DRAINAGE BOARD

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LII, Issue 37, 8 May 1931, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING HELD.

LETTER FROM MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

The members present at the monthly meeting of the Ellesmere Lands Drainage Board Were Messrs R. M. D. Morten (chairman), H. J. Macartney, F. Miller, John Sharp, F. Coop, H. Pickering and W. Downey. The clerk and engineer (_VJ|r James Mackenzie) was in attendance. On the motion of Mr Miller, the Board expressed its sympathy with the chairman in the death of his brother. In reference to a request made at the previous meeting by Mr Downey, on behalf of Mr McCarthy, Prebbleton, Mr Pickering reported that an inspection of the drain had been made and that cleaning had since been done. The chairman reported that the economy committee set up at the previous meeting of the Board had not yet held a meeting. It was agreed that the committee should meet very shortly Authority was given Mr Macartney and the clerk to deal with tenders for the cleaning of what is generally known as the back road drain. PERMANENT OUTLET QUESTION. Writing on April 10, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister of Public Works, acknowledged receipt of a copy of a resolution passed by the Board, following a conference with representatives of the Christchurch Unemployment Research Committee, asking that an engineer from the Public Works Department should be sent out to investigate the question of a scheme for the permanent outlet of Lake Ellesmere, suggested as a means of absorbing unemployed labour. After giving the matter consideration he was agreeable to such an investigation being made, and was requesting the Engineer-in-Chief of his Department to instruct the District Engineer at Christchurch to arrange accordingly. The Board expressed its appreciation of the Minister's willingness to co-operate in endeavouring to solve a difficult problem. The clerk reported having conveyed the contents of the Minister's letter to the Canterbury Progress League, and an acknowledgment was received from Mr Climie. UNEMPLOYED LABOUR. Correspondence was received from the Officer in Charge of the Labour Department, Christchurch, asking to be advised of the number of unemployed men the Board could find work for. It was desired that, if possible, the Board should make provision to employ a greater number of men than prior to the suspension of the No. 5 scheme. The engineer said he had about 33 men employed for the second week. Next Monday he intended to start 15 on drainage work at Tai Tapu. Mr Coop: About £400 has been spent upon unemployed labour. Is this going to affect our ordinary labour? The chairman replied that the men had been engaged upon special work which the Board could not have undertaken otherwise. It consisted mainly of deepening and widening drains, and should prove beneficial to landowners. NO OUTLET FOR WATER. Mr Pluck, a Motukarara farmer, waited upon the Board to ascertain if anything could be done to provide an outlet for drainage water from his property. In the wet esason a good deal of water from Waihora Park found its way to his place, and he would be in a very serious position unless an outlet were provided, Previously the water had been carried away by a drain through a neighbour's property, but the drain had recently been ploughed in. It was agreed that the chairman and Mr Miller should see Mr E. Hodgen, Mr Pluck's neighbour, concerning the matter of an outlet. PLANT FOR LAKE OUTLET. It was reported that three tenders had been received for the supply of two crawler type tractors with scoops and dragline equipment for the opening of the lake outlet, but the special committee which had the matter in hand felt that some further investigations were necessary before a tender could be accepted. The committee did

not think there would be any difficulty in securing the plant required at a cost not* exceeding £3000. It was considered that a final decision could be made within a week. HART'S CREEK. Mr Coop asked if the Board could do anything to assist in connexion with the cleaning of Hart's creek, Lakeside, concerning which a letter from Mr W. McMillan had been handed in by him at the previous meeting. The matter was referred to in the engineer's report, in which it was made clear that the Board's weed cutter could no very well be used. He had been wondering whether any unemployed labour could be used. It was pointed out that the land was not being rated and that the Board could not legally spend money on the creek. The engineer said he had discussed the matter fully with Mr McMillan, who understood the position. He had arranged to supply weed cutting knives and the settlers concerned intended to do the cutting. The job would not take long. FINANCE. The Public Trustee, who is sinking fund commissioner for the Board's special loan of 1914, forwarded a statement showing the balance to be £144 15s Id. The pay sheet totalled £519 7s 4d, a substantial part being for unemployed labour, the wage_. for which were found by the Government.