MAKERUA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2814, 22 November 1924, Page 2

MAKERUA DRAINAGE BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Makerua Drainage Board was held in Palmerston X. on Thursday when Trustee J. Liggins occupied the chair. Other members present were: Trustees A. Seifert, 11. Akers, R. Tippler and R. T. Bell. The Poplar Flaxmilling Co. wrote drawing the Board’s attention to the water level on their property. It was stated that i lie banks recently erected were three feel lower than the main bank. It was stated by the overseer that levels were being taken.

Mrs E. J. Sullivan (Shannon), wrote, staling that the stop-bank on her property had been washed away in the recent flood. —The overseer v,-as instructed to .attend to the matter. The overseer (Mr \Y. H. Miles) in Iris Inonthly report, stated that he had been working on protection work in Williams’ property, Shannon, but owing to the recent Hoods lie had to discontinue. All hands would he making another start on Monday. He had inspected the right hank, and found that no serious damage had been done, but" three erosions had taken place and would need the Board’s attention. There were several places slowly encroaching on the main hank, but nothing was to be feared. Willows would have to be planted at the worst places before too many floods occurred. It was quite evident that the Board would carefully have to consider the question of planting willows, os some other means of protection work, to ensure the safety of the present bank. The protection work in Coley’s property was knocked about a little, but with repairing, it would be 1 all right. One of the ramps in Mrs Sullivan's property had been partly cut out while the old stop-bank at the mouth of Aker’s drain was efit through. Both these would attention.

The chairman of the works committee (Mr A. Seifert) in his report on the committee’s work throughout the past month, staed. that since last meeting there had been a large flood in the Manawatu River. It was not nearly the size of the flood in June, 1902, but there liStd been only four other floods equal to it since Iho “old man” flood mentioned above. At the Fitzherbert Bridge, Palmerston X., the water rose on the gauge as follows; —Saturday, November 1. 10.30 a.m., 10ft. 9in.; 3.30 p.m., 12ft.; 0.20 p.m., 13ft. 6in.; Sunday, Xoveinber 2, about 2.30 a.m. 15ft. lin.; 4.45 a.m., 14ft. 7in; 0.15 p.m. Bft. 4in. Mr S. Jlekell and he made a tour of inspection on Sunday to observe the effect of the flood water in the Manawatu-Oroua drainage area generally, and the Makerua area in particular. The Makerua banks did good work but he was convinced that to give relief to the whole of the area subject to flood water in the Manawatu and Oroua districts it would be necessary to construct an overflow channel to prevent damage by flood water in the case of very large floods. The dredge was now working in low ground, therefore a very high hank had lo be made and a tremendous amount of spoil excavated to build the bank to the necessary height and width. The permanent height was 10ft. 3in. but it had been constructed to lift. Him to allow for sinkage. During the month Xo. 2 dredge made a channel 73 chains long and reached peg Bm. 58elms. and excavated 42,916 yards of spoil, the average yardage per hour per time worked was 115.4.