TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 37

TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD.

At the ordinary meeting of the Taieri "Drainage Board, heJd at Mosgiel on Monday jnotninjr, there were- present, Messrs fcjhand (in. the chair), Gibson, Kemp'shell, Snov.-, Furkert, Macandrew, Callander, Findlay, and Wilmot. ELECTION OF CUAIBMA3 On the motion of Mr Snow, seconded by 3dr Kempshell, Mr Shand (acting chairman) was appointed chairman of the board. DErVTATIOJiS. Mr Douglas and several other lacdo-.yner:, a,t the bottom of the first flat on the Silverstream after leaving the Taieri River, waited upon, tho board to ask for a con•tinuacee of the work of clearing out the Silverstream on thd termination of the .present contract. Mr Douglas eaid some of them hud visited the locality last week, .and it appeared to them that the stream -would not be in a position to carry the -water away. In view of the possibilities -of danger, they asked that the bed be properly cleared of willows in order to allow the water exit into the river. — The Chairman said he had visited the scene a number of * times, and 1 - found that the •stream was quite_ blocked tip with willows -and needed cleaning out. He thought that if they intended to do tho work they could get the loan of Mr Kirkland's traction engine. — Mr Snow said a dredge was j needed to clear out the whole channel. — Mr Furkert remarked that it had been understood that the board's men were to clear out the~ channel. „It was pointed out- that the - engineer's report stated that ' the' cleaning out was being done, and Mr J Kirkland had offered his traction engine, j the. board to pay the engine driver only. "The; deputation was assured that the matter would be attended to satisfactorily. Sir Craigie asked if the board could -erect a pump at the mouth of " C " drain, -as this would cleaT bis own land, which was under water, and the land of several others. — It was decided to leave the matter in the, hand 6of the engineer and Mr Gibson. Mr" Murray and Mr Anderson asked that "their drain should be cleaned out. — The Chairman said the drain was really a private drain, but it was the only outlet the men had. It' would be necessary for the. board to take it over. — Mr Gibson moved— "That the request be acceded to and the drain be made a public drain." Mr Kempshell seconded the motion, which was carried with one dissentient voice. COREESrONDINCE. Wilfia'm Bryant, Henley, wrote offering ~lsb per 100 ft for timber necessary to erect « bridge over Duck Creek.— The engineer wae. authorised to attend, to the matter. T,he reading of some letters in reference -to the imposition of a 10 per cent, penalty for non-payment of rates led to the remark being made' that the different rates for the. board 'should be made payable at the .same time, so as. to avoid confusion. — It was decided to adhere to the penalty in the cases of thoee persons who wrote to . the board, as there was no legal power to grant fche remission. The workmen of the board forwarded a letter, asking that payments be made fortnightly instead of after every board meeting;—On the motion of Mr Snow, it was , ■decided that the request should be agreed " to. James Patrick, Outram, advised that he had returned the tiniber he had received to Otokia. He requested the .board to erect a bridge sufficiently strong to carry a trac--tion engine over ' the drain through his property; failing this being done, he intended ~to fiHin the drain so as to allow of ■access being obtained.— The clerk intimated that he had advised Mr Patrick that he was subject to a fin© of £500 if he tampered "with the drain. — Mr Macandrew moved— *'That the board decline to erect a bridge, and that Mr Patrick be informed that the board would take legal proceedings if h© tampered with the drain."— The motion was carried. . ► The Hon. George M'Lean wrote in connection with a box at Lake Ascog, payment of labour for driving pump, and permission to replace the bridge across " A " drain, with pipes. — Mr Macandrew moved — " That the whole matter be referred to the engineer for a report." — The motion was seconded, and carried unanimously. Tho engineer's report stated that permission had been given to Mr M'Lean to put in 3ft pipes forming a crossing to replace the old bridge. The position was near the upper end of "B " drain, and the 3ft pipe would be ample to carry all the' water to the pump. . . Richard Crossan. Maungatua, writing under date September 7, stated that a dam had been placed across the main drain leading to the Maunjratua pump, and he asked that this should be removed, as the water would have to travel six times as far as in a direct way. — Mr Gibson said there had been a cut through an embankment at the time- of the flood, and a recent occupier had filled it up. It had not been a public drain.— The matter was referred to the engineer for a report. Monday and Stephens, Dunedin, wrote that unless proper arrangements were made to prevent overflow Mr T. Hewitt would refuse to allow the board to clean out the ditch running through his property.— The Chairman stated that Mr Hewitt said he j was quite satisfied to let the water go j through if it did not come on to his land, j but he claimed the right to stop the water j if too much was ewniog dpr'U. Mr Liod- '

I say, the farmer next above, had told him ; that he would be glad if the board would take over his dram. — The Engineer had reported on this that from an inspection he • did not think this was practicable, although ' it might drain Ford's land to a certain ex- : tent. If a few. levels were taken it would j bo seen whether it waa practicable. — Mr ' Furkert suggested that the engineer should : take levels of both drains and recommend ' as to tho most advisable course to be taken ! over. — It was decided accordingly that the \ engineer investigate a:iU report to the next n.uotiMg : Robs and Lynll wrote agreeing that if the 1 drain leading to their punt was cleaned out. j now they would not hold the board re aponsible for any future dealings with ths diain. Ad*wn Hamilton and six-other ratepayers wrote requesting the board to repair the Ojtlot to tho drain on Kiccarton road, near Silvers! ream — It was decided that the work be done. A. Gordon Smith requested the board 1o clean out the drain from the Main Outram road through his property. He also drew attention to the necessity of repairing the Silverstream bank opposite his property, and further claimed compensation of £25 for the construction of the above. — The first request was agreed to. The second point was referred to the engineer to report upon. On the third count it was pointed out that the embankment referred to was a private bank. It was also referred to the engineer for a report. The request of John Gamble, Wyllie's Crossing, for the cleaning out of a drain on Duke's road was agreed to. The engineer was instructed to attend to the lowering of a drain near Mr Callander's property near Allanton. Angus Mafcheson asked the board to open a 50-yard ditch on to his land. — Declined. THE Sr?PFKSION OF BATES. A number of farmers on the east side of the Taieri River, near Allanton, applied for the suspension of drainage rates pending tho development of the drainage scheme. They pointed out that in the meantime their ground acted as a tail-race for the flood water of the whole district as long as the West Taieri embankment held,, and that their ground was considerably damaged by c-ach flood that occurred. TJiey thought that until it was proved that the operations of the board were to benefit them instead of sending down the flood water in much greater volume than ever they should be exempt from taxation. — It was pointed j out that the request opened up a very big question, a,s it would be difficult to know where to draw thf» line. — Mr Furkert at : length moved that the writers be informed that the board could not. see its way to suspend the rates. — Mr Gibson seconded the motion. — Mr Findlay moved as an amendment that the rates be suspended. — Mr Callander seconded the amendment, which however, was lost, the motion being carried by 6 votes to 3. THE EN'OIXEER'S LEAVE. The Engineer {Mr Elliott) wrote from Melbourne that he was collecting informa- I tion there which he hoped would be of use to the board. — Mr Macandrew said he understood that Mr Elliott's leave of absence had be-en for six weeks or longer if necessary. — After discussion it was unanimously resolved — " That Mr Elliott be requested by cable to return and take up his duties at once." INGINEER'e BBPOBT. The Enfrineer-in-Charge (Mr Strang) reported as follows : — The following wofk ha.9 been done in cleaning out drains, etc., since last meeting: — West Taieri : Henjey road drain, from Taieri River to Lake Bridge; Mr Simpson's drain, near Lake pump ; drain along lower end of M'lndoe'a land to Waipori River; John Millar's creek; Mr Sparks's creek; drain to Ross a,nd Lyall's pump; Kempshell's creek; the box has been fixed in the new cut at lake pump- Lawson's bank at Waipori River repairea ; "C " drain is now beirig cleaned out. A number of the men working on these drains have been paid off, leaving four men and a foreman. East Taieri • Drain along Duke's road has been finished as far as Riccarton road ; Mill Stream is now finished. The cleaning up of the bed of the old Silverstream ha.9 also been e*aTted, but owing to the heavy rain lately not much work has been done. Arrangements have b?en made with Mr Kirkland to give the board the use of his engine to pull cut the willows from the bed of this Btreani, the board to pay the engine-driver only Contract Xo. 1. — The contractor has now got the embankment finished except for a few loads of material to be put on in places The groins are now being constructed. One of these is practically finished, and the other two should be finished this week. Contract ICo. 3 — Tenders for this work were opened on Ausust 23, and that of Mi J. A. Stephens, of Mceraki. amounting to £203 ]8-; lid ha* been accepted. Work was started on the 4th inst . but little progress has bean made owing to the recent raui. Boxes in Wayne's Draio and Bull Creek There is a, leakage through both of the=e boxes at high tide, but not sufficient to warrant the erection of temporary dams outride the boxes. If dams were elected the flow of wa'er through the boxes at low tide would bs stopped and the whole of the water viould then require to be pumped. The fates of tho boxes are, J think, tco far gone to stand any small repair?, and as I understand Mt Elliot intends to alter the design of the boxes, I have written to him to let me have particulars. I have seen Mr Kain, and Lave arranged with him to let the matter

stand over for a week or two. I/indsay's Dram : Mr Lindsay (All&nton) wants a dram cleaned out through his property and through that belonging to his son. This drain is about 60 chains in length, and as it has not teen cleaned out for a number cf years, and Jsas besn tramped in by cattle, it will !ake a ]ot of cutting to put : i in working order. Box 8-t Robertson's . J~ Robertson wants a box put m across tbe drain leading to his pump and connecting tbrough dTain running along the south side of Lso Creek bank Th?re w»s a box here some time ago, but il has worn cut. By putting in this box the water, which is mainly leakage from L*e Creek, would go direct to the board's pump, and so save a oertain amount of irregular pumping at present done -by Mr Robertson. Thomson's Bridge- In regard to the bridge crossing Wylli-e's Creek into Mr Thomson's property, it was diecided at last board meeting that thia bridgee should bo repaired. I have since seen this bridge, and to make it safe for traffic a new one is required. The bridge as it stands now is only a light platform about 14ft wide and 20ft span, laid across the creek from bank to bank, and both as regards the size of timber and mode of construction it is quit© unsuitable for the h«»vy traffic it is being subjected to. There are two bridges crossing this creek to Mt Thomson's property JJne of them is a substantial bridge erected by a, former drainage board when this drain was cut. Tfee other— the one in question— sema to have been intended only as a temporary structure, but it has been allowed to remain, and it is a question whether the board- is entitle* to keep it in wspair In its present state it is far from "safe Grant s Bridge : Mr Grant (Outram) wants a bridge repaired crossing Wyllie's Creek, in ins property. It requires re-decking only. Inis bridge was erected some yfears ago by Mr Grant. The board decided to approve of the box at Robertson s In regard to Thomson's bridge, Mr Gibson moved-" That the bridge, which is now found to be beyond repair be removed, and the matter of a renewal be left over in the meantime to ascertain the board's position in the matter. —Mr Furkert seconded the motion —Mr Snow suggested that a notice declaring it closed be placed on the bridge, but the- motion was carried without dissent Mr Grant's request was declined. GENERAL. Accourtjts totalling £476 6s lOd were E?£ s , ed ., for Payment, this leaving about Jb^33 still owing.