HORAHIA DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4814, 23 February 1925, Page 4

HORAHIA DRAINAGE.

MEETING OF BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Horahia Drainage Board was held at the residence of Mr F. A. Kneebone, Horahia, on Friday laist, Mr VL McDuff presiding over Messrs W. E. Hale, J. C. Miller, R. L. Davies, J. M. Thompson, F. A. Kneebone, and the clerk, Mr IV. E. G. Willy. Mr J. McKerchar was granted leave of absence. GOVERNMENT DRAINAGE RATE. The Minister for Lands wrote acknowledging receipt of. the board’s request for the remission of £1550, representing Government drainage rates from the Horahia drainage area. The matter, it was stated, would receive every consideration, and a further reply would be forwarded as soon as possible. The clerk reported that on the advice of Mr H. Poland, M.P., he had written to the Minister on the lines of the verbal request made at Ngatea during the Minister’s visit. It was decided to send the reply to members as soon as it was received. DUAL DRAINS.

The Hauraki Drainage Board replied to the board’s letter stating that the dual drains were as follows: Towers outlet, member, Mr G. Gray ; Pialto roadside, north and south sides, Mr J. Mules; Willow drain, Mr R. Baker : Te Kauri No. 2 drain, Mr D. G McMillan; Wharepoa-Kerepceni roadside drain, Mr McMillan. These drains ran from the river to the 0.8. P. boundary in each case. Up to now these drains have been controlled by tlm Hauraki Board and the cleaning done ?n each case by the board, the price for cleaning same first being approved by the Lands Department's engineer in each case, and completed to his approval, if necessary, as well as the Board’s. When the work was finished and passed by both parties it was paid for in the first instance by the board and the account rendered for total cost of. each drain, and payment has been received immediately. The Hauraki •Board suggested that a similar course should be adopted with the Horahia Board, and when tenders were called for the work the respective members of the Horahia Board representing the areas that the above drains serve in its area meet the members of the Hauraki Board named above and agree upon a price for the work on the spot by appointment at once so that the work could be put in hand and, completed without delay. The Hauraki Board had endeavoured in the past to always concentrate on the main direct outlets to the river as the first work of the season, and all the above drains' came under that category. and all subsidiary and roadside drains took second place. The Hauraki Board would like to continue this practice. It therefore, suggested tha* members of the board responsible for each of the abovementioned drains get in touch with the Hauraki Board members with a view to agreeing upon a price for which the cleaning could be done or, if it was preferred, wait until the tenders for the cleaning of the Hauraki Board’s drains closed on February 27 and meet immediately atferwards. It should not be necessary to consider cleaning the Te Kauri No. 2 outlet in view of the improvement work now going on. . Members considered, that the reply was a very fair one, and it was decided that the chairman, secretary, and members confer with the Hauraki Board members on the matter on February 28. BOARD’S OFFICE. On the motion of Mr Miller it was deckled that Mr W. E. G. Willy’s residence be the registered office of the board. CLASSIFICATION. The clerk reported that no objections had been received at the Magistrate’s Court to the board’s classification list, which was now legal and binding Mr W. E. G. Willy was voted twelve guineas as classifier’s fee. , RATEPAYERS’ LIST. The Clerk of the Court, Thames, wrote by .direction of the S.M. stating that Thursday, Mai’,ch 19, at 12 noon, had been fixed for reviewing the bo-reds list of ratepayers. SUBDIVISION OF AREA. In regard to the subdivision of the area. Mr Willy reported having obtained Mr Walton’s advice on the procedure to be taken. It was a very complicated matter. A special meeting on March 20 to deal with the matter was decided upon. TENDERS. The tenders received for cleaning 60 odd miles of drains in the board’s area wore discussed at length in committee Numerous contracts were let, 6 tenders for several will be called again, and in some cases the members wore empowered to deal with the matter. APPO'NTMENT OF OVERSEER. The matter of the appointment of air overseer was brought up by Mr

McDuff. He was of opinion that a day-wages man should be employed.

Mr R L. Davies urged the appointment of a permanent employee, who could be employed in removing slips when and where, necessary.

Mr J. C. Miller thought the matter could be deferred until the cleaning contracts were completed and the loan wo>-ks were commenced.

Several members suggested that the board should undertake the inspection of contract works, but this did not meet with general approval. Mr McDuff moved that Mr E. Flavell be appointed a casual overseer at the rate of £1 a day, he to find his own conveyance and to inspect draims at the request of the ennirman or clerk and report to the board.

Seconded by Mi- W. E. Hale and carried.

The chairman was deputed to inspect the contract work already let to .Mr E. Flavell. RATES. The formal resolutions making and levying rates for the year were carried. The clerk was instructed to take out an insurance policy covering contractors and employees with a certain insurance company, the agent of which was a ratepayer of the board. KOPUARAHI DRAINAGE. The Lands Drainage Engineer wrote advising that permission had been granted for the board to continue the drain on the southern boundary of Orongo Settlement to intersect the drain on the eastern boundary of Mr \V. E. Hale’s property, provided the cross-sectional area of the proposed drain did not exceed the cross-sec-tional area of the existing outlet drain at the south-western corner of the Orongo Block. It was agreed to hold the matter in abeyance until the time for receiving obj?ctions had passed. RACECOURSE DRAIN. The clerk of the Elstow Drainage Board wrote advising that the question of contributing half the cost of cleaning the racecourse drain at Kerepeehi was under consideration. FENCING OF DRAINS. The question of the fencing of. drains was brought up, and it was decided that the board would require landowners to fence drains, otherwise full rights would be exercised and a legal fence demanded. VOTE OF SYMPATHY. A vote of sympathy with Mr J. McKerchar, a member of the board, who is in the Thames Hospital, was carried.