WAIMAKARIRI RIVER.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18364, 23 April 1925, Page 5

WAIMAKARIRI RIVER.

MEETING OF TRIjST,

The AVaiinakariri River Trust held its usual meeting yesterday. Mr J. Wood (chairman) presided, and there were als.o present—Messrs J. Leslie, A. Manhire, V. P. Spencer, F. G. Horrell, J. H. Black-well, and R. O. Dixon.

The Overseer (Mr T. Jeal) reported that there had been two aaiall floods in the river but none of the works had suffered damage. The lower groyne at Stewart's Gully had been repaired, and with the scrubbing of two chains of the bank, a sum of £7G 5s 8:1 had boon spent. Number 9 groyne had been completed, with fhe excoption of 100 cement blocks, which would not be put in until the liver had lowered the ones "already in. This groyne to date had cost £246. Good- progress had been made with- the elbow and stop bank, which to date had cost £l4B, a! lowing 28s per day for the Trust's own teams. This groyne and etop bank saved the water on two occasions from gettin? in behind tho new stop bank lower down. Nnraber 8 groyne, now being put in, was 28 yards long, and so far had coat £99 7s lOd. It should be completed in three weeks. The etop bank at Flaxton (main drain) had been commenced, and £6O 13s lid had been spent tipon it. Arrangements had' been made ■with Mr Gilmoro to do tho work by contract. As to the flood gate for drain entering into main drain at Flaxton bridge, at the last meeting of the Tmst it. was decided to order a four-foot culvert for this drain, but since then ho was of the opinion that a four-foot culvert would not bo large enough, and also that if a culvert of any kind were put in tho drain would flood Mr Bekor's property. Therefore ha would recommend stop-banking the drain in place of a oulyert. The pulling of the willows out cf tho Eyro river round Kaiapoi up to the railway bridge has been completed at a cost of £134 Bs, and to date £23 worth of wood has b,een sold; Thero is about £8 worth still to dispose of. The work of pulling willows out of the Cam river has been hold up, but a start would b"e mado on the SOtri. The work for the coming month would be putting in groynes on north bank, erecting a stop bank at Flaxton, pulling willows out of Cam river, repairing groyne below the Empire bridge, and erecting a fence at Haievrcod golf links. Tho report was adopted. The Oxford County Council asked tho Trust to give attention to tho condition of tho bridge over tho Eyro, which was in need of protection. Tho chairman said that Mr liorrell and himself had inspected tho place, and ho had prcflniscd that the overseer would inspect; the bridge and report upon it. Mr Horrell said that erosion bolow the bridge was very dangerous. To repair it would necessitate too much of an expenditure out of tho county rate, and ho moved that tho Canterbury College Board of Governors, whoso reserve was affected, should bo asked for a donation. • The motion was carried. Estimates for the- coming year were discussed in committee It was decided that the rate struck last year, namely, l-6d in Class A, l-7d in Clas3 B, and l-8d in Class C, be again struck, and that provision be made to sot aside £SOOO as a reserve to. offßet any contingency that might arise through floods. , ~ . Tho balance-sheet showed that tho rate struck was £2O,4GG 7s 3d, tho amount received £18,839 15s 3d, and the amount outstanding £ISOO 12s. Members expressed the opinion that thie showed the Board to be in a satiefactory position, and a motion thanking the secretary (Mr C. W. Horvey) and overseer (Mr Jeal), together with their staffs, for the services rendered by them during the year, was carried.