DRAINAGE CONFERENCE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4712, 16 June 1924, Page 2

DRAINAGE CONFERENCE.

TURUA-KEREPEEHI AREA. The committee recently appointed to deal witli the formation of a special rating area comprising part of the Hauraki Drainage Board’s Central and Te Kauri areas and that block of land on the western boundary of the board s area approximately from the back of Kerepeehi Road on the south to tn chard East Road on the north, and including certain sections fronting the Kerepeehi-Kopuarahi road, waited upon the Hauraki Drainage Board at a special meeting called for the purpose on Saturday last. Mr G. Gray, chairman of the Board, presided, and the spokesman for the deputation was Mr F. L. Hamilton. a Mr Hamilton outlined the workap which the settlers had agreed upon as being necessary, and for the payment of which they were prepared to rate themselves, and asked the board to favourably consider the proposal and j Help the settlers as much as it could. He pointed out that without some such proposition being gone on with at once it would be impossible for many of the settlers to remain on their [arms for another winter undei similar conditions. Mr Gray, in reply, stated that the deputation had the fullest possible , sympathy of the board, but various difficulties presented themselves in carrying out the wishes.of the deputation. Chief among them was that a new drainage board was being formed to take over the whole of the land at the back of his board's area, aud llii.s would include the settlers whom the deputation represented. Already there had been one special rating area formed and a loan raised by the majority of the settlers represented by the deputation, and this loan was now being spent and work was being carried out for their benefit. It was the opinion of the board that the settlers should wait aud see the result of this work when completed, as it was felt that when the Te Kauri No. 2 drain was fully improved, the work on which had not yet been commune- “ eil, it would np doubt be found that ve'v considerable relief would be 4 given by this drain and a 10l of their pi esent troubles removed. Mr Gray further explained that if the settlers went on with the present proposal it would mean a second loan and a second rate, and when the new board came into operation it. would possibiy be found necessary to do still more work in the area, which might necessitate it being included in a comprehensive scheme for which there would be a third rate. In addition there was the possibility of complications arising, making it difficult . for the new board to effectively carryon when formed.

He further pointed out that it must of necessity take some considerable time to get the proposed scheme go-. ■ ing and that it would be Quite impossible to obtain any benefits from it this winter, and also that as the new board would be in operation possibly within three or four months it would, in the opinion of his board, be in the best interests of the settlers to wait and put their proposals to the new uu-ird, with a view to having them included in any comprehensive scheme which that board might bring lorward for the whole district. In the meantime the work in the Willow and Te Kauri No. 2 drains was going on, and when fully completed would be a very great help at the end of this winter, and lull benefits would be derived nei'ore next winter. After considerable discussion had taken place among the members oi the deputation and the other rate- • payers present Mr Hamilton announced that under the circumstances the committee hud decided to accept the board’s advice. On the motion of Mr R. L. Davies, seconded by Mr J. M. Thompson, it - was decided to request Mr Taylor, the lands drainage engineer, to push pu the work in the No. 2 Te. Kauri outlet drain with all speed, and without - waiting for the new tlood-gate in that drain to be completed; also that the culvert on the Turua-Kerepeehi. road be replaced by one considerably larger. It was also decided to ask the lands drainage engineer, the county engineer, Or. Madgwick, and Mr D. G. 1 McMillan (member of the Hauraki Drainage Board) to meet and decide what should be done to the culvoirts on the Turua-Kerepeehi road, with a view to having the work carried out immediately. Mr Gray said that the board would f approach Mr Taylor and urge him to proceed with tlie work on the No 2 To Kauri drain at once, as far as taking the sides of the drain down. This would give the board’s ratepayers considerable relief, and also those setrteis in the outer area, who wore more seriously affected. The board would do all in its power to get the work expedited. The deputation then carried by ac- •-* clamation a vote of thanks to the board for receiving them and for giving them such a long and patient hearing: also for its advice and as--sis’ance given.