MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 810, 5 March 1910, Page 3

MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board was held in the Board’s office last night. Present: —Messrs B. G. Gower (chairman), O. Robinson, W. S. Carter, F. S. Easton and H. G. Hammond. The Clerk reported the amount to credit of the general account at ,£63 7s, and loan account ,£271 5s 4d. Since last meeting ,£l4 3s had been received on account of general rates, leaving outstanding 13s yd. A further instalment of ,£3OO on account of loan had also come to hand and been placed to the credit of loan account. Wages amounting to ,£45 13s 3d were paid on February 18 th. Correspondence was read from the Board’s engineer, Mr T Ward, advising the Board of the steps he had taken in reference to hiring crane from the Government, and enclosing correspondence from the General Manager of Railways definitely fixing the charge for crane at 16s rod when in use, and when not actually in steam and in use 2s 6d per day.—lt was decided on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Hammond, that the terms of hire of crane as set out by the General Manager of Railways be accepted, and that the engineer be instructed to take the necessary steps to have the said machinery made available for work as early as possible. The overseer reported that since last meeting 52 chains of drain connecting with the Kari Karl had been completed, leaving 24 chains still to be done. The cost of the work up to the present, 68 chains in all, had been about £2 5s per chain. He proposed continuing this work to connect with the Kari Kari drain, and then proceeding with the cleaning up of the Kari Kari and Leen’s drains until the machinery is available for the main drain. —The report was adopted. Accounts amounting to £6 10s were passed for payment against general account, and ,£63 10s 8d against loan account. The Chairman brought up the question of making some charge to the Harbour Board for the use of the office. He said that they had had the use of it for twelve mouths, and he thought it was only fair that they should pay a portion of the rent.

After some discussion it was decided on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Robinson that the Harbour Board be asked to pay 13s qd, being a third of the rent paid by the Board, for the use of the office, and that the Harbour Board be allowed to occupy the office on the same terms as long as the Board’s clerk acts for them.

The question of cleaning drains at the top end ol the district was discussed at some length and it was eventually decided that the engineer be requested to arrange to meet the Board, with a view of inviting tenders for various sections of connecting drains, and at as early a date as possible.

The Chairman mentioned the matter of the contractors who are at present engaged in metalling on the Levin - Foxtou road using the timber belonging to the Board without permission, and alter discussion it was resolved that the Horowhcuua County Kngineer be written to for a guarantee that all timber will be replaced, and any damage made good. The Board rose at 9.55 p.m.