HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4758, 1 October 1924, Page 3

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING. The regular meeting of the Hauraki Drainage Board was held at Turua on . Friday last, there being present: Messrs G. Gray (chairman), D. G. McMiß'an, R. H. Heappey, J. Mules, R. H. Baker, and the cljerk, Mr J. E. Green. AN IRATE RATEPAYER. Mr S. Robertson waited upon the board and slated that cjfertain drains had been cleaned, but not the outlet, and as a result his farm had been flooded. To add to the difficulty, a certain drain had been dammed, with the result that the whole of his farm was inundated by flood water. His internal drains were sufficient to deal with stormwater. The chairman and members pointed out that the drain which had been dammed had been abandoned by the board, Mr Robertson contended that the drain was still a board drain. The chairman said that the board had recently let a contract to clean certain other drains which would relieve the pastion. A. lengthy argument ensued, during which members pointed out that if Mr Robertson inspected other areas he would-find that his land was not flooded worse than other farms. The board did not cause the rainfall, and • had not the funds to provide all the : outlets and drains it desired. Apparently Mr Robertson wanted a Thames Valley outlet for himself. Mr Robertson asked for an under-, taking that the board would take steps to prevent his land being floodfed. The chairman replied that the board could not give that undertaking. In regard to the dam, the position would be looked into. The cleaning of thfe Thames Valley outlet would relieve the position, and this work would be expedited as quickly as possible. ’ , - Mr Robertson said that the position would not be believed by this. He would not pay any more rates. If the £ board would not do anything else, it should provide flood-gates for all his internal drains. Membens asked how this was to be paid for, and would Mr Robertson be one to provide the .money.Mr- Robertson said he would not provide one penny. Arguments then became very heated, and Mr Robertson was asked-to withdraw. The position in fegard to the dam was then discussed, and it was finally decided to ascertain the board’s legal position, and if it had authority over the drain to have the dam removed. ALLEGED DAMAGE. On-behalf of Mr. J, A. Bennett, Turua. Clendon and Vollemaere, solicitors, Thames, wrote claiming £5O as damages alleged to have been caused by tiile. flooding of his land through the Piako Roadside drain not having been maintained in an efficient state. The chairman moved, and Mr Mo.Millan seconded, that the solicitors be W’nformed that thfe board denied all liability.—Carried. IMPROVING DUAL DRAINS. The Lands Drainage Department’s resident engineer wrote stating that ‘the department was finding one-third of thfe cost, up to £lOO, of improving dual controlled drains on the understanding that one-third of the expenditure was paid by the board and the remaining tjjird out of subsidy. Regarding the Kerepeehi Road drain, he suggested making the batter one to one on the boundary side, removing the Klips and widening to thnee feet bottom where the existing drain was less than three feet. The Willow drain had not been inspected, but he had been informed .that there had been some slips.. . No provision had been made for works below the floodgates iii the estimates for the Willow and Te Kauri drains, and. he was afraid that available funds would not permit of anything being done. The clerk was instructed to write to the drainage engineer, pointing out that several complaints had been received and-that unless work Was done outside the gate of thfe Willow drain the work inside would be nullified. WHAREPOA ROAD DRAIN. Mr D. G. McMillan reported having let a contract for improving the : Wharepoa northside drain at 32s 6d a chain, and for the erection of a fence at 7s 6d a chain. FOREMAN'S REPORT. The foreman, Mr J. McConnell, reported on the work attended to since the previous infesting. This included the sti ipping and puddling of Brown’s flood-gate ; also making drain on river side to one to one batter, timbering outside anew with struts and sills. About a mile of Daily’s cutlet had been cleaned and the slips removed, and six chains above thfe bend to where timbered had bfeien improved to give the water more room on the bend. It was now four feet wider on top. The gratings had befeh put on several . gates, but owing to the heavy rains these had to be removed again. 'The flood-gates had .been kept frfae from weeds as the workmen went to dnd from work. Three boatloads of timber, iron, and sundries had. been ’taken to Handley's outlet. He wished to know if, when ordering jarrah timber for the Wharepoa Ferry floodgate, he should order sufficient for Handley’s gate. The.report was adopted. OBSTRUCTION IN DRAINS. On Mr H'eappey’s motibn the clerk was instructed to communicate wita a man who had placed several planks in the No. 1 Monganui drain near the Turua-Netherton road, and instructing him to remove the obstruction at once, otherwise the board would do the work and hold him responsible for the cost. It was decided to replace thief culvert at Alien’s gate with a bridge. ACCOUNTS. •>< Accounts totalling approximately “£33 wert* passed, for payment.