MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 4009, 12 October 1929, Page 3

MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly niceting of the Moutoa Drainage Board was held in the secretary’s offiice on Thursday night, (presided over by Mr. .T. Chrystall (chairman). Also present were Messrs W. E. Barber, B. G. Gower, R. Bi'yajit, D. Pnircell and the secretary (Mr. A. Fraser). FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The financial statement was adopted as follows: — Bank Now Zealand account overdrawn £2OO 18/9, Post Office Savings Bank in credit £77 15/4. The General Account was in debit £209 10/7, the 'lnterest Account 8/2 overdrawn, and the Worker’s Dwelling Loan Account £77 15/4 in credit. Accounts amounting to £2(5 8/4 were passed for payment. FOREMAN’S REPORT. The foreman (Mr. T. A. Robinson) reported as follows: — During the month the following wofik has been earned out: Cleaning 53 .chains of the Kara Kara Drain and also removing the big slip at the mouth of the Kara Kara South Drain. Time taken on this work was 23 working days. There .still remains 24 chains of swan grass to be cleaned in the upper section. This (portion of the drain is in a very dirty condition, and it. would fee a good idea at the commencement of the next general cleaning seaon to have all the swan grass removed, when the drains are cleaned. The drain will take fully a fortnight to complete, as a foot of silt as well as swan grass will have to fee • removed. Langley’s North Dirain will be cleaned as soon as the Kara Kara is finished. It is probable that the whole of Langley’s Drain will have to fee cleaned as the lower end was done during last summer and had a good autumn growth on it before the winter set in.

The report was received and the foreman was instructed to proceed with the cleaning of Langley’s North Drain. A letter was received from Messrs Cooper, Rapley and Rutherfurd, relative to Mrs. Terrill’s demand in connection with the newly-erected bank at Moutoa, acknowledging receipt of the Board’s letter containing copy of the resolution passed at last meeting, stating that they are aware that a certain portion of the 'bank: was originally erected by the Manawatu County Council but that the Board’s statement that the bank re-erected bv the settlers in the district was not correct as it was contended that the Board had contributed towards the cost off the bank. The letter was received. Correspondence was received relative to drain cleaning machinery. ... THE £2OOO LOAN. Mr. W. E. Barber suggested that the Public -Works Commissioner be again written to with a view to ascertaining, when the £2OOO loan money would eome to hand, v The secretary reported that the Board’s plans and specifications -in regard to the proposed work had been approved by the Department with the.exception of proposed Yellow (Stop Bank. The Mana-watu-Oroua River Board bad approved cf the Board’s proposed flood gates.

Mv. Barber considered that despite the fact the Boa/rd had cancelled its proposals in regard to the Yellow Bank the loan should not he withheld on that score.

A motion was ear lied to the effect that the Department be again written to pointing out that the Ma-nawalu-Oroua River Board have agreed to the works proposed to be carried out with the loan money and that as the Board was anxious to proceed with portion of the work immediately, they would like to know the position with regard to the £2OOO loan. THE UNEMPLOYMENT QUESTION. The chairman mentioned that other drainage hoards in the district were obtaining grants from the Government in connection with the unemployment fund and he thought the 1 board should make application for a sum for the purpose of absorbing some of the unemployed in widening the Mam Drain, by 10 feet for a distance of o v ne mile. Members considered that this worjk was necessary and if earned out would greatly relieve the hooded areas. ( The secretary was instructed to make enquiries with a view to obtaining a grant, and instructed to convene a special meeting of the Board if necessary to deal with the matter. ' *