RIVER CONTROL

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 248, 21 October 1942, Page 6

RIVER CONTROL

WAIRAU BOARD MEETING. WORKS DURING PAST MONTH. The Wairau River Board met last iast night, there being present Messrs E. S. Parker (chairman), H. J. Stace, )T. J. Smitli, W. J. Murray, G. J. Penney, J. H. Sutherland, W. A. I itchfield, and R. A. Hawkins. Leave of absence was granted to Mr J. Morrin. ! A vote of condolence was passed | with the widow of the late Mr H. L. Mills. In moving this, the chairman 1 said that Mr Mills had represented Spring Creek on the board for 12 years and had always taken great interest in the board 's work. Permission was received from the Wairau Harbour Board to make a new cut at the Bar when necessary, the Harbour Board paying one-third of the cost. The Marlborough R.S.A. wrote expressing gratitude for the board's generous action in remitting all rates on their property. Mr Adam Wood, Spring Creek, wrote asking for the cancellation of his lease as the board's operations in Morrin's Hollow had reduced his grazing area. The chairman and Messrs Stace and Smith were deputed to deal with the matter. Mr R. Sheridan, Spring Creek, applied to have his property securely fenced on both sides of the new bridge, and the engin^er was instructed to inspect. Mr George Woolley, Spring Creek, asked for a reduction of rent in respect of land taken from him at Morrin's Hollow for a test nursery. — A pro rata reduction amounting to £4 was decided upon. It was decided to grant Mr J. B. Barnett a lease of 184 acres at Tua Marina at £3 10s per year, all rent due to be paid and all wood on land to be the board's property. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer, Mr O. R. Marshall, reported as follows on the work done during the month:— Blenheim Sub-division: The floodgates at the Bank Seetion have been repaired. Willows are being cut in the Opawa river. Omaka Sub-division: The clearing of fire breaks at Fox's Island has now been completed. The area of land leased to G. Washington has been cleared, but the cleaning up has not yet been completed. Fencing around the plantation at Conder's has been removed. The lucerne crop at the Slaughterhouse Block has been cut. Spring Creek Sub-division: More rock has been tipped at the Wairau boatshed. Tua Marina Sub-division: A low plaee in the stop bank at Corry's has been raised to the proper level. j Nelson Transport have resumed work on their stop-bank contract at Tua | Marina. Two bulldozers are at work. | Weed cutter: The weed cutter has! been employed cutting weeds in the ! Gmaka river in the town area. River levels: For the period Septeinber 15 to October 20 the Wairau was above normal as follows: Sep- i tember 20, 3ft. 6in.; September 2,1,1 lft. 9in; September 22, lft. Wairau Bar: The outlet at the Wairau Bar on October 20 was 366 feet wide at high water and 285 feet at low water. The outlet has im- j proved somewhat during the month. I The secretary, Mr W. R. T. White, j reported that £4944 12s 8d of general; rates and £1017 8s 2d of arrears had been collected to date. Rates col- ; lected during the past month were( £1417 9s ld of current rates and £246 ! 9s lOd of arrears. The total balance ; available was £7468 18s 8d. Accounts totalling £552 13s lld on1 the general account and £941 10s interest and sinking funds on loans, were passed for payment.