TURUA DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4664, 20 February 1924, Page 4

TURUA DRAINAGE.

CONFERENCE BETWEEN BOARDSA conference between the Hauraki Drainage Board and the Turua Town Board was held on Friday evening last at the request of the latter body to discuss the drainage of the Turua township. There were present Messrs G. Gray (in the chair), D G. McMillan, and R. H. Heappy, of the Drainage Board, and F. Olsen,, A. P. Gardiner, F. Beck, and J. T. Davies, of the Town Board. Mr J. Mules, a member of both boards, and Mr J. 15. Green clerk to both boards, were also in attendance.

Mr A. P. Gardiner said that he had asked the Town Board tp 'call tire conference. There were two bodies controlling the drainage of the township, and it would be advisable to come to some arrangement on the matter before the year’s estimates were drawn up by cither body. He had studied the Drainage Act and found that the board should even attend to the watertables in the town. The Drainage Board was drawing about £lOO a year from the small sections fyi the town area, or about £l5O from the whole of the Town board area. He would suggest that the Drainage Board hand over the drainage, or a proportion of the rates collected, to the Town Board. It was not possible to get surface water away nor was it possible to obtain drainage for houses. The chairman said that; the Drainage Board’s expenditure on work on the area between the school, and the post office during last year was £lO 2s 6d, while the general rate collected was £l2 Is Id. The board had always endeavoured to spend the rates in the area from whence they were collected.

Mr Gardiner said that the Drainage Board was one of the successes of the district, but in his opinion it should now extend its sphere of operations and do all the work permitted it under the Act.

Mr Heappy pointed out that tp drain the township sections would require a loan. Mr Gardiner said that the Drainage Board had collected rates for the past six years, and the work mentioned as having been done last year was practically the only work done in the area since the board commenced operations.

Questioned ais to how he had arrived at his estimate of the amount of. rates collected, ..Mr Gardiner said that he had taken the Town Board’s valuation roil. It. was pointed out that the Drainage Beard was rating on the unimproved value assessed in 1917, while the Town Board had a recent valuation anid was rating on the improved value. Under these circumstances ■th'’ estimate of rates was very far out. Mr Heappy pointed out that under an amendment to the Act only a Borough Council would automatically lake over the drainage. At present the Drainage Board had the sole control. <■

Mr Gray said that under the present system of rating the townhsip could ’.iot expect more than it was receiving The board had power to absolutely prohibit household water being put into drains. Mr Olsen said that householders were not permitted to use a -piped drain in Raratwna Street until certain permanent levels were obtained. The health inspector had prohibited connections being made.

Mr Gray said that sufficient outlets to carry away storm vater were already provided for the area outside the block between the school anil the post office with the exception of Mata! street.

M'r McMlilan said that the solution would be for the town area to form a special rating area to do the work requited.

Mr Gray said that if this were done the Drainage Board would undertake to carry out the work. It v ould readily be seen that the Drainage Board was treating the town area fairly. Mr' Mules said that if the town settlers desired drainage they should prepare a scheme. ATr Gardiner suggested a meeting of ratepayers. Mr Gray said if a scheme was gone would .suggest that if deep drains were made they be at the back of sections.

Mr Mules said that he would like to see something done soo>n by either of the Boards to provide some drainage for Raratuna- Street. Tire old drain had been abandoned. Members of the Drainage Board pointed put that this would ba creating a dangerous precedent. Mr Gray said that if a town scheme was to be. gone-into this street should be included..

The clerk pointed out that if a loan was raised over a special rating area it would have to pay a loan rate. This was all right, but hotv would the cost of maintenance be charged. The town sections were all classed A, so the classification could’not be raised, nor could the rate be. raised, as it was almost up to the limit. As far as lie could see the only solution would be for the Town Board to do the work and charge a drainage rate for the maintenance. Mr Heappy said that Turua was in an unfortunate position. A. sewerage scheme was required, for it would not do to have household -water running into open drains, 'fhe Health Department would prohibit it in anjcase. If the town was only larger, a small sewerage scheme could be undertaken. Tn concluding, Mr Gray sgdd that the Drainage Board could not; do anything further until the town: settlers decided upon a scheme, which would receive careful consideration from the Drainage Board. CONTROL OF CROSSING S. Mr Gardiner wanted to know who controlled the crossings. Mr Mules said that the Dnlinage Board had absolute control. The County Council had to make n crossing to the satisfaction of the Drainage Board. Mr Gardiner said that the Town Board desired to make a crossin g at the factory corner to connect with the footpath. Mr Mules said that the Drainage Board had considered, the

matter and left it in his hands. Mr Olsen said that the Town Board proposed using ircm pipes. They were much larger than the road culvert and there was no doubt of their lasting qualities. The chairman pointed out that the Drainage Board had already- given permission to lai' the culvert. WATER TROUGH. Mr Gardiner asked if the Town Board had permission to erect a water trough near the mill. It would oe near one of the board’s drains and also on a drain reserve. .Mr Gray said that the Drainage Board would not object, as the reserve was not required and the trough was of sufficient distance from the drain to prevent stay danger.