THE TE KAURI DRAIN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4802, 26 January 1925, Page 3

THE TE KAURI DRAIN.

FEARS OF SETTLERS.

ASSURANCE FROM THE ENGINEER

Various allegations and complaints concerning the work on the T'e Kauri No. 2 Drain having from time to time been made, an inspection was undertaken on Thursday last by the members of the H.auraki and Horahia drainage boards, the’settlers concerned. and the lands drainage engineer, Mr E. Taylor. This drain has been in an unsatisfactory state for some time, and settlers rearby have suffered considerably. To give relief to the land between the Orchard East and Kere-peehi-Wharepoa roads a scheme was adopted involving the- enlargement of this outlet. A loan was raised on behalf of the settlers, and the Lands Drainage Department agreed to undertake the work. As the drain traversed the area administered by the Hauraki Drainage Board the spefications were submitted for its approval. This was granted and the contribution agreed upon on condition that the batter of the drain banks was made one horizontal t; one vertical. This batter not being in general use, the board thought it would be amply safeguarded. To give relief as speedily as possible, the lands drainage engineer let several contracts during last winter for the widening of the drain, and to enable these to proceed at the same time a slight divergence from the usual method of working was made. The country traversed near the river is of a rubbly nature, and in the widening of the drain it has been straightened, thus in places more spoil has had io be removed from one side than tire other. Up to the present the job ,s unfinished, and at places the batter is not the one to one specified. Slips will occur in most new drains, and in most drains where the banks are denuded of their outer covering, and slips have occurred in the Te Kauri drain. The summer weather has cracked and crumbled the banks. Th.; settlers, well knowing from bitter experience the effect of inefficient outlets, and seeing the present state of the drain,, arc naturally concerned about what its effectiveness will i.e during the coming winter.

. The Lands drainage engineer assured them on Thursday that it would be a reasonably safe job when completed- The batter would be laid back io one to one, as specified, and a further, four feet would be taken off the southern bank for 12 or 15 chains from the flood-gate, while all slips would be removed and the bank laid beck to make it reasonably safe. Thus in places the batter would 56 considerably greater than specified.