MATATOKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4401, 10 April 1922, Page 4

MATATOKI DRAINAGE.

tt THAMES COUNTY DISCUSSION. Matatoki drainage matters were discussedat Wednesday’s meeting of the Thames County Council, the chairman, Cr. H. Lowe, presiding. Cr. J. McCormick protested against Matatoki being cut out of the drainage scheme. The chairman replied that the total revenue for expenditure in Matatoki riding was £460, and yet Cr. McCormick wanted to spend a quarter of that Film on one drain. The-..roads included the Tar ar u Valley, the main road, and subsidiary roads, so. what could be spared for drainage ? They had not a brass tack. Cr. McCormick reiterated his protest. agaihst Matatoki being cut out of the drainage area, owing to the classification not being done yet. The, clerk (Mr H. T. G, McElroy) explained the reasons fbr why the classification was not made. He could do it at once, but could not force the payment of any rate except for the cleaning of their own drains, and not for the drains as a whole over the drainage district. Cr. Cox submitted, supported by Cr. McCormick, that the Matatoki drain was a. road drain, and the Countv ought to pay half cost. The chairman said the drain was between the Puriri and Totara ridings ; it took the water off the land, and the land should pay for its maintenance. - Cr. Faithful did not consider it a fair thing for the County to pay half;, the settlers had to pay for the cleaning of drains alongside t.he railway, which was Government property. Cr. Brunton considered that if the County paid half for Matatoki drain, Wharepoa ratepayers were entitled to equal treatment.. Cr. Cox moved that the tender for the dr.ain work for the road drain be accepted, and that a rate be struck in the Puriri and Totara. ridings to the extent of £4O for payment. , Cr. McCormick seconded.- —Motion lost.