MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2754, 5 July 1924, Page 3

MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The regular meeting of the Mn-nawatn-O’rona. River Board was bold at Palmerston N. on Thursday, Mi R. T. Bell presiding over an attendance comprising Messrs H. Akers, M. F. Anderson, W. S. Carter, K. McDonald, N. P. Neilson, A. L. Seifert and 11. Wilton. An apology for absence was received from -Mr B. G. Gower. F.X<!INFER’S REPORT. Surveys: —Messrs Ward and Salmon had finished the field work on June 9 and levels up to Longburn Road bridge were forwarded a few days later. The levels bad been checked and found to close exceedingly well. J.n 50 miles of levelling, the error was only half an inch. P(ans of the upper portio?! of the Manawatu had jus I arrived and a design was being proceeded with. Oilier nrgej ilv required plans were due to arrive this month. A progress. payment of £l5O could be made as enough plans bad come to hand io warrant a payment. Kopane Settlers. —The Oroua bad been inspected through Kopane and three of the members of the deputation to the Board last month were met, as a result of which they understood better the aims and objects cl the River Board, and the methods by which it was Imped to get a comprehensive plan of river control and an equitable system of rating lo pay for it. Obstructions to Flood Waters.— The Manawatu County Council had not cut away willows or removed other obstructions at Kopane, Manga what a, or Rangiotu, but an inspection of these blockages made by Cr. Boyce and the engineer would at least serve to remove any misapprehension that might exist in the-’-mind of the Manawatu County Council as to what the River Board actually required. The Railway Department had advised that the willows at Rangiotu railwy bridge would be removed. Men bad been put on cutting willows and other obstructions on the river frontages of one of the Oroua settlers. With the Board’s authority these men would proceed to the river mouth, and working upstream, clean up to standard requirements all frontages where settlers liad neglected to comply with the notifical ions of the Board.

Tile willow and other growth in the Oroua river above Kopane bridge was growing on Crown lands and it would be necessary to approach the Commissioner of Crown Lands -regarding cutting. These willows, together with those growing under tin* Kopane bridge '(Mauawutu County Council) which acted as a deckled' obstruction to the passage of flood waters and were liable to cause Hooding iu Kopane, and through the Kopane down the low-lying lauds in Oroua sub-division. ! Erosion at Mangawliafa.—The recent freshes scoured the bank at Hie dower end of Holden’s rendering it insecure. The breaking of this hank would, let flood waters into the Kairanga in considerable quantifies. The bank was being strengthened by scooping earth up behind ii and protective" works had been recommended to prevent further scour. During a reeeut visit up the Oroua weak and low places iu the bank were noticed on the Kairanga' side ami though the owners were notified it was perhaps advisable lo report ii officially to the Board, so Mint settlers in Lower Kairanga, who would be the chief sufferers in the case of a break, might have warning. The places referred to were above Sanson’s and iu the vicinity of Jervis’ mill. Shingle Carting. —While the carting away of shingle from the riverbeds was not doing any harm to rivers, it was possible in some easses to increase the scour of the river by the removal of shingle and so allow erosion of good land to take place. At the present time the River Board exercised no control in the removal of shingle and it was suggested that if the Board had jurisdiction over the bed of the river, it might exercise its powers so that shingle removed from the river wo-

aid be taken up from such places where the best results were likely io lie obtained.

National Interest. —No reply had been received from the Public Works Department regarding the data required for the purpose of estimating the national interest in a comprehensive scheme for control of Manawatu and Oroua Rivers. The delay had been caused, through information required from the Railway and Lands Departments not having come to hand. Electricity for Construction Plant —Mr Overton, chief engineer of the Horowhenua Power Board, had inspected the plans and works’ programme of the scheme adopted by the Board as far as Poplar Mill and regarded the load (especially in view of the steady demand from the district that was bound to occur should the river control works be gone on with) as an attractive one from the suppliers’ point of view. He made an estimate of Ihe cost of electricity on the machines which could lie used safely, as a basis for comparing the running costs of electrically driven plant with those of steam and oil-driven excavators. Tt was decided that the matter of cnlting the willows at the different bridges he left in the hands of the chairman and engineer with power to act.

With reference to the cutting of willows at the mouth of the Oroua river, the engineer estimated the net cost to the Board would lie. in the vicinity of £SO. On the chairman’s motion, it was decided that willows be cut from the mouth of the river and upwards by the Board’s employees and .charged to the various owners.

In view of the removal of shingle causing damage to the bed of the river, Ihe Board decided to take steps to prevent (lie. removal in cases where such was reported. The Makcrua Drainage Board applied for permission to erect protective works on the bank of the Manawatu River at Coley’s front - age. The matter was left in the hands of Mr Carter and the engineer.

Payments totalling £354 15/1 were authorised to be made.