ARATANGATA DRAIN.

Shannon News, 17 December 1929, Page 2

ARATANGATA DRAIN.

COUNTY COUNCIL TO MAKE CONDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO FLOODGATE. FUTURE CONTROL A MATTER FOR THE RIVER BOARD. A new development in regard to the Aratangata floodgate, for the-improve-ment'of which Mr Andrew Guy'and other property-owners had sought assistance from the Ilorowlienua County Council, was before that body on Saturday, when a letter was received from Mr Guy, dated December 10th, in which he stated that a special rating area under the River Board was no*v being formed,.to raise £2OOO to repair the Aratangata floodgate and repair tbe banks of the Manawatu River where erosion near the floodgate had taken place. He had not any authority to bind ratepayers, but he presumed that the offer by the Council to contribute £IOO towards the cost of a new floodgate would be open for, say, a couple of months. The Clmivman (Mr G. A. Monk) said that it had been suggested that the improved floodgate would cost £35/ and that the Council contribute 25 per cent, of the cost, or approximately £9O. 'The Chairman thought that the Council would be justified in standing by the offer that had been made. There should be a proviso, however, that if the Coup. cil contributed that amount, the River -Board, should take over the future control and responsibility of the floodgate. - . Cr. Gimblett asked what River Board was referred to , . - .. The Chairman stated that the dram was in the Manawatu-Oroua Riv ei Board’s area. Cr. Barber: They have created a subdivision that will control an area .that includes that particular drain and floodThe Chairman remarked that if the Board had a right to build a floodgate, it had a right to control it. Cr. Gimblett said that, when a new floodgate was erectqd, the settlers might ask the Council to have the drain cleaned, at a cost of. several hundred pounds. The Chairman: I must call you to order. We are discussing the floodgate, not'the drain, to-day. Cr. Gimblett said he could not separate the two. If, by contributing to the floodgate, the'Council was not freed from liability in’ regard to the dram, it was bad business; the drain was the bigger job of the:;-two, The Council might suggest that the Elver Boaul take over the drain. 4 It was resolved* on the motion of Or. Cat ley, that the Council contribute up to £9O towards the'new floodgate, conditionally on tie: 'Stiver Board taking over the- future control and responsibility of the. floodgate.