MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1084, 17 August 1912, Page 3

MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board was held iu the Council Chamber last night. Present; —Messrs B. G. Gower (chairman), Carter, Easton, Hammond, and Robinson.

The clerk reported that the additional loan of ,£595, less ,£4 os 6d charges, had been placed to credit. The amount to credit of loan account at the Bank of New Zealand was ,£429 os 2d and to general account ,£29 13s 3d. The rates outstanding amount to ,£202 os Bd.

The Chairman reported that he had represented the Board at a meeting of delegates from Drainage Boards held at Palmerston North, when the proposed amendments to the Drainage Act were discussed aud that a deputatiou waited on the Minister of Internal Affairs in connection with same aud was favourably received, but that it was hardly likely that the amendments suggested could be made this session.

The payment ol wages, ,£l3 tos 3d on August xst was confirmed and accounts amounting to 6s against loan account and £6 5s against general account were passed for payment. The balance sheet lor the year ended March 31st, 1912, was received back from the audit office duly certified to and entirely free from “ tags.” The overseer reported having completed 7 l /t chains ot main drain for 12 days work, thus leaving about 37 chains still to be done. The clerk stated that there had been a breakdown in connection with the grab and that the overseer had taken the part to Palmerston for repairs.

It was decided that on account of the delays through floods, etc., the Railway Department be asked to extend the lease of dredge beyond September 30th, as it was impossible to complete the work by that date. On the suggestion of Mr Easton, it was resolved to instruct the overseer to submit an estimate at the next meeting of the Board of the cost of completing the main drain from the river to Nye’s bridge. Some time ago a circular letter was sent to property owners asking that during the winter months the artesian wells should be stopped or the flow regulated, otherwise the quantity of water would be too great for the drains to cope with. With the exception of two of those circularised, no action had been taken by the owners ot property. The matter was further discussed last night, and it was eventually decided to hold same over until a future meeting.