DRAINAGE WORK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 251, 21 September 1929, Page 10

DRAINAGE WORK.

MOTJTOA BOARD’S MEETING. (From Our Own Correspondent). FOXTON, Sept. 20. The monthly meeting of the Moutoa Drainago Board was held on Thursday, being presided over by Mr J. Chrystall (chairman). Also present were Messrs R. Bryant, W. E. Barber, B. G. Gower and D. Parcell. Mr Barber reported that since last meeting the old bridge across the Government drain which was wrecked during a recent flood had been removed. The treasurer (Mr A. Fraser) reported as follows on the board’s finances:—The balances to dato show the bank account overdrawn by £l9l 11s and tho F.O. Savings Bank is in credit £74 15s 4d. Tho balances of the separate accounts are: General account, overdrawn, 8s 2d; woikors’ dwelling loan account, in credit £74 15s 4d. General rates paid to date amount to £461 3s 7d, and the sum outstanding is £560 10s sd; specail rates paid to dato aro £ll2 17s 2d. and outstanding £l4O 17s 4d. The treasurer reported that tho ratepayers’ list was confirmed by the Magistrate on August 12 without alterations. Accounts amounting to £35 4s 4d were passed for payment. The foreman reported inter alia that during tho month repairs were carried out to the bottom doors of tho diagonal floodgato as tho previous floods had considerably damaged one of theso doors, evidently through wood becoming jambed under tho hinges. Tho doors were now in good working condition. A largo quantity . of flood debris was removed from the drain sido and river sido of the diagonal gates, both before and after the last flood. During tho last ten days tho work of cleaning Smith’s drain had been undertaken. The drain is 40 chains in length and was in a particularly bad condition, being completely blocked, as a result of several floods, for a distance of 20 chains. The drain was jambed tight from top to bottom with rushes and timber as well as several dead lambs and ewes. During tho coming month a start will be made to clean Kara North drain. —Adopted. A letter was received from Mr Camoron, of Shannon, who wrote pointing out tho bad stato of the road .in front of his property near tho old ferry and asking tho board to clean tho drain providing an outlet. Mr Cameron pointed out that, as a result of tho last flood, his fenco along his road frontago was down and it was impossible for him to do anything until the water was drained off. —The chairman said the board sympathised with Mr Cameron on tho stato of his property but the drain referred to was not a board drain and consequently not under tho board’s jurisdiction. Tho object of the board was to provide an outlet to every property owner, but it did not undertake cleaning, out private drains. It was decided to notify Mr Cameron of the position and to explain to him tho location of tho board’s drain in that locality. Messrs Cooper, Rapley and Rutherford, of Palmerston North, on behalf of Mrs R. M. Terrill, of Moutoa, served notice on tho board that tho flood-bank in front of her property was weak and required strengthening. Mrs Terrill, therefore, demanded that tho noeessary work ho carried out, and that until such was done she v, ould hold the board liable for any damage done.—lt was decided to inform Mrs Terrill that tho bank was not a board bank, and that it was originally erected by tho Manawatu County Council, and later re-erected by tho sottlors interested. The Public Works Department wroto in reference to several works asking if those were to bo proceeded with. —Mr Bryant said that if a subsidy could bo obtained from the Highways *Board the works would bo proceeded with. The chairman said that tho loan to carry out the work had been for tho dual purposo of stop-banks and floodgates. It was decided to writo to tho Public Works Department pointing out that tho board had no intention of erecting the “yellow” stop-bank but support was required for tho floodgates and river protection works. The chairman referred to the fact that a number of settlers in tho Moutoa district had adopted a “self-help” attitude in con-

lioctioii with flood protection work and by voluntary labour had erected a substantial bank near the site of the old Shannon bridge, effectively filling the break caused in tho old bank by recent floods. From figures that he had obtained he was able to inform the meeting thnt the settlers had expended £231 8s 3d on wages, reckoned at 14s per day, and £379 12s Id on horso feed, at 10s per day for a two horse team. Tho number of days worked (man, team and scoop) were 241 |. Members expressed the opinion that had the break in the bank not been filled so promptly thousands of acres of farm lands would to-day be undor water. The settlers who had participated in tho work were to be congratulated on their co-operation and fine work for tho good of tho district as a whole.