RAETIHI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 115, 18 May 1931, Page 12

RAETIHI

MOKOTUKU DELATION SCHEME* At his installation on Wednesday the Mayor, Mr W. Harris, asked the councillors to pay a visit of inspection to the work being carried on in connection with the deviation of water from the Makotuku river to the Maxa-al river to increase the water supply i<>| the electric power station. All the councillors with the exception of Ur. Barkes, who is at present in Auckland, met al the Borough Council Chambers at 2.3 D p.m. on Thursday and, accei'i ! panied the engineer. Mr W. Journcau.N.J to the work being carried on under No. 5 Unemployment Scheme at the Mid!l ,, i Road. The party arrived in time to sec j the last section of a 30-inch concrete culvert placed in position .indcT the j Middle Road. A ditch, or deep water I race has been dug through Messrs Free- ( man R. Jackson and Co.’s property from the, Middle Road to the Makara .‘iver. a distance of about 50 chains. In some places large boulders were encountered which made the work difficult. A roadway has been made of the sand, soil, etc., taken out of the ditch. This water race will take a supply of water into the dam on the Makara river from which there is at present a race about three-quarters of a mile long, conveying water to the power house. In dry sea sons there lias been a shortage of water > in the Makara river and this prompted ' the Borough Council to investigate the! conditions and start the present work | by unemployed labour. On the other side of the Middle Road the ditch has been dug for several chains, through Air Berry’s property. On Wednesday the engineer guided the party on the pro posed route to the Makotuku river. He pointed out where it was originally p* •- posed to tap the river. He explained in detail an alta ur, .ive route which ap. pealed to all present as being economical. The work i-= under the con-, trol of tho Public Works Department whose engineers must v-l approve of the plans, etc. Thj carrying out of ‘he scheme is being Jone by Air Journcv.x, the borough engineer, while Air C. Davis, the borough foreman, is in charge of the workmen. Thu Mayor explained that his object in proposing the inspection was to enable all councillors to have a first-hand knowledge of what was being done. He invited questions and councillors were given particulars by the engineer. The action of the Mayor in authorising the engineer to make further estimates was approved by all the councillors. ODDFELLOWSHIP At the meeting of the Loyal Raetihi Lodge on Wednesday night N.G. Bro. W. Heine presided. The question of the total amount of donation to the Hawke’s Bay relief fund was left over till next meeting. Further nominations were received for the offices of V.G. and E.C. Reports were received concerning several sick members. Lodge honours were accorded Bro. T. F. Fagg, who was on holiday from Palmerston North. An apology was received for the absence of the P.S. Bro. G. H. Parkes who was on holiday in Auckland. A circular was received from the district secretary draNving attention to tho reduction in the National Provident maternity bonus and tho reduced maximum salary of tho recipient. After supper progressive euchre was indulged in, the winners being Bro. W. . Heine and Sis. K. Langdon, the latter j winning in the play-off with Sis. Af. A. : Buckley. POLITICAL Air F. Langstone, Af.P. for the district, gave a political address in the r Theatre Royal on Thursday, the Mayor, ( Air W. Harris, presiding. Air Langstone criticised the actions < of the United Party and the Reform . Party. Ho expounded the policy of the ( Labour Party. He declared the time was ripe for new methods as outlined by Labour. They asked for a chance to govern the (Dominion. At tho next general election they wanted to be returned for over 40 electorates. Labour opposed the cut .in wages. The Government should have made up the deficit by increased income tax and death > duties. ‘ A collection was taken up by the < local branch of the Labour Party and a i hearty vote of thanks accorded Air Langstone for his address. . Owing to counter attractions there i was not a very largo attendance of i electors.