DRAINAGE CONFERENCE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4818, 4 March 1925, Page 3

DRAINAGE CONFERENCE.

HAURAKI AND HORAHIA BOARDS. DUAL CONTROLLED DRAINS. A conference Between the Hauraki and Horahia drainage boards was held at Turua on Saturday last. Mr G. Gray, chairman of the Hauraki board, presided, and there were present Messrs J. Mules, D. G. McMillan, R. Baker, R. H. Heappey, and J. E: Green (clerk) of the Hauraki. board, and Messrs W. McDuff (chairman), F. A. Kneebone, J. C. Miller, W. E. Hale. J. M. Thompson, R. L. Davies, and W. E. G. Willy (clerk) of the Horahia board. Messrs S. S. Murray, F. L. Hamilton, and J. Kernick, ratepayers, were also present. In opening the discussion Mr G. Gray said that he understood the two boards had met to discuss the clean*ing of the two drains and other matters' affecting the two areas. The Hauraki board had received certain tenders which would be accepted if satisfactory to the Horahia board. For the Towers outlet, the length of which was 70 chains, a tender of 12s a chain had been received for the cleaning only. A certain amount of deepening could be carried out to advantage, Hut his board had not the funds wita which to do this. He was of opinion that under certain circumstances the price was a satisfactory. one. Mr McDuff said that his board would consider the matter in committee at a later stage. Tn reply to Mr Hale Mr Gray said he estimated that it wbuld cost £5OO to put the drain in proper order with one to one batters, renew the floodgate, and take the drain down to the original level. The tenders for the Piako roadside trains were 4s 6d for the north side and 7s for the south side, and these prices were satisfactory. For the Willow drain the tender .was Gs for the 105 chains from the Hood-gate. Air Baker, the area member, pointed out that the length of 20 chains outside the flood-gate was in bad order and would require K 50 1 to put it right. He would recommend his board to •contribute £25 if the Horahia'board would do likewise. A shell bank would have to be removed by explos-

ires. Mr R. L. Davies pointed out that the gates were ineffective. Mr Baker replied that if a grating was placed at the flood-gate a man would have to be regularly employed to keep it clear. As this was not possible on account of the cost the gratings had been removed and at times timber came down and blocked the gate open or damaged it. He would recommend that the tender be accepted. The No. 2 Te Kauri was a dual drain, but did not require attention V

this year. ■ .. \ ?’or the Wharepoa readside drains, 108 chains long on the south side and C 8 chains on the north side, the board would recommend the acceptance of ;> tender of 6s 6d for cleaning the south side and 6s for the north side. Mr McMillan said that requests had be*n received to deepen the south side drain, for which an offer of 6s a chain had been received. He was agreeable to recommending his board to contribute half the cost. Request h'.id also been received to replace the 3ft culverts at .the Ferry road corner, wi+h 4ft culverts. The cost of the i- bou r would not be very great, and lie would recommend his board to agree to work in with- the County Council and the Horahia board. The drain had a very wide bottom, and . the deepening at a one to one batter would reduce the cost of future cleaning. it was not for the benefit of his area ratepayers so much as for the benefit of the back area settlers that the drain deepening was sugested. Mr McDuff stated that the Horahia board had a scheme for diverting the w iter from the Kerepeehi end to the I’iako River by the racecourse drain. Mr McMillan said he anew which wav the water wbuld go, and he would ’ like it placed on record that he had made the suggestion. Mr Gray said that the. -HaurUki. < board was not pushing the matter, and suggested that the question be drop-

ped. _ Mr McDuff said that his board would have to give serious considers; tion to the recommendations of the Hauraki board. The mater would be discussed in, committee. The members of-the Hauraki-board then retired from the room and the Horahia board discussed the matter in committee for a few minutes. Oi the ocnference resuming Mr McDuff said that hip board was prepared to employ labour to stir up the silt cleaning the>dual drains provided the Hauraki.board was prepared to contribute towards the cost of deepening tlie 40 chains at the bottom end of the south side of the. Wharepoa road at (5s and the cleaning at 6s 6d, and an equal amount to the Horahia board towards replacing the present 3ft culwith 4ft culverts.

In connection with the cleaning outside the flood-gates, Mr Gray said that the Lands Department had made an arrangement with the Hauraki board to employ labour tos tir up the silt whenever there was an exceptionally heavy flow of water, so that the silt would wash away. The work was not very costly, as £5O usually covered the cost of all the flood-gates.

Mr McDuff intimated that his board would be agreeable to contribute.

Mr Gray suggested that members of the Horahia board be appointed to work in conjunction with the area members controlling the dual drains so that delays would be avoided in caseis of urgency." Mr McDuff said the matter would be discussed.

Mr Baker mentioned that cleaning the drains in the springtime was often necessary. The job was not an expensive one, as the cost was usually Is a chain.

Mr McDuff said that the question was not an urgent one, and could tie brought up later. ■ Mr McMillan pointed out the necessity of arriving at an undertaking in regard to the hire of labour for at-

tending to He suggested that certain settlers be paid so much a year for keeping the gates clear. It was-agreed that to obtain prices from suitable men for attending to rations flood-gates and submit them to the two boards for approval. Mr Gray then asked what other matters the Horahia board desired to discuss. Mr McDuff said the first was a proposal io construct a drain i.o connect up with Taylor’s outlet in the Haurski board’s area. He would like to know what the Hauraki board would contribute. Mr Heappey asked for particulars. Mr McDuff stated that three-quar-ters of a mile of new drain would be required and Taylor’s outlet would need improving. The new drain would average 12ft by sft by 2ft. Mr Miller asked if Taylors’ outlet would be tiie best to drain into. Mr Gray suggested a better route to the end of the present Taylor’s outlet than the one proposed. Mr McDuff suggested that all the requests of the Horahia board be enumerated so that the Hauraki Board could discuss the various questions in committee.

The ?’sxt matter concerned an extension of the Jubilee drain through to the boundary between the two boards

Mr Mules said that the question would he discussed later. The next matter concerned the Te Kauri No. - 1 drain and the Thames Valley outlet

On being asked to explain the position Mr F. L. Hamilton said that the proposition to join the two drains had been brought up because by so* doing a great benefit would 1 be conferred on a large area. The Thames Valley outlet would require laying back, with a new flood-gate installed, while the connecting drain should be 12ft by sft by 2ft. This would, provide an adequate safety valve. Mr McDuff said that these three drains were all that was required at present. It should be understood tnat the proposed drains would be dual controlled drains. Mr J. Kernick, on being granted permission to speak, pointed out that he was prepared to finance the work of extending the Jubilee drain and commence work immediately piovided the Horahia board granted the necessary permission.

Mr McDuff said that no objection would be raised. Mr Miller said that the Hauraki board would receive some benefit from the improvement of the drains and it was necessary to come to some arrangement under which the Hoiahia board could come through the Hauraki area.

Mr Gray and other members contended that the Horahia. board should submit an offer.' The Hauraki board had no objections to drains coming through its area under certain conditions. It realised that it did not have the sole rights to the river. ' On - 'resuming after luncheon Mr McDuff said that his board had arrived at the decision -that it should not be caVed upon to pay more than twothirds .of the cost of improving Taylor's and Jubilee outlets and half the cost of the Te Kauri drain. It was to be remembered that the land in the-Horahia area had been loaded to provide the Government’s share of the outlets through-the Hauraki area.

Mr Gray said he would go straight to the point. The board had raised loans and obtained subsidies. To do any further work in opening drains for the back areas would mean going to the for another loan, and he did not think they would agree. If the Horahia board desired to come in bn existing drains it should contribute £ for £ on the Hauraki, board’s expenditure. Any new drains the Horahia board should pay for. Ha did not think a commission would force the Hauraki board to pay or contribute to what it did not get a benefit from. The Hauraki board did not object to the Horahia board making drains to the river provided the outlets Were made of sufficient size to prevent flooding the area traversed. in reply to Mr Miller Mr Gray stated that if the Hauraki board had spent £2OO on a drain then the Horahia board would have to spend £2OO before the fifty-fifty share came into opeiation. The Horahia board should pay the whole cost of new drains. Mr Baker said it would be easier to measure up the existing drains and determine the cost.

Mr Willy asked whether the cost per yard would be at present-day prices or at those ruling when the drains were made..

Considerable discussion ensued on the cost of the workis, and the quesw tion was not answered. Mr Heappey pointed out that tne Hauraki board had no finance to contribute towards the new work, and there was little chance of getting the

money. In reply to Mr McMillan Mr Milner said that the difference in the proposed contribution was made in accordance with the amount of benefit received by the different outlets. The Te Kauri No. 1-Thames Valley undertaking would be of greater benefit to the Hauraki board’s area than to the Horahia area though it was necessary for the efficient drainage o’ a smhl'l portion of the Horahia area. Mr Baker pointed out that his board did not desire the work. The present drainage was sufficient for the Hauraki area, and he had pointed out that the connection with the Thames Valley outlet would be the best for the Horahia area. He was not advocating the work.

Mr J. C. Miller argued that the Hauraki board’s area wap bound to receive some benefit from new or improved drains, and the suggestion was that for this it should pay ope-third of the cost of the work.

Mr McMillan said that each drain should be dealt with separately on its merits. Mr Gray agreed, and said that with regard to the new drain connecting with Taylor’s outlet the Horahia board should pay the whole cost. »t was thought that the proposed improvement work in the existing drain would' not cost half as much Us the original cost had been to the Hauraki

board. In connection with maintenance Mr Heappey pointed out that it was costing his board £lO a year on the drain, whereas with the extension his board’s share would be about £l4 a yea)-. He thought the Honahia board should pay two-thirds of the annual maintenance.

Mr McMillan suggested that each board submit its offer to the other board in writing.

Mr Gray later submitted another offer. There was about £5O to be spent on Taylor’s outlet, and he was ’prepared to let it go in for the new work provided the job was carried otit to satisfactory specifications. That £5O was all the money the board had for that drain. In regard to the Jubilee drain, there was about £6O available, and this could go towards the new work to be done, and the same arrangement would apply to the Thames Valley drain, where about £5O was available. With this latter amount the Hauraki board had proposed to widen the drain. Some further widening would be required, and also a new floodgate. Mr McMillan said he did not know off hand what was available for the connection of the Te Kauri No. 1 drain, but whatever it was could be spent.

In the matter of maintenance, Mr Gray said he could not agree to contribute half the cost of the whole drain. The general rate was up to the maximum amount allowed. Mr Gray said that a reply to the offer would have ,to be received within a few days as tenders had already been received for the cleaning .Work in the three drains, and the work must be carried out as quickly as possible so that settlers would get relief when the wet weather came. Unless tlio widening was done very soon the cleaning would have to be proceeded with’, and the money available for the Horahia board would be spent. The cost of widening at a later Stage would be much higher than if done at the same time an. the cleaning. Tn concluding the conference Mr McDuff thanked the Hauraki board for receiving his board.

Mr Gray said that his hoard had offered ,up to its limit.