MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3675, 6 August 1927, Page 4

MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Ma-nawatu-Oroua River Board was held at Palmerston on Thursday morning when there were present: Messrs W. S. Carter (in the chair), A. Seifert, A. Buchanan, R. Tanner, 11. Akers, B. 6. Gower, ,T. C. Harrison, J. S. Richardson and II; Barber.

The Valuation Department wrote setting out the requisite values of certain properties. It was pointed out that Mr. Guy had lodged an objection to the recent valuation made under Section 50 of the Valuation of Land Act, 1925.—Received. Mr. F. W. McLean, Wellington, wrote acknowledging the .board’s nomination of himself as arbiter in connection with Messrs Ward and Salmon’s contract with the Board. —Received.

The Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, wrote acknowledging receipt of a copy of the proposals of the board in regard of flood control for the Manawatu and Oroua rivers.—Received, The Moutoa Drainage Board, Foxton, wrote seeking fuller details 'in respect to a request for information as to the amount allocated by the commission to be paid by the River Board to the Makerua Drainage Board!. —The outlining of the position was left in the hands of the Board’s solicitor and clerk. MINISTERIAL VISIT.

In expectation of a visit from the Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams) and the Public Works Department’s engineer (Mr. F. W. Furkett), a tentative programme of the route be followed by the party was mapped out. It was deemed advisable that Shannon be the starting point, and to then visit Makerua and proceed! through Moutoa to the mouth of the river, to Rangiotu and up the Oroua river for a distance thus giving the visitors a general review of the country. RIVER GORGE.

Mr. Buchanan reported that he had interviewed the postal authorities on the matter of installing an electric indicator at the post office to show the rise and fall of the Manawatu River and had ascertained that it would be possible to have such a contrivance installed at a cost of about £lO per instrument.' Such could, if necessary, be installed at Woodville end, at the Fitzherbert bridge and lower down the river at a point arranged, all recording at the post office. Matters had, however, been deferred pending a report from the board’s engineer, Mr. Hay. The chairman was in favour of installing one instrument at the Fitzherbert bridge immediately. Mr. Akers mentioned that Mr. Harding, engineer to tlie Oroua County Council, would be prepared to co-operate in respect to the Oroua River.

Following a general discussion on. the matter of dost, it was considered strongly advisable to carry the scheme further and in view of the enforced absence of Mr. Hay, Messrs Buchanan and Seifert were authorised to secure the services of an electrical engineer with a view to determining the cost of the installation of electrical gauges at Feeding, Woodville and Palmerston North at the locations most advantageous. Mr. Gower remarked that freshes had occurred in (lie river during June, and on his recommendation if Was decided to make arrangements for the supplying of information regarding freshes to the Press in future.