HAURAKI PLAINS NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4298, 1 August 1921, Page 2

HAURAKI PLAINS NEWS.

NGATEA. BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION The progress of the Hauraki J Plains district is steady and continu- ' ous, one sign of this advancement being the .creation of new businesses : and the formation of new societies. Last Wednesday a representative meeting of Plains beekeepers was 1 held at Ngatea for the purpose of discussing the formaition of a subbr.anch of the Auckland provincial 1 branch of the National Beekeepers’ Association of New Zealand. The president of- the national body, Mr C. ‘ Smedley, of Hamilton, presided : Mr ! T. H. Pearson, vice-president, was also present, the local beekeepers be- ! ing Messrs J. Schmidt, T.urua; R. S • Hutchinson, Kerepeehi; H. Fraser, Waitakaruru; N. J. Bowman, Patetonga ; F. A. Johnson, Ngatea; H. F. Housley, Netherton. Members were of the opinion that it would be desirable to join the Waikato Beekeepers’ Association. This wou,ld carry the right tp the library technical works, and voting power at meetings. The chairman said it was quite evident that those present were.all in favour of forming an association. Mr Hutchinson proposed that an association be formed. Mr F. A'. Johnson seconded. —Carried unanimously.. The local beekeepers present formed themselves into a committee, and it was decided to join the Auckland branch of .the National body. Mr Pearson explained that the branch, by joining up with Hamilton, would be affiliated with the Auckland Provincial bsranoh of the National Beekeepers’ Association of New Zealand. The president pointed out the absolute need of unity and co-operatior among all beekeepers. Friendliness would accomplish wonders-, but enmity would kill any industry. Mr Schmidt proposed .that Mr R. A. Hutchinson be president, but Mr Hutchinson declined. Mr Fraser then proposed Mr J. Schmidt for the office, Mr H, F. Homier seconding.—Carried. Vice-presi-dent, Mr H. Fraser; secretary-trea-surer, Mr N. J. Bowman. Mr Hutchinson proposed that the branch be called “The Hauraki Plains Beekeepers’ Association.—Carried. All present were formed into a committee. Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs Smedley and Peairson for .their attendance and valuable assistance.

TURUA. ,n \s DRAINAGE BOARD WORKS. The following is a continuation of the report pf the Ha.uraki Drainage Board, which met at Turua on Thursday: * FOREMAN’S REPORT. Lt I The foreman, Mr J. McConne.l'l, ren polled, as follows : Since last meeting the willow out- ' let has been deepened, from the main road to the Government boundary, a total distance of 76 chains; also the tptal distance from Bai, Hey’s outlet to Brown’s centre, five chains of ’ which had slipped in, chiefly from 'the river side. This work was»done • n wages, , and when the water was low l ’ enough at the outlet. The gratings took a lot of looking after during the ? month, as we had .a lot of rain, which t brought down a vast quantity of weeds and timber down to the» gates, 1 but they are successful in preventing ; weeds, etc., from getting down and 1 jamming the gates. As directed, .1 1 had gratings made for Toohey’s, Tay- ’ lor’s, and Jubilee drains, and placed , them in position, but am short of wire to complete the small one for .the slaughterhouse drain. I disposed of , all the” cement, 2% tons. The dumo , could be dispensed with, as w.e have , very little gear now. The chairman j and I decided, after, inspection, to ( give an outlet which will benefit j Watene (Mrs Lindsay’s farm local- . ity). Also Johnson Bros., and party ( are on it at present. Mr J. Doyle has ] completed about 30 chains since last j report; which seemed to satisfy set-

i tiers in Huirau. 7 i Th© contractors on Te Kauri No. 2 j are getting on well, and have com i pleted about 60 chains. The Indians finished widening an I deepening Monganui drain No. 3 One m,an is employed giving Mr Scott an outlet in th’e Turua. area. KEREPEEHI. LAND DRAINAGE, The Land Drainage Department is j making good progress with drainage ! and road .work. The new Michigan dipper talking dredge is being assembled, and will be used in stopbanking the Aw.aiti, and draining. A now Pucyrus dragline is coining to hand for stop-bank work, also other new machines. It will take some time to get well undejr way on account of .the fact that the machinery will be novel in New Zealand and men will have to be trained to operate it. The plant expected is part' of the up-to-date machinery secured by Mr J. B. Thompson (Chief Drainage Engineer) when in America. A dredge is now working in -the Whatitokorua cut, the making oc which will facilitate the drainage of the Tahuna district. Mr E. Taylor, the new Resident Engineer, has made a thorough inspection of the whole of the work, ami every effort is being made to push on with the most essential) operations. LAND SETTLEMENT.

In due course Kerepeebi will receive an impetus from the •settlement of some 2000 acres .that' will be brought in before long. It is anticipated that the block will be cut up into 50-acre sections. Thorough stopbanking and an elaborate system of sluice gates will first have to be provided, and the provision) of these the Department will fake in hand as early as possible.