Flood Prevention In Manawatu

Chronicle (Levin), 1 September 1948, Page 3

Flood Prevention In Manawatu

Ma'tters of loeal interest in connection with flood prevention and river control work in the lower Manawatu were discussed afi the meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua River Board- last week. The action of the Makerua Drainage Board's • special cohimittee in approaching the engineer of the Catchment Board, ■ Mr. P. G. Evans, to go into' the matter of drawing up a table of costs for improvement work on the Tokomaru Stream was endorsed. A sum of £1000 is to be spent on the stream. Mr. J. Chrystali, chairman, said he could not see why the Makerua Drainage Board had put up with the bad state of the stream for so long. Mr. G. M. Simpson said it was a good thing that tlie two boards had been- able to cooperate. A request from a resident of Shannon that unless the top of a stopbank of Mr. A. E. Burling's property was fenced there would be another flood in .the Buckley area^ will be attended to. A scheme for pumping 100 acres

of Mr. G. T. McGill's property at Koputaroa, suggested by the Buckley Drainage Board, was approved. A gravitation scheme of' draining through Mr.y-D. Spiers' land would be ideal, but it was not possible because of legal complications. The Moutoa Drainage Board's complaint that the second set of floodgates on the Main Drain were in bad condition, and that further deterioration of these gates would make their efficient functioning impossible, was contradicted by a section in the enaineer's report, whieh said that thdugh two gates at the northem end of the section showed leaks, the others were all right. However, in the old gates there were serious leaks and several minor onos. The Moutoa Drainage Board is to be told that owing to the large amount of money spent on the gates, they should take over the maintenance. The gates are in good order. On the suggestion of the engineer, willows1 are to be planted at 'the water's edge 50 ehains upstream from the Shannon Bridge because of the inereased pressure piaced on this bank by the Taupunga No. 2 cut at Moutoa.