DRAINAGE WORK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 217, 13 August 1937, Page 12

DRAINAGE WORK.

MAKERUA BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Makerua Drainage Board was held yesterday, Mr H. Seifert presiding. Also present were Messrs T. D. Lynch. E. E. Mabin, J. D. Aitcheson, W. Jackson and W. J. Ross. Trustee Larsen was granted leave of absence. The chairman took the opportunity to welcome back Mr Mabin, who had had leave of absence to pay a holiday visit to the East. The financial statement showed that in the general account there was a debit balance of £6120 6s 6d. Of the total rates levied for 1937-38 £203 18s 5d had been paid, leaving £13,164 9s Id outstanding. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr 0. J. Dolan) reported as _ follows: —The work on Lynch’s drain was inspected by the chairman, Trustee Lynch and myself on July 12 last, and has now been taken over from the contractor. The work on the old Main Drain was finished during the month and the party transferred to Akers’s drain. The contractor lias now reached about 87 chains up Akers’s drain, the last 25 chains being through exceptionally heavy timber. There is always a steady flow of water in this drain hampering progress, which under the present circumstances has been satisfactory. In connection with the promotion of employment subsidy scheme a report on Seifert’s (lower), Rowland’s and Mabin’s drains is before the board. The erosion at the upper poplar was inspected in company with the board’s foreman. The erosion is not yet of a serious nature, but starts immediately above an extensive plantation. About four chains of tree protection work appears necessary, followed by -planting and fencing, and will bo attended to by the foreman as soon as opportunity ■permits. OVERSEER’S REPORT.

The overseer (Mr P. V. Tucker) reported as follows:—During the past month drain cleaning was completed, a.nd river work commenced. The floodgates on both the Whitanui and Poplar trams were re-corked and tarred. The condition of these gates is such that they will not be serviceable for. more than twelve months when new timl>er will Ihj required throughout. Eight hundred and twenty-five twoyear macroearpas have been planted, 520 at Lower Whitanui, 250 at Kemp’s and the balance at A 1 wright’s and Williams’s plantations. Willows have been planted on the river frontage at the new outlet to Seifert’s drain, and the planting and laying down of other willows where necessary is proceeding up-

stream from this point. The planting of Coley’s bend will be carried out immediately. The repairing of fences has been carried out from below the Poplar cable at Opui bend, and will be continued upstream where necessary, the new flood pump and motor were installed at the intersecting channel floodgate on the 15th ultimo, but at tliat time the water level was very low and a dam was built to raise the water to the impeller. On tin's occasion and on two later occasions the pump ran for approximately one hour each time and appears to be very satisfactory, there being no vibra.tion whatsoever. As yet there has not been sufficient water for a severe trial. No test has been made for capacity. . . , . , The matter of improving Mabin s drain and Rowland’s drain is to be brought forward again when drain clearing operations are discussed next season. . , „ The engineer was given full power in respect of the deepening of the upper portion of Seifert’s drain of 27 chains and to make arrangements with adjoining occupiers to keep stock away from the drain. 1