BUCKLEY DRAINAGE BOARD.

Shannon News, 28 June 1927, Page 3

BUCKLEY DRAINAGE BOARD.

A meeting of the trustees of the Buckley Drainage Board - Shannon Council Chamber on Saline y morning. Present: Messrs R. W. lay Z (chairman), R. A. Speirs, Bfbntjg. R Law and F C. Hay, Engineer to the Board. An apology for absence was received from Mr H. Easton. KOPUTAROA FLOODGATE. A firm of solicitors, acting on beliau of Mr James Richardson, wrote giving notice that the Koputaroa floodgate, situated in the Koputaroa stream and under the Board’s 3unsdiction, is out of repair and has-been m that condi tion for about twelve months and that the same requires strengthening and ienairing The letter called on the Board to strengthen, reinstate and repair the flood gate. Failing the Board doing so Mr Richardson will hold the Boaid liable for any damage taat may resuL by his land flooding by reason of the Board’s iailure to attend to-the work. —-Received.

KOPUTAROA RIVER IMPROVEMENT.

A SCHEME SUBMITTED

Mr F. C. Hay, Engineer to the Board, submitted tc the Board his report and recommendations for the best means of improving the Koputaroa stream so as to prevent its flooding and so as to make it a bettor means for the* dram- j age of the adjacent land. # j The present physical conditions, rim report stated, are as follows.-—Hie _ length of the channel to the new flood- • gate to the railway line is 1 nnle 2chains and it varies from a depth o fot-t at the lower end to a depth or j only 3 feet near the railway bridge. The ( fall from the railway bridge to the floodgate in the bottom of the stream, is 7ft 2in., but this fall is not uniform, j ~s 18 chains below the railway bridge ( the bottom of the stream is 3ft higher ( than it is at the railway bridge. lor about 56 chains above the floodgate, the channel of the stream is in good shape, but above this point the channel gets ; worn and at the upper end it is almost , non-existent and is overgrown with ( willows. The natural banks ot tlnstream fall towards the railway wlieie they are 4ft 6in lower than the natura i bank of the Manawatu. The level 0,. the railway embankment at the bridge , over the Koputaroa is 3 feet below the level of the top of. the new concrete _

IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED. (a) To improve the drainage.—The works proposed, are first to cut a central ditch five feet wide, lowering the bottom o? the stream an average of 3tt -tin. The grade is shown on the accompanying plan and it will be seen that at the worst place (76 clams; the bed will be lowered neaily five feet This wort will involve the excavation of 400 cubic yards of' material. This can be done in the dry season by hand labour by damming the stream temporarily and diveiting the -flew throug i lateral drains or ponding the water above the railway bridge. Next to construct five floodgates at the outlet cf lateral drains —two on the right bank of the stream and three on the left. These floodgates would consistof reinforced concrete or A vines pipes with Caleo gates, which prevent floodwaters backing up the lateral drains and flooding adjacent lands. (b) To prevent flooding. —On each side of the stream stop banks are to be erected at the height of the railway embankment and connecting to the stop banks at the floodgates. These stop banks are 50 feet apart and the material for constructing them is to be taken from the river side so that the area of waterway will be enlarged and the shape of the channel improved. On the right bank the stop bank will branch off at an angle, as it does now and join high ground at the railway, saving about 40 chains of stopbank. Tiles' stop banks average 4ft high and tin. ouality of material required for banks 3 feet wide on top is 16,000 cubic yards (e) Access. —To give access across the channel a 40-feet light traffic bridge is required. A bridge consisting of three ironbark poles 40 feet long with a Queen post truss and supported on timber sill would cost £2OO. Estimates. —The cost of the work is £2500, as per the following details:— Stopbanks, 16,000 cubic yards at Is 66 per yard, £1200; deepening stream 4.000 eubic yards at 4s per yard, £800; floodgates (five) £300; bridge, £2OO. Total, £2500.

Efficacy of Works. —The works proposed would greatly improve the drainage and would retain flood waters, except at such time as the Koputaroa and Manawatu were in high flood simultaneously. This is a contingency which would only happen at rare intervals and no works could be undertaken tn prevent flooding under sudi circumstances unless the railway line were first raised to above the level of the Manawatu floodwaters. General Report.-—The works preposed could be done cheaply by dragline, provided the cost of getting on to the site and its hire were not excessive A floating dredge would not do the work any cheaper; as it would have to excavate a great deal more yardage tp got flotation and the huge channel made by it would not be any advantage, but possibly a disadvantage, as it would get filled up with vegetation and be difficult to maintain. The channel pioposed under the scheme outlined would be easy to maintain and to improve by maintenance. In conclusion Mr Hay stated that the Bcard would notice that he had allowed an average of 4s per cubic yard for the cost of doing the central ditch up the Koputaroa He Was of opinion that this work can be done for that amount, as the upper reaches would not cost more than 2s per cubic yard. If a<>, the remainder can easily be carried one for the money estimated. Mr Hay was thanked for his report A short discussion followed, in which the chairman expressed the opinion that he liked the scheme suggested better lhan the previous scheme, whereby the use of a dredge had been suggested. Trustee Law said the Eoard should consider the scheme at once and if they decided to adopt it, they could then make preliminary arrangements and thus enable a start being made with the work early next year. On the recommendation of the chairman it was decided to hold a meeting

on Saturday to further discuss the scheme.

ARATANGATA DRAIN. The Assistant Under-Secretary forwarded a copy of a letter sent by him ro the Horowhenua County Council relative to the proposed alteration of , boundaries of the Euchley Drainage District. The letter is as follows:- -I i no erst and that the sole reason for the objection of the County Council is on account of the fact that it does not desire to have the responsibility of controlling the Aratangata drain. No other objections have been lodged agaiust the alteration being made, and if the reason for the Council’s objection is as above stated, it does not seem to be necessary to consider the setting up of the Commission provided for in Section 2, Land Drainage Amendment Act. As you are aware there are provisions contained in Sections' 64 and 65 of the Land Drainage Act, 1908, which provide for matters concerning the control of drains and drainage works being determined in accordance with tnosc Sections. It is thought that any dispute as to the control of the Aratangata drain could be determined by means of (lie powers contained in the last mentioned Sections, either by amieable agreement between the Council and the Buckley Drainage Board, or failing with the report of a Commission sot upunder Section 65. I would be glad, therefore, if you will arrange for yom Council to confer with the Lucklei Drainage Board cu the subject, with a view to a joint recommendation as to the control of the drain being made by both bodies, and if such a recommendation is made the Hon. Minister will be pleased to recommend His Excellency to issue a Proclamation in accordance therewith. If the two bodies fail to agree, then consideration will be given to the question of .setting up a Commission under Section 65, Land Drainage Act, 1908. In view of the foregoing, there does-not appear, to be any reason now why the alteration of boundaries should not be made auc; for this purpose I would be glad if you will advise me whether the reasons f\ir your Council’s objection axe as suggested in the first portion of this letter. ’ ’ The, letter wgs held over.

GENERAL. Mr Mackay, Government Valuator, eras appointed to act as classifier for the Board. The Secretary was instructed to arrange a meeting between Mr Mackay and the Board. A recommendation was received from the Engineer, that awing to bad weather and other misfortunes the time for completing the contract for the stop bank be extended by eight weeks as from June 21st on certain conditions*. The request was granted on the terms of the Engineer’s letter.