AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3624, 9 April 1927, Page 2

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS.

MOSAICS OF FLOODED AREA INCOMPLETE.

RIVER BOARD DISCUSSES QUESTION.

At Thursday’s meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua River Board an account for £IOO was received for aerial photographs of the flooded area of the Manawatu basin, taken last year by the Defence Department’s air plane. The account was for £IOO, whereas' the estimated cost was given as £SO. “ The engineer (Mr. F. C. Hay) said it cost £l2 per flying hour. He said a complete mosaic of the Makerua had been taken. The Kopularoa and Moutoa districts were almost completed, but the Kairanga and Oroua mosaics were only that of the river. “There is no doubt about the work costing a lot more than they are charging,” he said, “but the job has not been completed, and it is a question whether the Board will pay for what has been done or request tire company to complete the job and then pay. The mosaics are well worth having, both to the Board and to the district at large.” “Is there a chance of getting it completed?” asked Mr. B. G. Gower.

“Well, they have a new plane and are getting a better camera,” replied the engineer. He thought that some concession should be made to the Board in that the work had not been completed. “They are 'not trying to put anything across the Board,” stated Mr. Hay, “but the whole thing is that it cost them about £SOO, and we obtained a sort of contract at a ridiculously lenv figure.” “If" they had been ready they should have done it at the figure quoted,” said Mr. Gower, “tli'ev missed more than once—they should have been up in the air earlier than they were,” he added. Mr. Hay considered that the camera was a poor one and the aeronauts had come up to the Manawatu for a rush job to take flood pictures at an estimated cost of £SO.

“Would they complete the work V asked Mr. A. Buchanan. Mr. Hay “I think not.” Mr. Tanner: “I think they have had enough of it.” A suggestion that .the company be asked to complete the survey when on their way to do some work in the North Island was made by Mr. Gower.

The engineer considered that the company could stay in the North Island and make money. “They might be able to make a small contract with the Palmerston North Borough Council as an aerial survey would be useful in the townplanning scheme. The chairman (Mr. IT. Akers): “I feel inclined to pay them." Mr. Buchanan: “I would like to '-oe the work completed.” It was finally decided that the engineer make inquiries as to the prospects of having the work completed, the account being passed for payment.