HORAHIA DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4792, 22 December 1924, Page 3

HORAHIA DRAINAGE.

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING. The second regular meeting of the Horahia Drainage Boar;d| was held at Mr F. A. Kneebone’s icsidence on Saturday, Mr W. McDuff presiding over Messrs F. A. Kneebone, J. McKerchar, J. M. Thompson, R. L. Davies, J. C. Miller, W. E. Hale, and the clerk. Mr W. E. G. Willy. FINANCIAL MATTERS. Lengthy communications in regard to a bank overdraft were read from the Department of Internal Affairs. The board desired authority to borrow up to £1846, which was the limit allowed according to the rating liability, to enable it to do the maintenance work for which the Lands Drainage Department had in the past collected rates amounting to £3466. The department pointed out that a rate should be struck, and that an overdiaft could only be authorised to pay preliminary expenses. Authority to borrow £250 was forwarded, and the board was informed that should it require more a request for further authority would receive consideration. Members pointed out that it was absolutely necessai; to strike a rate during the present financial year s.i that a bank overdraft could be drawn on until the rates commenced to cbme in.

It was decided to accept the authority for £250 and open an account with the Bank of New Zealand, Thames, the chaiiman and treasurer to sign cheques. The formal resolution required by the bank was cairied and the clerk authorised to secure a cheque book. The amount of the rate required to be struck was discussed, and it w,as agreeo that the limit allowed under the Diainage Act would be necessary as the drains in the area were in a very bad condition and it would take all the money that could be secured in the next few years to bring them to a decent state. THE. CLASSIFICATION.

The warrant of appointment of Mr W. E. G Willy as classifier of the board’s land was executed. Mr Willy reported having commenced work, and that he would be able to complete the classification by the date of the next meeting. As soon as the classification was signed by the chairman it became legal, and rates could be levied with it as a basis. Appeals against the classification nv’ght affect the amount of rate collected but not the legality of the striking of the rate. FIDELITY BOND. The clerk said that he desired to acquaint the board with the provisions of the Drainage Act in regard to its servants providing a fidelity bond. it was decided that he obtain, for the information of the board, particulars of indemnity insurance, VALUATION. The clerk reported that a valuation roll had been received from the Valuation Department. From .this, and from other sources, the following information was available :— Unimproved value : European land, £298,137; Maori lapd, £6260. Rate on 13'2 basis : European land, £1863 7i Maori land £39 2s 6d ; total, £1902 9s 73ad. Crown lands, non-rate-able, were valued at £lBBO, thus £lO 18s 4d in rates was lost to the board. The total length of drains in the area was 66 miles, and maintenance at 5s a chain would cost £1320 and at 6s a chain £1584. Assuming that £lBOO was collectable, and that preliminary expenses for the first year was £250, then there woul I be £1550 available for work and £lOO for overhead. Sixty-six miles of drains to bi maintained at, say,. 5s 6d a chain, would cost £1452, allowing nothing for stop-banks, flood-gates, etc., or for inspection of work. DIVISION iOF AREA. Tiie question of the division of the area into wards was brought up by Mr R. L. Davies and discussed at length. Finally it was decided that there be three wards, namely, Northern, Central, and Southern, the divisions to be the middle of the Piako road and the Shell-bank drain and between the central and southern area a line running down the back boundary of the sections fronting the southern side of Orchard East Road. The clerk was instructed to prepare a return sho.wing the size ''and valuations of each ward, so that the mattei of representation of the wards could be discussed at a later meeting. TE KAURI N 0.2 DRAIN. The clerk reported that a request had been received from the Hauraki Drainage Board to be present on Tuesday next to inspect the Te Kauri No. 2 Dram. The Hauraki Board was not satisfied with the manner in whicii the work was being done by the Lands Department, and as both boards would have to pay for the maintenance they should make representations to have the work done well. Members expressed sympathy .with the proposal.’ The clerk was. instructed to inform tiie Hauraki Drainage Board that Tuseday was not a suitable date, but another date could be arranged. WILLOW DRAIN. In reply to the board’s letter tiie Lands Drainage Engineer wrote advising that the deepening of the Willow Di ain southward from its junction with the Te Kauri Drain had not been included in the loan proposals for improvement works in the Horahia-Opou drainage district, and this fact was made clear to the settlers. There was an understanding, however, that provided the Department was maintaining the drains when the loan works were completed the bottom was to be cleaned of silt and regraded. The poll on the loan proposal was delayed until late last summer, and weather conditions did not then permit of the work being done prior co handing over control of the district to the Horahia Board. The board now controlled the maintenance, but no difficulty would be experienced in making arrangements for the department to carry out the work. PRINTING AND ADVERTISING. It was decided to give the "Hauraki

Plains Gazette” all the advertising and the Thames “Star” the printing. A TYPBYRITER. The secretary was authorised to expend up to £2O on a typewriter. POLLUTION OF DRAINS. A member mentioned that a certain settler was running skim-milk into a drain, thereby polluting it so that contractors could not be found to clean it. It was agreed that drastic action would have to be taken. TOUR OF INSPECTION. The date of the continuation of the tour of inspection was fixed for Saturday next, December 27, when the stopbank from Orongo to Ngatea would he traversed. The meeting closed with an exchange of Christmas greetings and a vote of thanks to Mr Kneebone for the use of his room,