MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40025, 19 November 1929, Page 3

MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The usual monthly meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board was held in the secretary’s office last night, presided over 'by Mr. J. Chrystall (chairman). Also present were Messrs W. E. Barber, R. Bryant, B. G. Gower, D. Purcell and the secretary (Mr. A. Fraser). FOREMAN’S REPORT. The Board’s foreman (Mr. Robinson) reported that during the month he had been engaged for three days cleaning the upper portion of the Kara Kara North Drain. Twenty-four days were ' spent in cleaning Langley’s North Drain, a distance of 56 chains. TREASURER'S STATEMENT. The treasurer (Mr. A. Fraser) reported that the Bank balances were as follows: Bank of N.Z. debit £298 2/11, Post Office Savings Bank credit £Bl 15/4. The balances at the end of the month were as follows: General A/e overdrawn £297 14/9, Interest A/e overdrawn 8/2, Worker’s Dwelling Loan A/c. in credit £Bl 15/4. The total amount of rates outstanding at the end of the month amounted to £7Ol 8/9, owing by fifteen ratepayers. Of this amount £560 10/5 was general rates and £l4O 18/4 special. There was £l2O still owing by the Public Works Department, subsidy on Newth’s stop bank i rooted in May last. In regard to the Government grants for unemployment, the treasurer reported that he had been in communication with Mr. R. Law, chairman of the Buckley Drainage Board since last meeting and that he had informed him that the Government did not make any straight out grants for this Work but subsidised unemployment works £1 for £l. It was necessary, however, for the Board to have a definite plan of work and estimate prepared by a qualified engineer before the Government would recognise any claim for subsidy. The ißuckley Drainage Board had been successful in obtaining a subsidy by complying with the above instructions. RIVER BOARD AMENDMENT ACT. The chairman reported that since last meeting the River Board Amendment Act had been passed. Mr. Gower said that he had been in conversation with the member for the district on the matter and Mr. Linklater had been placed in an awkward position with regard to the Board’s objection in connection with the Act. The River Board had placed the bill in bis hands which had already gone before the Bills Committee before the Board’s objection had been received. He had had no other option under the circumstances but to continue with the Bill. 'Referring to the legislation governing special areas, Mr. Gower said that at the last meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua River Board he had been successful in g'etting a motion put through preventing any further work above the cut at Moutoa.

The chairman : And wisely too,

•Mr. W-. E. ‘Barber said the Board should congratulate Mr. Gower for his action. It would be a bad thing for the lower country if this provision was not made. Mr. R. Bryant also congratulated Mr. Gower on his action and said he was very pleased to see the nfotion go through.

The chairman: Legislation governing separate areas should have been confined to the lower reaches.

The Board extended its congratulations to Mr. Gower on having the motion put through. .

WIDENING THE MAIN DRAIN. x The chairman said that the Board would have to have a definite plan of work to obtain Hie Government unemployment subsidy. ' He hail never anticipated receiving payment for the whole cost of such work. With a £1 for £1 subsidy it would be well worth the while of if lie Board to consider the question of widening the Main Drain. Air. W. E. Barber: We have power to raise money by notice. The chairman: Yes, that is so. It would ‘he a simple matter to arrive at the cost of ‘the work.

Mr. R, Bryant: Wouldn’t we have sufficient out of the £2OOO loan for this work?

The chairman: No. Continuing, he said that the drain was approximately three and a half miles long. For a considerable distance it was partly on a roadway but he did not anticipate any difficulty woiud be raised by adjoining property owners if the proposal was decided

A general discussion ensued on the nature of the proposed work. The chairman remarked that unemployment seemed temporarily to have vanished. The work was a summer time jolnand would have to he carried out during the summer or autumn It would be no use the Board doing anything unless they could be sure of labour. The chairman said the-was prepared to interview the Minister for Public Woi’ks on the matter and ascertain if there was any possibility of an application for subsidy being favourably considered. IThis was agreed to, the chairman to report to next meeting. Mr. B. G. Gower reported that there was a considerable amount of timber in the Main Drain which required removing. The drain was too high to have the matter attended to just at present. A_ leTter was received from Messrs Innes and Oakley on behalf of Messrs F. Bryant and J. S. Cameron notifying the Board that the - stop bank at Moutoa was weak and deficient and required strengthening and calling ion the Board to carry out the necessary work to strengthen the bank . failing which they would hold the Board liable for any damage done.

The secretary reported that as far as lie knew Mr. Cameron was rot a ratepayer in the Board’s district.

It was decided to advise Messrs limes and Oakley that the bank referred to is not a Board bank but one erected by settlers. A letter was also received from Mr. Ronayne asking the Board to furnish certain particulars in reference to Newth’s bank.

The secretary reported that the matter bad already been attended

Mr. Gower reported having inspected the bank last week when he found stock wandering on it causing considerable damage. If was decided to notify the property owners concerned that he would be held responsible for any damage done to the bank bv the stock.

The secretary’s action in notifying a ten per cent, penalty to be added to all unpaid rates was confirmed.

. The chairman reported that to date no reply had been received from the Public Works Department relative to the Board’s application for a £2OOO loan.

Mr. Barber was deputed to interview Mr. Ronayne on the matter.