Local Stopbank Causes Trouble

Chronicle (Levin), 21 February 1949, Page 3

Local Stopbank Causes Trouble

Eyer since the Manawatu-Oroua River Board4 shifted the stopbank from Stansell's drain, near Mr. A. E. Burling's farm in the Shannon Borough, approximately threequarters of an acre of his land has been under water. Mr. Burling stated, in a letter received at last week's meeting of the Mana-watu-Oroua . River Board, that he considered the shifting of the bank was unnecessary. He said he wanted £100 damages or the stopbank put back 'along the side of Stansell's drain. In his opinion the bank only protected the Buckley area and he was "compelled to hold all the water which would flow over. Sometimes the water was seven or eight feet deep in his paddocks. "I myself would. be pleased if there was no stopbank along Stansell's drain," he said in the let'ter. "I get nothing for holding water for others and I consider the farmers in the Buckley area, or the river board. should contribute towards a

flood pump to cope with it, or if not, let it go through tlie Buckley area and put the flodd pump there. Mr. Martin Curran'S land is also affected. He would be pleased to see the pump installed and would share in the expenses." The board received the letter. Mr. H. R. Farquhar, engineer to the board, reported that protection work on Mr. Curran's -property on the Mangaore River, and also the Mangaore and Manawatu left bank protection work, had been completed. The borrow pit at Johnston's setbank had dried out and the work there was being completed. No reply had. been received for the application for a subsidy on Speirs' setbank. This work would now be treated as urgent. The doors of the Koputaroa floodgate were being replaced. A spoil bank three to five feet high, with occasional short gaps, had been left by the dragline deepening and clearing the Moutoa Main Drain f rom .the road.bridge to the floodgate. : ' 5