PLAINS CROWN LANDS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4333, 21 October 1921, Page 3

PLAINS CROWN LANDS.

DRAINAGE AND ROADING. • THE ANNUAL REPORT. The annual Departmental report of drainage operations on the Hauraki Plaifis, pursuant to section 10 of the Act, has been presented : DREDGES. , The No. 1 dredge is still engaged on the Waitoa Canal, which has been completed for a tot.al distance of 205 chains, 38 chains having been completed during the year. The total amount of spoil shifted was 42,115 cubic yards. The exceptionally dry weather experienced during the year made it difficult to keep suificieut water for floating and keeping the dredge supplied with cpa'l. The No. 2 dredge completed the Waitakaruru Canal and the trimming up of banks and bottom. The dredge was then placed in the Waitakaruru Stream, and worked down from the wharf to the Maukoro Canal,, widening and deepening the stream, and connecting same with the Maukoro Canal by a short cut a£. Preston’s. The dredge is now working in the M'au-koro-Waitakaruru Canal, and is widening and deepening same southwards. This end of the canal will be shortly reached, when the dredge will continue on with whole-'cut work. The spoil from this work will be utilised in constructing the road to the soldiers’ sections adjoining, while from a drainage point of view this canal will exercise a mos.t beneficial effect bn the land between the canal! and the hills; which has always been difficult to efficiently drain. The total amount of spoil shifted was 62,800 cubic yards. The No. 6 dredge, which is now in good order, is continuing .the construction of the Awaiti Canal. . The dredge was taken off this work for some months in order to widen and deepen the Patetonga Canal.. The total amount of spoil shifted was 53,930 cubic yards. These machines only worked one eight-hour shift per dayl, as it was not possible to obtain coal supplies to run extra shifts. The following table shows the amount of spoil dredged and 'cost per cubic yard for the past nine years:

Increased cost of wages), coal, repairs, and supplies is reflected in dredging costs, CENTRAL DISTRICT. The work in this district consisted principally of maintenance. The remetalling of the Kerepeehi-Wharepoa Road (county portion) was completed, 17 chains being laid down during the year, making a total of 35 chains. The remeita'lling of this road from the Hauraki Plains eastern boundary towards Kerepeehi was proceeded with and 80 chains completed. The formation of the z new Puhanga-Torehape Road was attained by drain spoil for 35 chains at the Puhanga end, and 40 chains constructed at Torehape end by clay carted from Pit. The day. roads in the district were all graded, and the road along west side of Piako River from Puhanga Cana] to Ngarua Wharf was considerably raised by plough and scoon work in order to prevent any encroachment of the soldiers’ sections by the river in flood-time. From Kerepeehi northwards the Piako River has been cleared of willows along its banks where these were a menace to navigation. PATETONGA DISTRICT. The carting of spoil for the construction of tlie Ngarua Road was continued and the peat portion linked up, thus completing -the formed clay road from Ngatea to Patet.onga. Owing to the settlement of.the clay filling put c|own the previous year on the Ngarua Road it was necessary to lay down another skin from the end of the Ngarua Canal to »he western boundary of Section ’3O. The clay construction of the Mangawhero Road was also continued and 80 chains completed, while 85 chains received another coating of clay. On the Paefonga Road 75 chains was recoated, and on all of these roads a solid bed of day has now been laid down. Several new drains were constructed, and the usual maintenance work carried out. The re-laying of the tramline was completed, and a start made with ihe oil locomotive in hauling the trucks, although some alterations will have to be made before the locom'otive takes up full running. The freights during the year amounted to £542 13s 6d. TAHUNA DISTRICT. The roads in this district have received special attention during the yeai) new spoil formation for a distance of 65 chains being completed, while 310 chains received another coat. The drains have ail been kept in good order, while the main drain along the Whakahpro Road to the Piako River was considerably widened and deepened, and new concrete flood-gates arranged for same. This drain should now deal with the water from the Waitoa district and cut off same from the Crown block. PTPIROA DISTRICT. The metalling of the Horahia Road was carried out from the 37-cliain mark and completed to the eastern end of road—a distance of 53 chains or a. total for the road of 90 chains. The metalling was carried on from Horahia Road along the KerepeehiKopuarahi Road to the north and south respectively for a distance of 90 chains. This road will shortly be completed, completing the through metalled road from Kerepeehi to The Tur,u,a-Kppuarai)i Road .was scarified and freshened up with new metal and rolled. The stopbank along Piako River was raised in several places and repaired, and

the general, maintenance of roads and drains attended to. WAITAKARURU DISTRICT. The construction of new drains in the above district was considerable, these being principally in connection with the soldiers’ settlements, and general development work. LA temporary road leading to the soldiers’ sections was formed alongside the canal. Twenty-five chains of footpath was laid dqwn to the Waitakaruru school. The formation of the access road to the soldiers’ sections at Torehape was completed. With the exception of' a gap of about a mile in the Pipiroa-Ngatea Road, Waitakarruru is now linked up by metalled road with Wharepoa Ferry and the Thames-Paeroa Road. Motor traffic has been exceptionally heavy on the Plains roads during the past year, and the road through Waitakaruru and Maramarua Valley to Auckland was constantly in' use by motorists.

Cubic Yards. Cost'per Cub. Yd. 1913-13 131,902 3.25,d.__ 1913-14 147,740 3,.i20d. 1914-15 __ 176,196 2.67d. 1915-16 146,905 3.35d. 1916-17 161,674 3.4W. 1917-18 130,664 2.53d. 1918-19 125,196 4.87d. 1919-20 -- 138,310 6.90d. 1920-21 . 158,865 7.42d.