MAKERUA DRAINAGE BOARD

Chronicle (Levin), 19 March 1946, Page 3

MAKERUA DRAINAGE BOARD

— V MARCH MEETING The chairman (Mr. J. D. Aitchison) presided over the monthly meeting of the Makerua Drainage Board, held at Palmerston North, and there were also present: Messrs. I. Croad, H. Sames, S. H. Claridge, N. B. Gibbons, L. J. Vile and W. McWilliams. Dissatisfaction was expressed with the amount of subsidy offered by the Soil Erosion and Rivers Control Council for bank protection work. In reply to an application by the board, the Public Works Department advised that the Soil Erosion and Rivers Control Council had approved a subsidy of £2 to £1 011 a gross expenditure of £2000. It was considered that the scale of work -recently proposed- could safely be reduced for the protection work at the old Foxton Road and at Barrow's. The chairman said that the amount olfered was very disappointing. The amount applied for (£2800) had been cut to £2000, and did not include the work at Hanseirs bend. The board would have to go back to the council and make representations 011 both matters. Mr. Gibbons said the engineer (Mr. O. Doian) considered that the work proposed to be done at Hansen's (eight chains) was not sufficient to provide the required protection. The engineer and the clerk (Mr. N. I. Nielsen) were instructed to approach the council to see whether the subsidy could be increased, and the work at Hansen's bend extenaed. The channian said it might .be preferabie if the council accepted a certain sum annually from the board to look after the river protection work, and the board would chen know whare it stood. The board decided, on- the advice of the engineer, to carry out further planting protection work on the property of Mr. G. T. Smith 011 Tane Road. The clerk reported that the general account showed a credit of £2787. At the corresponding meeting last year it was £2193. Rates paid amounted to £11,643. At the' March meeting last year the amount was £11,259. Unpaid tates totalled £356. The overseer (Mr. P. V. Tucker) reportecl as follows: "All the trees ,wjerg ,used .in, thei protection ' of Hansen's bend, but w;ere sufficient only for the lower eight chains. There is sufficient 12-ply cable on the job for a further five chains and enough concrete weights for another eight chains. No work has yet been done on the Whitaunui erosion. The clearing of the intersecting cliannel is in progress, and ! to date 160 chains to the old main ! drain are completed. The water | level at the flood-gate is the lowest for 17 years, and cattle are doing more- damage than previous years 011 that account. The drainage from a farmer's cowsheds hasicompletely blocked the channel for some 10 chains and I would like some members of the board to inspect this before the rain comes." — The chairman, overseer, Mr. Gibbons and the engineer were appointed to inspect the position in regard to the cowshed drainage. The engineer reported that tenders had been called for the cutting of fringe willows in Tokomaru from Aislabie's flood-gate to Pedley's tsouthern boundary. Although two 'enquiries had been received, no tenders had been let. The rnatter was left in the hands of the engineer to make further enquiries.