pass its opinion as to the advisability or otherwise of the Government incurring such liabilities. After some discussion the chairman moved :—That this Board affirms the principle of the Government taking over suitable farms where farmers had been called to the colors.—The motion was carried unanimously. ACCOUNTS Accounts amounting to £323 6s 7d were passed for paymont.