MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4504, 13 September 1930, Page 4

MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Moutoa. Drainnage Board was held in the Board’s office on Thursday evening presided over by Mr. J. Chrystall (chairman). Also present were Messrs W. E. Barber, D. Purcell, R. Bryant, B. G. Gower •and the secretary (Mr. G. V. Fraser). TREASURER’S REPORT.

The Treasurer reported that the bank balances were as follows :—ißank of N.Z. at credit, £2OO 2/9, P. 0.5.8. credit £Bl 7/4.

The ledger balances were as follows:- —General A/c. credit £l6B 2/3, Interest Ac. £92 0/6, workers dwelling A/e. £Bl 7/4. Accounts amounting to £34 3/7 were passed for payment. RATEPAYERS’ LIST. The Treasurer reported that there had been no objections to the ratepayers’ list which was duly -certified to that day by the Magistrate and was now’in order for the coming election. FOREMAN'S REPORT.

The foreman (Mr. T. A. Robinson) reported as follows: — Since last meeting flood debris has been removed from the drains, bridges and fences across the drains right throughout the drainage area and the foreman stated that it was many years since lie had seen so much flood rubbish deposited. It was more noticeable in the upper reaches of the Kara North drain, in Dr. Wall's outlet drain and in the lower end of Carter’s and Cook’s drains. Some big slips had also to he removed from Dr. Wall’s, Smith’s, Carter’s and the Diagonal drains. Slips, however, were only to Tie expected in Smith’s D'r. Wall’s and Carter’s drains as there had been a good deal of blasting carried out in these localities dusing' deepening operations. A good deal of the blasted timber also found its way •hack into the drains and added to the congestion. Smith’s and Carter’s drains did good work in getting the flood water away quickly and the beneficial results from deepening and fencing these drains was noticeable to a marked degree during the flood. Considerable damage to Cook’s drain by stock was noticeable prior to the flood. It is not possible to do much with this drain however, until the whole of the fall was brought down from the middle of the Kara (South Drain right through to Lees Drain. Gorse and lupin was grubbed and burned on the road in front of the Board’s house and a six foot channel dug in the centre of the upper section of the Kara North drain for a distance of seven chains which work should be continued .as time permits as it is not necessary to maintain unnecessarily wide drains. Cleaning operations in connection with the Mile drain were commenced and the rapid growth of swan grass is very noticeable. The main drain flood gate doors were packed and stays put in to prevent .warping during the dry weather. LAND LEVEL FLOOD GATES. The foreman submitted plans and specifications of land level flood gates which if constructed at Dur'k Creek, he considered would .prevent the water being retained by the flood banks in flood time after the river had dropped.

The chairman said the idea was a good one. THE DUCK CREEK GAP.

Correspondence was received from Messrs A. Speirs and F. Woods in regard to a scour which had taken place during- the last flood through the Board cutting the flood hank in the vicinity of Duck Creek in an endeavour to release pent up flood water. The farmers asked that the gap he Pilled in and urged that flood gates be erected on the river hank. Mr. Speirs offered £5 towards the cost of such gates. Mr. Woods asked the Board to repair the damage done to his property. Mr. Barber said that .the hank at Dock. Creek had been out some time prior to the last flood. Mr. Gower: The gap was filled in a little hut the .last flood washed the embankment in. Mr. Barber said he was against cutting the river flood batiks, hut .the Board should do all iu its power to protect property from erosion. He had investigated flic erosion on Mr. Speirs’ property and. undoubtedly it was serious or would .he iu the event of another flood. Mr. Furcell said Duck Creek was a natural waterway. He considered an “old inan” flood would go over any hank erected at Duck •Creek. The whole country received great benefit 'through the gap at thick Creek during last flood. •it was decided that the gap at Duck Creek cut at the request of settlers be repaired and re-erected one foot six inches above its original height and in, the form of a half circle round 'the hole washed out by the recent flood, spoil for the erection to be. taken from the river side of tile stop bank. Mr. Bryant asked if it would not. be possible bo construct flood gates out of a lotan which they already had permission to raisie. 'The chairman said the (Board could raise portion of the loan. A poll would be necessary before the work could be carried out. The secretary read correspondence between the Board and the Loans Board on the matter which showed that the Board still had permission to raise a loan of £SOO. Mr. Barber: Then we should take some action. , i

The chairman reminded mem

hers of the Manawntu-Orouu River Board’s scheme. Fie did noi think it would be long before the River Board took a poll on the river cut scheme. Mr. Bryant said the River Board would noi be able to carry out any work under three years. ■Mr. Purcell: And in the meantime the country will be flooded out.

The chairman considered it would not pay the Board to go in for any large expenditure until the River Board scheme was finalised.

Mr. Purcell thought it would pay the B'oard well to erect the flood gates at once. Sir. Gower said he would like to see a poll on the River cut proposal first. He agreed that some relief was necessary however.

Mr. Purcell: Unless the gates go in the hank will have to he cut again at Duck Creek or we can’t say what will happen.

Mr. Barber said the matter affected a large area of country, even the Moutoa. They Imd only to consider the vast amount of money already expended by the settlers to appreciate the fact that relief was necessary. lie was satisfied that any gales should go in on the river hank. The chairman said the position was that the Board had already decided to erect gates at Duel; Creek. Plans had been prepared by Mr. Bond and Mr. R-onaync had inspected and approved of the site and the Board had obtained sanction for a loan, if the location was to he altered now the motion, on (lie hooks would have to he rescinded.

A general discussion ensued on the locality of the proposed gates and the advisability of proceeding with the work in view of possible “cuts" being put in the river by the River Board. Mr. AY. E. Barber considered that if would pay the Board to instill the gates even if the River Board did carry out its sc-heme as it would he at least live years before any river cuts could he put into effect and by that time the money so expended would have been more than justified. He suggested that Mr. Bond again take levels in the locality and discuss ilie matter with thy Board.

The chairman considered the best proposal would be to take down two or three chains of the Board hank on the high ground in the locality -where it would he impossible for the tide to get in. This would let the loti water out in flood time and if the Main Drain gates were widened the rest could he coped with. He favoured, however, widening the Main Drain floodgates in preference to erecting another small one at Duck Crock as one twenty-fool gate would cope with more water than two leu-foot floodgates. Mr. Gower said that; a lot. of Unpeople did not hike advantage of tin- Main Drain to its fullest as they did not feed it. Tt could carry far more water than it did.

Mr. Purcell did not agree with Mr. Gower’s view. The Main Drain worked to capacity during flood time. The outlet required to he three times wider.

Mr. Bryant concurred with this mew.

IFinalilv the following motion was carried: “That the position set oat in Mr. Bond's plan submitted to the Board concerning (he

land level (loud gates at Duek Creek and Main Drain floodgates he reviewed and that Mr. Bond he approached to locate a suitable site if possible and furnish an estimate of the extra cost involved on his present plans and estimates for flood gates at Duck Creek. Air. Barber then gave notice of motion to have all resolutions on the Board’s hooks relative to Duck Creek rescinded. PROTECTIVE WORK AT MOUTOA

The .Man a watu-Oroua River Board wrote acknowledging receipt of tin- Board’s request for better protective works at Moutoa stating that the Board was satislied that the work already done had been carried out eflieiently, (ml it had under consideration further works in the locality. Mr. B. fl. Gower detailed the work being carried out at pi-e----sent.

The communication was received. GENERAL. The foreman was granted a IPrtnight’s holiday. ft was decided that the chairman investigate a request for ini'reused accommodation in connection with the foreman’s house. .Mr. F. S. Easton notified the Board of debris lodged and growing in Langley's Norih drain. — Referred to the foreman.