DRAINAGE OPERATIONS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4615, 17 October 1923, Page 4

DRAINAGE OPERATIONS.

WORK IN THE PLAINS. A YEAR'S PROGRESS. Interesting information concerning the drainage operations on the Hauraki Plains is contained in the annual report for the year ending March 31 which has just come to hand. Ver v satisfactory progress has been made with the development works, and cpllateral activity in agricultural production has been very marked. The output from the dairy factories was 4,329,9201 b of butter and 1,675,5201 b of cheese. The value of stock sales held at Ngatea, Waitakaruru, patetonga, and Turua was approximately £34,500, and the amount of cargo carried to and from the Piako River was over 12,000 tons. The total area now opened is 42,166 acres. DREDGES. Seven dredges have been engaged excavating canals and drains, constructing stop-banks, and dredging rivers. A total ofi 446,092 cubic yards of spoil has been excavated by these machines at an average cost of 8.2 d per cubic yard. The amount dredged was 78" per cent, greater than that of the rpeceding year, a result which Is largely attributable to the use of .the American dredges. The increase since 1913-14 was almost 300 per cent., testifying to the activity of the Department. A Priestman dredge has been operating in the Waitoa River, which has been, straightened and improved as far as North Road, Tahuna. Heavy timber above a hard stratum made dredging very costly, the dredge excavating 4'2,504 cubic yards during the year. A Priestman dredge has been working up the Maukorp Canal, and at the time of the report was three miles 10 chains from the Waitakaruru Road bridge. The country along the canal route is rising rapidly, and the dredge is being elevated by dams as the wet unstable nature of. the land prevents deep digging. These dams are somedifficult to maintain, and are obstacles to the transport of coal, but, nevertheless, very fair progress has been maintained. The spoil excavated during the year was 52,360 cubic yards. Working on the Awaiti Canal construction, another Priestman dredge has completed the cut on the south side of the Kerepeehi block. Good excavating material was encountered, and the output was 60,638 cubic yards. A Bucyrus drag-line excavator has been constructing stop-banks on the Piako River. This machine has been giving very satisfactory service, and 89,023 cubic yards have been excavated, using a bucket of one yard capacity. Another Bucyrus machine has been widening the Piako River and Puhanga Canal. Operating within a very limited space along a river bank road which had to be kept open for traffic, the work of this machine is a proof of the adaptability of the type. Using an extension boom 50ft in length with a half yard bucket and working two ten-hour shifts daily, this plant handled 80,337 cubic yards. A Michigan walking dredge has been constructing drains on the Kerepeehi block. - The output for the year was 53,204 cubic yards. A Rood land dredge has also been operating on the Kerepeehi block, and 62,026 cubic yards of material was handled. DRAINAGE. Where practicable excavating machines have been used for the construction of drains, and the mechanical excavator shows to advantage where spoil from a large drain can be used for the construction of a road or stop-bank. The total length of drains constructed during the year was 25 miles 3 chains, making a total of 533 miles 37 chains constructed on the Hauraki Plains to date. The following work was carried out during the year;— Bv Piecework Contract. —Fiftythree miles 57 chains of drains cleaned, 50 miles 63 chains widened and deepened, and 11 miles 8 chains of new drains dug. Bv Day Labour.— Eighty-seven miles of cleaning, 31 miles 53 chains of widening and deepening, and 3 miles of new drains. By Excavating Machines.—Ten miles 75 chains of new drains (115,230 cubic yards) and 5 miles 65 chains of stop-banks (88,681 cubic yards). FUTURE PROPOSALS. Dredging Piako River. Dredging Waitoa River and continuation of Waitakaruru-Maukoro Canal. Continuation of Awaiti Canal. Widening Puhanga aCnal. Drainage and roading of area between the Piako River and Awaiti Stream. Completion of depot at Kerepeehi. Construction of pontoons and erection of dredges. General development works. ~ CENTRAL DISTRICT. The centre of. operations Is now at Kerepeehi, where an area known as the Kerepeehi Block, at the jurictipn of the Awaiti Canal and the Piako River, is being dealt wjth. This block has been surrounded by levees!, but the bank on the Awaiti Canal has yet to be raised to finished level. The internal drainage of the block is 'now completed, and a large three-barrel ■ outlet equipped with flood-gates, and sluices constructed. The road formation is being pushed ahead where the land is dry, but before the block is opened for settlement the low-water level at Kerepeehi mns,t be lowered by extensive river Improvement works between Kerepeehi and Ngatea. The establishment of a central depot at Kerepeehi is' progressing simultaneously with extensive and varied plant and machinery construction and repair work which is being carried out on the site. WAITAKARURU DISTRICT. General repairs and maintenance work to roads, bridges, and drains have been attended to in. this district and the adjoining Waitakaruru and Mahuta Settlement blocks. On the eastern bank of the WaitakaruruMaukoro Canal a temporary road has been formed for a distance of 216 chains, and good progress made with »

the permanent stop-bank road on the western bank of the canal. PIPIROA-KOPUARAHI. In addition to the usual drain maintenance Ngataipua Road was formed for a distance of 155 chains, repairs were effected to the Kopuarahi and Turua. roads, requiring 286 cubic yards of metal, and in repairs to Pipiroa Road 155 cubic yards of metal was used. METALLING AND FORMATION. The Awaiti West Road has been metalled for a distance of 60 chains, 1024 cubic yards of metal have been carted from the Paeroa railway station, and 278 cubic yards from the Netherton landing. The following quantities of spoil were carted for the formation of peat roads: PaeroaTahuna Road, 3694 cubic yards; Whakahoro Road, 951 cubic yards; Mnagawhero Road, 9455 cubic yards , Patetpnga Tramway' Road, 5395 cubic yards ; Ngarua Road, 1506 cubic yaids of spoil and 2038 cubic yards of gravel. Other undertakings include the .deepening and cleaning of drains and road maintenance. Freight for the cartage of goods on the Patetonga tramway amounted to £741. ROADS. Under the provisions of the Hauraki Plains Amendment Act, 1922, the Crown lands previously exempt frem general county rates now become rateable by the local bodies after being occupied for a period of five years. By a consequential arrangement with the Hauraki Plains and the Piako County Council control of 50 miles 48 chains* of formed roads and 38 miles 43V 2 chains of metalled roads, originally constructed and hitherto maintained by the Department, is being handed over to these bodies. A feature of the year’s work has been the extra attention given to these roads, and all the worn metal roads have been repaired or remetalled. In a district where perishable dairying products must be transported summer and winter alike the good metalled roads laid by the Department are an invaluable asset. The roadsi metalled during the year comprise 4 miles 30 chains, and 10,974' cubic yards of metal were used for remetalling and repairs. For the construction and maintenance of roads through peat areas 44,510 cubic yards of spoil were carted and 18,069 fascines used. The total quantity of metal received during the year was 16,289 cubic yards. BUILDING. The number of buildings, including wharf sheds, is as follows: Houses and small cottages, 19; double huts, 15 ; single huts, 24 ; sheds, etc., 20; quarters, staff and workmen, 3 ; workshops 1; total, 82. WHARVES, Repairs have been effected to Bond’s, Pipiroa, Hprahia, Hopai, Kopuarahi, Shelly Beach, Miller’s, and Rawerawe wharves, and the Kai-, hero wharf shed raised to a new level. The number of wharves at present is 16. . ARTESIAN BORES. Three bores were sunk during the year, making a total to date of 216. The cost of the year’s operations was £285 16s lid, making a total to date of £7120 12s 4d, practically the whole of which is recoverable. The sum of £6lO was received during the year. SURVEYS. Considerable progress has been made with the hydrographic survey nf the Piako and Waitoa rivers and Avi.iti stream. The plans which have been prepared from these surveys will be kept up-to-date, and will be (he means of securing an adequate knowledge of the physical condition of the watercourses, by the improvement of'which the unwatering of a large area is to be effected. Engineering surveys, comprising 127 miles of levels, 12 miles of cross-sections, and 16 miles of river traverse, were! cofpleted. FLAX LEASES. One area of 70 acres, containing approximately 2000 tons, was opened, and was sold at the upset price of £460. It is expected that an area containing approximately 2000 tons will be offered in the near future. valuations. These remain the same as last year, the total area opened being 42,166 acres. Owing to various causes it was found impossible to open any new land during the year. An area of 2600 acres is now being valued, and it is expected will be opened in the year. GRAZING AREAS. The total area held is 5528 acres, diivded into nine sections. These produce an annual rent of £983 10s. WORKS EKPENDITURE. The total expenditure for the year was £93,506. Of this amount the sum of £42,470 was paid out of local Imprest Account, principally on account of wages. Day labour (including wages of dredge crews) amounted to £32 817, piecework contracts £19,564, and hire of teams £lO3l.