DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4590, 20 August 1923, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS.

KEREPEEHI. RIVER IMPROVEMENTS. The Priestman dredge which has for some time been widening the river at Kerepeehi ha,s commenced removing the point between ithe Await! canal and the river to enlarge the swinging basin. When this is completed and the other Priestman dredge, which is undergoing overhaul, is in working order both will he sent down to Ngatea, where they will commence widening the’river uP to Kerepeehi. A start will probably be made within a few days with the work of installing the machinery of an American dipper dredge on the pontoon, which was recently launched at Kerepeehi. B.OADING. Supplies of metal are being landed on the bank of the river above Kerepeehi for the Kerepeehi-Ngarua road. NGATEA. NEW DRAINAGE BOARD. A meeting of the delegates elected some time ago to discuss the proposal to form a drainage board to control the. area between the two rivers was' held recently at Parry o corner, Ngatea. Mr A H. Rogers was appointed chairman and Mr W. E. G. Willy secretary,. A plan of the area that the Lands Drainage Department was prepared to hand over to a drainage board was shown. The area is all the lapd between the two rivers north of a line drawn from the Awaiti canal behind Kerepeehi township and the sections fronting the KerepeehiWharepoa ferry road to the Hauraki Dr-.’inage Board’s territory to the sea with the exception of the Orongo settlement and the-Hauraki Drainage Board’s area. It, comprises about 18.500 acres. It was agreed that this land should be taken over provided the Government' undertook to enlarge all the present floodgates in the area to twice their present capacity. It was also decided to approach the Hauraki Drainage Board at an early date to ascertain their views in regard to the establishment of one Board to control the whole area between the two rivers.. It was hoped that the new Board would be in operation by January, 1924,, so that, the annual cleaning of drains could be controlled by it. SCHOOL GROUND IMPROVEMENTS. Improvements to the Ngatea District High School grounds as recommended by the headmaster and approved of by a sub-committee set up to deal with the matter are being effected. Several unsightly willow trees have been removed, and a row of young macrocarpa- trees have been transplanted alongside the fences to the bridge corner. It is intended to level the old horse paddock and make it the girls’ playground. The boys’ playground will be behind the school. An acre of land behind the school has been secured for a horse pandock, the entrance to which will be near the Masonic Hall. The front fence is to be replacedi by a rail fence, and the main pathway widened. It' is. intended to ask the Education Department to have asphalt laid around the building. When these, and possibly other, improvements are completed and the school garden improved Nga•tea will have a beauty spot to be proud of.