MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2858, 14 March 1925, Page 2

MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING-. The monthly meeting of the Mamiwntu ol*mia River Board was hold at Palmerston N. yesterday, when there were present: Messrs H. Akers (in the chair), N. P. Neilsen, H. .J. Wilton, B. G. Gower, A. Seifert, and A. F. Anderson. The engineer (Mr F. C. Hay) reported that the field work in enn-m-ction with the cleaning up of the surveyors’ contract, was still in progress, but as fax* as required for the actual design of the scheme, all surveys and plans were now complete except a little work in- the vicinity of the Kangitane and on tin* banks of the Oroua River. The detail design of (lie comprehensive Hood control scheme* bad been started and would proceed to completion without further hitch. In 111 of a lengthy special report on comprehensive Hood control, the engineer stated that in order that undertakings of this nature might be carried out in a practical way, it was suggested that new legislation was required for the construction and maintenance of works to control the flood waters of main rivers. It was suggested that an Act setting up a Alain Rivers Board similar in many respects to the Alain Highways Act, would meet the ease’, while existing legislation relating to ordinary river boards should be consolidated into one AH applicable to all. Even if the proposed Main Rivers Act. did not contain financial provisions whereby Stale aid would be forthcoming, it’ should at least be enough to pave the way for special Acts authorising such aid and enabling in every when the local district and Stale interests warranted il, the carrying onl and mainlenanee of comprehensive flood control seliem-

The report was received without discussion.

The secretary reported that the ,■ 1 a ssi ilea I ion of the hoard's area v, as at present as follows ; —Class A, 4,771 acres: B, 36,407 acres: ( . 10,51.8 acres; D. (non-ratoahle), 22.106 acres.

The hoard’s solicitor, Air P. E. Baldwin, attended and reported 011 lhe recent silting of the Assessment Court, which heard appeals against the classification of rateable property. The engineer, and Messrs N. 11. Maekie and Baldwin were authorised to confer with a view to placing amending legislation before the Internal Affairs Department in order that differential rating might he secured in each ease, or, in the alternative, a larger number of classes piovided, and also that power he obtained to ,remit rates in certain cases.

Accounts amounting to .073 I I were passed for payment.