DRAINAGE OF PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4761, 8 October 1924, Page 1

DRAINAGE OF PLAINS.

THE YEAR’S OPERATIONS. REPORT BY CHIEF ENGINEER. The sixteenth annual report by the Chief Drainage Engineer, Department of Lands and Survev, on the progress of the reclamation, drainage, and general development work carried out on the Hauraki Plains for the year ending March 31, 1924, as presented to Parliament last week contains the following information : DREDGES. "Two useful additions to the dredging plant have been made during the year. A Kingston grab-dredge commenced operations in June, and a large steam dipper-dredge has recently commenced work. A second plant of similar type will shortly be put in commission. All these dredges have been assembled at Kerepeehi on pontoons constructed on the works. “No. 1 Priestman dredge has been working in the Waitoa River, where channel silting lias been very troublesome. The quantity excavated was 29,250 cubic yards, at a cost of 11.24'd per cubic yard. This dredge has been working continuously for a period of over fifteen years, and is now being dismantled for extensive renewals and repairs to the machinery, and the pontoon will have to be docked as soon as a slipway can be constructed at Kerepeehi.

“No. 2 Priestman dredge is on the Maukoro Canal, and is now 3 miles 60 chains from the Waitakariiru road bridge The machinery of this dredge has been overhauled and improved by substituting grooved-friction for the. original smooth-friction drive. Electric light hais also been installed, and the plant is now working two shifts. The hand-dug drains on the canal route have been deepened, with the object of consolidating the land ahead of the dredge where the peat is from 13ft to 25ft deep. This dredge excavated 36,652 cubic yards, at an average cost of 9.11 d per cubic yard.

“No. 6 Priestman di;edge has been operating in the Piako River between Kerepeehi and Ngatea. This dredge has also been remodelled and equipped with grooved-friction drive, anl is now a very efficient plant. The output was 47,100 cubic yards, at a cost of 6.71 d per cubic yard. “No. 11 Kingston dredge is a recent addition to the plant, and was assembled in the local yards on a substantial pontoon built last year at Kerepeehi. It is doing excellent work in the Piako River, and the effect of the river improvement works is apparent in the lowering of the low-water level at Kerepeehi. The output for ten months is 70,074 cubic yards, at the cost of 6.07 d per. cubic yard. “No. 15 Bucyrus drag-line has been constructing stop-banks and roadjs on the Kerepeehi Block, and also widening the Awaiti Canal. This dredge handled 104,810 cubic yards of spoil, at a cost of 5.2 d per cubic yard. “No. 16 Bucyrus drag-line has been widening the Puhanga Canal, and having completed the work on the eastern bank is now removing the old stop-bank road preparatory to widening the • western side of the canal. Two shifts are being worked, and a half-yard bucket is being used with extended boom. The quantity excavated was 105,980 cubic yards, and the cast 7.50’d per cubic yard. “No. 19 Michigan walking-dredge has been constructing road drains on the Kerepeehi Block, and is now excavating a large collecting ditch parallel with the Awaiti Canal. Good progress was made in dry country, but flood-water made operations difficult during the winter. This dredge excavated 40,733 cubic yards, at 10 lid per cubic yard. “No. 20 Rood land-dredge has commenced work on a block of land lying to the'south of the Kerepeehi Block, and between the Awaiti Canal and the Piako River, known locally as the Awaiti Block. This machine handled 74,053 cubic yards, at 7.37 d per cubic yard. “No. 23 American steel dipperdredge is a further addition to the plant recently erected at Kerepeehi, and has commenced work in the Awaiti Canal extension. This is a large isteam-dredge equipped with a one -and-a-half-yard dipper, and as the operators gain experience will prove an efficient digger. The amount of spoil dredged and machine-excavated during the year was 508,654 cubic yards, and the cost per cubic yard was 7.27 d. This is an increase on the amount for the previous year of 68,562 cubic yards and a reduction in the cost of .93d per cubic yard. CENTRAL DISTRICT. "In this district several miles of road formation have been completed, principally on the Kerepeehi Block, where the roads are formed from spoil of the machine-dug drains. The Puhanga Canal stop-bank road has been formed on the east side, and the Ngarua Canal stop-bank road raised to finished level , and formed. The Kaikahu and Pekapeka and some Kerepeehi Township roads have also been formed. A three-foot-gauge tramway lias been laid for a distance of 4 miles 43 chains on the formation of the Puhanga-Torehape road, and 18,190 fascines laid, and 2270 cubic yards of clay have been carted on to this road. Repairs were effected to the Ngatea West Road. The metalling of the Orchard East and Riverbank Road between Ngatea and Paul’s wharf was completed, 1194 cubic yards of metal being used; and 3650 cubic yards of metal were spread on the Kerepeehi-Kaihere road; 900 cubic yards of metal were also used

in completing the remetalling of the Ngntea East and Kerepeehi-Kopua-rahi roads. A new road is being constructed on the western bank of the Puhanga Canal, and a large collecting ditch constructed parallel to the canal and discharging into a large two-barrel concrete flood-gate on the Piako-River. A new permanent bridge 107 ft span, and also a temporary bridge have been built across the Puhanga Canal, and three small road bridges and several culverts and floodgates completed in this locality. “A large amount of ditch construction has been carried out, and also all outlet drains cleaned, and many widened and deepened. At a pol,l recently taken the ratepayers of the Hora-hia-Opou Special Drainage District sanctioned a loan of £1450' for drainage improvement works, which are being carried out by this 1 department. The depot at Kerepeehi is now a busy centre, where a large gang of men is employed receiving and distributing fuel, stores, and materials, repairing and erecting plant, and a variety of other works. WAITAKARURU DISTRICT. “The drainage of the land in the vicinity of the Maukoro-Waitakaruru Canal has been receiving attention, and a great deal of work has been done, which should hasten the process of bringing into profitable occupation a large area which, with the excellent outlet provided by the canal, will eventually be some of the best land on the Hauraki Plains. The spoil banks on both banks of the canal have been formed into roads by team, scoop, and grader work. Maintenance and improvement work to drains and stop-banks has been carried out. Two dams were constructed in the Maukoro Canal to facilitate dredging ; 13.000 eleepers were split; and 123 birch piles cut, hauled, and shipped to other districts.

PIPIROA-KOPUARAHI DISTRICT. “The principal works carried out in thia district were maintenance of drains and stop-banks, widening and deepening of outlet drains, and the construction of a low-level flood-gate at the outlet of Duck Creek drain, which is being deepened and extended to a new concrete culvert across the Ngatea-Pipiroa road. Large drains have been constructed along Pouarua Road and Hopai Road extension, and repairs effected to RaweraWe West Road.

AWAITI, PATETONGA, & TAHUNA. “The Elstow Drainage Board hais raised a loan of £34,000 for drainage works to be carried out by the departments in conjunction with Crown land development works in the Awaiti district. The preparatory work for the scheme is well in hand, and construction has been commenced with two dredges.

“For the formation of roads in peat land ill the Patetonga district 3154' cubic yards of. clay were carted on to the Mangawhero road, 10,211 cubic yards of clay and 780 cubic yards of gravel for the Kaihere West road, and 4372 cubic yards of clay for the Patetonga tramway road. North Road at Tahuna was cleared and formed for a distance of 54 chains, 2581 cubic yards of. spoil bein carted for the purpose.

“In addition to the usual cleaning, widening and deepening of drains in the districts involved the excavation of over 130,000' cubic yards of material. “Freight collected for the carriage of goods on the Patetonga tramway amounted to £621. ROADS. “As road formation can only be done during the very short dry season, all available plant has to be pressed into service to cope with the large amount of this work that has to be done. The progress made this year has been fairly satisfactory. The total quantity of metal delivered front Thames by the department’s punts was 517-5 cubic yards, and quantity obtained from other sources 1729 cubic yards. Two miles 14 chains of roads were metalled during the year, and 75 chains remetalled. Clay carted fpr the formation and maintenance of peat roads amounted to 22,588 yards, and 18,790 bundles of fascines were laid as a foundation. DRAINS. “One of the outstanding features of the year’s work has been the large amount of drain widening and deepening carried out. No less than 146,775 cubic yards of spoil were excavated for the improvement of 75 mil.es 30 3 4 chains of drains. New drains 16 miles 4% chains in length were completed, making the total length constructed 549 miles 41% chains. Two hundred and seventy miles seventyeight chains of drains were cleaned during the year. By piecework contract 135 miles 17 chains of drains were cleaned, 43 miles 27% chains widened and deepened (97,128 cubic yards), and 7 miles 46% chains of new drains (31,097 cubic yards) opened. By day labour 135 miles 61 chains of drain had been cleaned, 32 miles 3, chains widened and deepened (49,647 cubic yards), and 2 miles 60 chains of new drains (12,892 cubic yards) dug. The excavating machines had removed 93,890 cubic yards of spoil in making 5 miles 58 chains of | new drains and 101,800 cubic yards in erecting 2 miles 75 chains of stopbank. BUILDINGS. “Several buildings have been erect-1 ed during the year, bringing the total j to: Houses and small cottages, 21 double huts, 15; single huts, 24; sheds, 24 ; quarters for staff and workmen, 3; workshop, 1. A small rent charge is made for all houses and huts occupied by workmen, the total sum received during the year being £437. WHARVES AND BRIDGES. "The wharf at Kerepeehi depot ’was completed, a large hardwood Toad bridge and a temporary road bridge constructed on the Puhanga Canal, and a small road bridge on I*liillips’ Road. PLANT. “The plant now comprises 1- steamer, 1 oil launch, 4' metal punts, 3

general service punts, 4 land diedgep, two drag-line excavators, 2 walking land dippers, and 2 floating • steam dipper dredges. CONCRETE STRUCTURES. “Two ferro-concrete road bridges l and the following lengths of r,oad culverts were completed: 40ft of 2ft and 150 ft of 3ft concrete pipe, 40ft of 4ft by 4ft concrete box culverts, 77ft of 3ft concrete pipe culverts and floodgate, 22ft of box culvert and floodgate, 22ft of 4ft by 4’ft two-barrel concrete box culvert equipped with concrete sluice gates and flood-gates, and 32ft of sft diameter two-barrel box culvert equipped with Calco floodgates and concrete sluices. ARTESIAN BORES. “Three bores were sunk during the year to a depth of 306, 203, and 257 feet, respectively. These are running at the rate of 1000, 250, and 800 gallons per hour. The total number o 1 artesian bores put down to date is 219. The cost of the year’s operations was £64 14s 4d, making a total to date of £7185 6s Bd, nearly the whole of which is recoverable. The sum cf £829 was received during the year, SURVEYS AND CLASSIFICATIONS“A verj' complete survey of an area of approximately 35,000 acres lying to the east of the Piako and Waitoa rivens, and including a portion of the Awaiti basin, has been undertaken to define the topography and formation, physical characteristics, and extent of soils. Levels and soundings to determine the peat depths are being taken systematically over the whole area, and methods of reclamations adopted tc the physical and economic psosibilities of the land can be devised from the information obtained. The classification of soils in this area is incomplete, but the indications that, owing to the subsidence which will take place after drainage, roughly three-fourths of the area will be more suitable for flax production tha.i pasture. “Similar work is being carried out on the area the Piako River and the hills forming the western boundary of the Plains. One hundred and forty-two miles of levelling were carried out, and over 1100 soundings taken and samples of soils obtained at various depths up to 30ft. Other engineering surveys required 17 miles ■of traverse and 38 miles of levels. FUTURE PROPOSALS. “Piako and Waitoa river improvement works; continuation of Awaiti and Waitakaruru-Maukoro canals; widening Puhanga Canal; reclamation and road of lands in the Awaiti district; development and reading oi peat lands at Waitakarur ( u and Torehape. WORKS EXPENDITURE. !*The total expenditure for the year was £91,979. Of this amount the sum of £46,996 was paid out of Thames Imprest Account, day labour (including wages of dredge crews;) amounting to £37,464, piecework contracts to £15,649. and hire of teams £J992. VALUATIONS. “The expectation of opening up new areas within the year was not realised. After going exhaustively into the question it was decided that it would be preferable • to delay opening ths proposed areas pending further consol’dation. These lands comprise deep peat country on which time is an essential factor in bringing them into a state of production. The process of consolidation will be assisted in every way, and the lands made available for selection as soon as conditions permit. The total area handed over (including reserves) is 43,895 acres. FLAX LEASES. “As mentioned previously,.a considerable area of the lemaining lands will be more suitable for flax culture than for general farming- purposes, and it is intended to develop these lands accordingly. Under the existing legislation flax leases may be granted for a term not than ten years, but it is hoped that in the near future a more secure tenure will be made possible by amending legislation. Under this security of tenure >t is hoped that flax will be planted, cultivated, and cared for like any other crop from which a revenue is expected. I am optimistic enough to imagine that, in the not-fan-distant future instead of being considered a temporary or catch-crop, as it is today, flax will be farmed in the true sense of the word, and will become one of our permanent and thriving industries. No areas were opened during the year. The sum of £67 14s 9d received during the period. GRAZING AREAS. “The total, area under lease is 4847 acres, divided into seven holdings. The annual rent is £230, and the revenue- received for the year amounted to £193 17s 7d. GENERAL. “Abie and effective work has been carried out by the Kerepeehi office staff, which has been busily engaged preparing plans and specifications, j wages-sheets, attending to correspond- | enee, stores, and general office work. ! A very considerable amount of construction and repair work has been - carried cut at .the local, workshops. I All routine work in connection with I wages and claims is done in the Keiei ipeehi office, and the final approval of i all vouchers is given in the controlling office in Auckland, wheie the necessary financial books are kept. I The work entailed in checking and ■ passing wages vouchers and claims ; for supplier, etc., is very arduous, and ‘ calls for a. great degree of skill and ' attention in the officers responsible. I Pavment of wages alone on works of - this size is an operation of some magi nitude, and usually covers a period •of from threet o four days each rnionth. The possibilities of fraud :n "bogus wages payments are always I kent in view, and periodic checks aie •made by an independent officer. Occasional checks are also made of the stocks of benzine, kerosene, and stores generally. A complete stocktaking of all machinery and tools ismade every year; the total amount on charge is in the vicinity of £70',000, and the separate items run into thousands. “The officer in charge is Mr E. Taylor, M_N.Z.Sic.C.E., to whom the greatest credit is due for the energy

he has displayed and..the able and efficient manner in which he has controlled the operations.” . ■ FINANCE.'' The statement of receipts and payments on tlie Hauraki Plains Settlement Account contains among other items: Receipts by sales of land, £3559 8s 4d; rents, £8337 14s; rates, £7706 15s lOd ; grazing fees, £97 17s 8d : tram freights, £623 15s 8d ; flax royalties, £67-14b 9d. , The payments include £54,489 Us 8d for drainage works, stop-banks, cleaning channels, and other expenditure incidental to conducting drainage operations (including metalling and formation of roads), materials supplied, etc ; machinery and plant purchased cost £3265 Ils Bd, loose tools £172 9s 2d, material and stores £9754 10s 9d. and fuel £4042 0s sd. The sum of £9654 9is 9d was paid by way of compensation for land acquired ii. connection with drainage works, maintenance of completed works cost £8986 17s Id, and management and engineering expenses totalled £1757 17s Id. On the assets side of the balancesheet Improved land handed over .o the Board for settlement is set down at £326,885 9s lid, less saler, £73,504 19s 4kl ; unimproved land not yet disposed of £44,474 10s 9d ; improvements on adjoinnig Crown lands, £7710 ; permanent reserves £8646. The value of the . work in progress is assessed at £246,325 15s "Bd, buildings £7506 15is, wharves £6220, machinery and plant. £69,573, live stock £327, loose tools £1482 14s Bd, and stores and fuel £.4618 7s. Sundry debtors total £17,140 16s Bd.