BUCKLEY DRAINAGE BOARD.

Shannon News, 13 September 1927, Page 3

BUCKLEY DRAINAGE BOARD.

A meeting of the above was held at Shannon on Friday. Present: Messrs R. W. Taylor (chairman) and Trustees R. Law, R. Spiers and H. Easton. CORRESPONDENCE.

With reference to the interview Avhich members of the Board had with the late Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs on the 28th July last, relative to the Board’s finances, when representations were made to have them put on a satisfactory basis that would enable the Board to proced with the classification of lands in the district and the carrying out of such works as are necessary, advice was received that the representations have received -careful consideration. As a result it is thought that the only course to adopt is to provide Legislation authorising the Board to capitalise its present liabilities and to provide for the repayment thereof in the following manner: —(a) By annual instalments out of revenue over a period not exceeding seven years, commencing in the next financial year; or- (b) By means of a loan under the Local Bodies’ Loans Aer, 1926, but without taking a poll of ratepayers. A copy of the draft clause for inclusion thereof in the Bill was also forwarded, with instruction as to htnv to proceed.—The Clerk was instructed to have the Bill placed before Parliament.

The engineer (Mr. 11. R. Farquhar) wrote stating that he understood that the contractors for the banking were granted an extension of time provided sufficient additional plant was employed to complete the work by August 21st. The contractors had made a genuine attempt to comply .with this condition, having employed two tractors and six to eight two-horse teams on the work, but owing to so much time being lost due to wet weather and the fact' that tractors have been able to work only a part of the fine weather on account of the state of the surface of "the pits, they have been unable to complete. Under these circumstances he recommended that a last and final extension to September 30th, be granted, all banks to be fully completed according to specifications on that date. Immunity from ordinary- floods should be provided within two weeks when chains of 4ft bank in Gap No. 2 and six chains-in No. 3 are formed, the topping up being completed later. —The Engineer’s recommendation was adopted. In connection with the extra £SOO required for the completion of repairs to flood damage, advice was received that the Minister of Public Works has agreed to an additional subsidy on the £1 for £1 basis of £250 to cover the; extra cost of the work. —Received.

Referring to previous correspondence relative to the proposed alteration of boundaries of the Buckley Drainage district, a letter was received stating that after fully considering the Whole question the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs has decided to make the alteration of boundaries prayed for in the recent petition, that is to' say, the Aratangata drain as well as the lands prayed for will be excluded from the drainage district and that the necessary Order-in-Gorfhcih: wHHbeyissned =at - a-n early date. Mr. R. Law -gave notice of motion: That the resolution: “That the classifier be instructed to classify for flood protection, viz., on the river bank in the Board’s district and banking the Koputaroa as far as the railway” be rescinded.

Another meeting will be held on Fri day.