ABOUND THE COUNTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 72, 27 August 1947, Page 8

ABOUND THE COUNTY

AUGUST MEETING OF COUNCIL FLOODING AND EROSION The August meeting of the Whakatane County Council took place on Tuesday Mr J. L. Burnett presiding. Present Messrs. A. F. McGougan, L. W. Luxton, R. Wardlaw, D. Butler, W. Hunter, T. G. H. Cawte, R. G. Leslie, H.. C. McCready. The County Clerk (Mr C. G. Lucas) and the Engineer (Mr C. H. Brebner) were also in attendance.

Following representations from Mr J. Langenberger giving the following suggestions with regard to Station Road:—

(1) Raise the road from Pahou to Poroporo and put a floodgate in at Poroporo.

(2) Put a bridge in the Whakatane Station Road and let the water under the road and not over the top. (3) Put a floodgate on the western end of the drain running from Whakatane Station Road to the Te Rahou Cut. • ■ The Clerk reported that the special committee had conferred with Messrs. Boon, Langenberger, Ryde, Phillips, Kelly and J. and J. Rae. The committee reported that matters represented by Mr Langenberger were the concern of the Land Drainage Department and recommended Mr Langenberger be advised accordingly. The Council decided to adhere to the • decision. Waioho Stream Mr C. S. Butler wrote stating that during the last flood the stream overflowed at three points at the White Pine Bush Reserve. He suggested that the following would rectify this:— (1) The cut behind the Reserve be cleaned and deepened, and (2) The road be raised or stopbanked at these points.

The Council resolved that the cut be cleaned out and cut intake straightened—that road where subject to flooding be raised.

Mr' J. Palmer advised that when the Waioho Stream, was in flood there was always a tendency for the water to back up into water channels cut by the council’s roadmen, .and many times it flowed across the roadway. When this occurred, the writer appreciates that it is to the detriment of farming lands in the vicinity, but he would also point out to the council that when the road was used on such occasions it quickly cut up. During the July flood the water was pouring across the road for about 36 hours and it required very little imagination to appreciate what the state of the road would be in had through traffic to the Plains been possible. It was suggested that the council take action to raise the road about one foot over a few chains of road in this locality.

The council decided that where Railway Road is subject to flooding, such be raised—that to avoid road flooding opposite Mr D. C. Butler’s the" 2’ diameter road culvert be replaced by a 3’ diameter culvert, the cost of any lowering of such culvert to be ’at Mr D. C. Butler’s expense. t Magnetic Truck Notification that the P.W.D. magnetic truck would not now be subsidised from the Main Highways Board, brought Cr McCready to his feet! “How many trucks are there?” he asked. “Only one in the North Island,” rejoined the chairman. “Well what’s wrong with the outfit,” asked Cr McCready. “Why aren’t there more?” The. council decided to approach the Counties’ Association urging that the P.W.D. be recommended to procure more magnetic trucks. Boundary Extension

Writing on behalf of the Wainui settlers, Mr T. W. Burke stated: “In connection with the proposed alteration to the County boundaries in the Wainui district, I have to inform your council that at a meeting held on August 2, 1947, it was agreed that the smaller area offered by the Opotiki County Council and shown on the attached plan is riot satisfactory to the ratepayers concerned and therefore cannot be accepted. It was agreed also to request ycfdr council to proceed with the petition dated April' 28, 1947, which mentions that area bounded by the Wainui Road and extending to the mouth of the Nukuhou River which the Wainui settlers wish to have incorporated in the Whakatane County. Thanking your council for any assistance it Can give the settlers in-having the County boundaries satisfactorily adjusted, Cr Cawte suggested that a better method of settling the boundary might be to await the forthcoming local election in 'November v/hen

the whole matter could be made an issue and finalised. Crs McCready and Butler strongly disagreed and it was decided to adopt the Finance Committee’s recommendation that the Opotiki Cpunty Council be thanked for its letter of July 24 and advised that the council adhered to its resolution as communicated to it in letter of May -29, 1947 and trusted the Opotiki County Council would see its way to agree to the boundary alteration on this basis. Further that the Whakatane Council give further consideration to this matter at its meeting to be held on September 18. Galatea Hall The Galatea Settlers’ Association wrote requesting advice on the following:— 1. Would it be possible to have a hall built under a special rating scheme? 2. Could settlers supply their own labour under the guidance of an overseer? 3. Is there any alternative scheme? . It was decided that the Association be asked what area it was proposed would be in the , suggested special rating district.