MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4465, 14 June 1930, Page 2

MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD

A rOXTTTLY AfEETTNG. The monthly mooting' of the Alontoa Drainage Board was held in the secretary's office on Thursday night presided over by Mr. ,]. Chvystall (chairman). Also present were Messrs R. Bryant, B. 6. Gower and the secretary (..Mr. (!. V. Fraser). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs D. Purcell and W. E. Barber. . LEAK IN FLOOD-GATE. Members discussed the position in regard to the leak in the floodgate. Mr. Gower said the leak was not general but confined to one place. Mr. 'Bryant considered the upright door out of (dumb and thought it required facing up. 'fhc chairman said the warping was possibly due to tin 1 dry weather. Wilion the gate was lirst inspected the water appeared to be leaking in between two piles. The matter of having the door faced up was left in the hands of the elm irmn a.

CORRESPONDENCE was read and dealt with as follows : NO SUBSIDY FOR MAIN DRAIN FLOOD-GATE. The Public Works Department wrote in regard to the Board s application for a subsidy from file Main Highways Board in regard to the Main Drain floodgate, regretting that tlie Department was unable to contribute towards the erection of the gates. —Received. FOREMAN’S REPORT.

The foreman ('Mr. T. A. Robinsou) reported as follows: — During spring tides a 27 feet by S inch concrete wall was erected on l\|ie river side of the Main Drain Hood gate. The work was not accomplished without difficulty for owing to the inconvenient hours of ebb tide artificial lights had to be used and work carried out both in the early hours of the morning and late at night. The usual drainage work, was also carried out but in this the assistance of one member of the gang of men now working with the foreman. There is still signs of water seeping through the Hood gates, but this was more or less tq be expected as there still remains 42f1. of 6 x -l timber sheathing on the river side of the gates and the water liuds its way between these piles. That is plainly seen on the drain side of the gates when the pressure of big spring tides is against the 'structure. To do further concrete work on the river side of the flood gates at this time of the year would be out of the question but no doubt this work should be carried out in the near future. In the meantime, however, there is no danger. During the month payment was made in connection with Bangley's South, Seiferts Combined and Dr. Walls outlet drains for cleaning and deepening. All timber removed from the Kari Kari Drain was stacked during the deepening operations in connection with the drain to prevent this timber being scattered in the i vent of a flood similarly to what happened last year. The cleaning and deepening of Smith's and Carter’s drains was undertaken during the month when a gang of four men under the foreman worked tor the whole of Ihe month taking out Ift din. of spoil and chopping out wood that could he removed without blasting. A distance of 30 chains was covered but there yet remains another ICt. Bin. to come out to give the drain a proper fall as Carter’s drain has been deepened 2ft. din. There still remains 13 chains to complete this drain but as the level is now slightly below the original level the work is proving very heavy. The first four chains were taken down to the required level to give tt good outlet into Carter’s drain. Considerable damage is being done lo the Board's drains through eattle, the foreman estimating the damage at 2/- per chain in one month on one drain and to Ihe extent of 1/3 per chain on another for a distance of approximately 12 chains. If the Board allowed tills to continue the position would certainly become serious by the end of the year. The foreman mentioned that Mr. Barber had fenced his drain and this he considered the wisest move towards its protection. Mr. F. S. Easton has also carried this out iu places on the Main Drain, and Diagonal where a one barb fence was put up which proved highly effective. Forty-five and a-half days were put in cleaning and deepening through Mr. Barber’s and Mr. Carter’s sections of the drain a distance of 40 chains and leaving 21 chains lo do. All the way 2ft. Oin. of spoil is being removed and leaving I lie bottom f>ft. bin. The spoil from (his drain is sticky mud and an inspection by I lit; Board would lie much appreciated.

TBEASUJRKITS REPORT. Till! treasurer reported as follows: — The hank balances to date are as Inflows:—Ran'k id' N.Z.. iu debt, £23 17/2: P. 0.5.8.. at credit, £<ss J5/4.

The balances of the main ledger accounts are. as follows: —General A/e, in debit, £!)4 0/5; Interest A/e, in credit, £<>l 12/3: Workers Dwelling Loan A/e, in. credit, £GS 15/4. During the month the sum of £2(il 5/3 was collected on account of current rates. Of this amount, £217 5/9 was credited to the General A/e. and'£43 19/6 to the Interest A/e. Discounts amounting to Cli io/8 have been allowed off these payments. Accounts amounting to £l7l lft,/werc passed for payment.