MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 833, 30 April 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), W. S. Carter, O. Robinson, H. G. Hammond and F. S. Easton.

The clerk reported the amount to the credit of the general account at xßs id, and of loan account at £520 3s Bd. Since last meeting a further instalment of ,£SOO had been received on account of loan, leaving .£2,300 still available. Wages amounting to ,£45 6s nd were paid on the 15th instant. The engineer, Mr T. Ward, reported as follows: — DRAINAGE CONTRACTS, The Kari Kari drain has been cleaned out and bottomed from Leen’s drain for about 90 chains. I have not yet tried the bottom to ascertain whether it has been ta!\ en out to the required depth. The work so far has considerably lowered the water in Leen’s dram. The timber in this drain has not yet been taken out, and the sides of the drain from Leen’s to the bridge will require to be gone over again. About 75 chains of Langley’s drain has been cleaned out and partly bottomed. Considerable delay has been caused by the amount of timber that has been met with, and there is no doubt that this contract will not be finished within contract time.

THE DREDGE,

The dredge is now in fair working order, several necessary repairs having been effected by the fitter who came up from the Petone workshops. If the dredge goes on working as well as it did this morning it will quite answer all expectations I formed about it, and will do the work required of it satisfactorily. If it performs as well next week, and manages to keep up the required pressure of steam, I suggest that the boiler be logged and the whole properly covered iu. The power in the boiler and engine was quite sufficient this morning to keep on working continuously and make enough trips with the grab to take out the mateiial fast enough to enable the whole work to be completed with the balance of the money in hand. GENERAL,. In reference to the overflow at Duck Creek, I recently accompanied the Board members over this work, and have little doubt but that the overflow can be stopped, and when required I shall be ready to present a report on it. I have inspected Robinson’s outlet, and find that the flood gate there requires to be attended to to prevent the river finding its way up it and discharging into the Board’s large drain. I think this should be attended to by the person whose business it is to do so. I have forwarded up complete plans of the drain extensions— I,een’s, Cook’s to Saunders' and Barber's. The only one now remaining is what is known as Wall’s outlet, which will be ready to be let one week before the next Board meeting.

Accounts amounting to £66 13s rod were passed for payment against loan account, and £ig 13s tod against general account.

No tenders were received for deepening and widening drains, and it was decided to extend the time lor receiving same until the xoth prox.