HORAHIA DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4826, 23 March 1925, Page 3

HORAHIA DRAINAGE.

MEETING OF BOARD. The regular meeting of the Horahia Drainage Board was held at Mr F. Kneebone's residence, Horahia, on Thursday, Mr W. McDuff presiding over Messrs W. E. Hale, J. M. Thompson, F. A. Kneebone, R. L. Davies, J. C. Miller and, the clerk, Mr W. E, G. Willy. Mr J. McKerchar was granted leave of absence. SUBDIVISION OF AREA. Prior to the ordinary meeting a special meeting was held to confirm the special order dividing the board’s area into three wards, namely, Northern. Central, and Southern areas, and fixing the representation as two members for the Central and Southern areas, respectively, and three for the Northern area. GOVERNMENT RATE. The Chief Drainage Engineer advised that the Minister for Lands had decided to collect a rate over the board’s area equal to the department’: expenditure while the land was under its control. The balance of the amount demanded . would be written off each ratepayer’s account. Members reported having received amended rate demands from the Government, and were surprised Ao see the smallness : of the reduction, it had been anticipated that this wouid be about 50 per cent., but it had proven to be from 20 to 40 per cent. The amount of rate collected by the Government to be £3345, and the expenditure £1550, so it was to be expected that the reduction would be, over 50 per cent. The secretary was instructed to inquire from the- Chief Drainage Engineei the amount of rate levied and the amount expended during the period April 1, 1924, and November 15. 1924. FINANCE. Accounts totalling £l2l 10s 9d were passed for payment. The clerk reported that rates collected amounted to £303. He had interviewed the manager of the Bank of N.Z. with reference to an overdraft for the payment of drain cleaning contracts and had been led to believe that this would be available after th® end of the month. It was decided to hold a special meeting on April 2, at Ip.m., to attend to the matter. RATEPAYERS’ LIST. The clerk reported that the .ratepayers’ list had been completed and signed by the magistrate, it .thus being made legal arid binding. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The overseer, Mr E..Flavell, reported on the inspection made of numerous drains, stating that in most cases had found that the work was satis-n-tory and up to specifications. CHURCH LANDS. A letter was received from the Rev. A. E. Jefferson asking for; a remission of drainage rates on Methodist Church property at Kerepeehi. The clerk pointed out that under the Act the land was rateable until a church was erected, and the board had no power to remit under the circumstances. He was instructed to reply accordingly. PRICE’S OUTLET. Considerable discussion took place regarding the opening up of Prices outlet. A tender totalling over onequarter of the collectable rate from the southern area had been received, and the question was whether this expenditure would be justified. There was no question of the usefulness of the drain if in proper order, but how to secure this and make the drain reasonably safe was the problem. It was suggested that the poition through the bush be timbered. The drain was the key to the, drainage of the area, and if it was satisfactorily opened the provision of a new drain parallel to Orchard East. Road mignt not be necessary. Certainly it was of little use cleaning the other nearby drains if Price’s outlet was not deepened. It might be possible to utilise part of the Government grant for the purpose. This would necessitate the submission of plans and specifications, and thus cause so much delay that the work could not be carried out owning to the lateness of the season. Mr J. M. Thompson advocated expending rates on the work and getting it done. Mr McDuff expressed the opinion that it would be money wasted to merely clean the drain. A permanent job should be done. The clerk pointed out that if it was decided to utilfee the Government grant this money would not be available until some time, after the wont had been completed. The board had no funds that could be advanced to pay the workmen, and could not obta in .an overdraft 051 the supposition that a grant would be forthcoming. It was suggested by members .that I he Lands Department should be asked to do the work with a dredge. The cost would be' about Is a cubic yard, but there was little chance of getting a dredge for some time. It was moved by Mr J. M. Thompson, and seconded by Mr R. L. Davies, that the tender received be accepted “-for the cleaning of the 109 chains to the board’s general specifications, provided the contractor paid the usual deposit before commencing work. it was also decided to give notice to landowners to cease draining cow--sheds into the drain, and to erect fences, otherwise the board would compel the, erection of legal fences. WHAREPOA CORNER CULVERT. Messrs R. Fawcett and A. H. Jury, settlers of Kerepeehi-Wharepoa Road, waited - upon the board in regard to the proposed culvert at the Wharepoa. ferry road corner. The deepening of the lower-end of the drain was of no , use unless the culvert wag replaced ' by a larger one. Mr Davies said that Mr D. G. McMillan, of the Hauraki Board, had said that his area could not find the share of the cost, which amounted to £5O. Mr McDuff said that the Horahia board had agreed to find the same sum

as the Hauraki board. It was still agreeable to the arrangement, but at present was without funds. Mr Willy suggested that one culvert only should be replaced this year.

Mr Jury drew attention to the approaching bitumen sealing of the road..

Mr Miller stated that the agreement arrived at with the Hauraki bo,ard was that both boards and the County Council should contribute one-third each. The offer of the County Council was about half the total cost. Mr McDuff said that Mr McMillan was contending that the council should contribute more, as it was geltine value in the pipes, thus reducing his area’s conrtibution to £36. Mr Willy pointed out that when the matter with the Hauraki board, conference it. was not anticipated that tile cost would be anything like what the estimate proved to be. Apparently the Hauraki board was unable to finance the proposal. He would suggest that one side only be done this year. Mr McDuff suggested voluntary labour. Mr Davies said that, if the pipes were supplied the settlers would place them in position. It was decided to again discuss the nmOed with the Hauraki board. HORAHIA' WORK. Mr J. Sloane waited upon the board and asked what it proposed to do on the area, between Bond’s wharf and Horahia Road. He would like the board to inspect the area and decide where the flood-gate would be placed. It was decided to make a tour of inspection on March 26. TAYLOR’S OUTLET. Messrs H. S. Hill and C. Dale waited upon the board with reference to the proposal to construct a new drain to connect with the Hauraki board’s drain known as Taylor’s outlet, and suggested a better route for the drain. The matter was argued at length, and it was pointed out that a new outlet would take an equal amount of water from the Hauraki board’s area as from the Horahia. area, while the Hauraki board would not contribute' towards the construction or to the annual maintenance. An assurance could be given that an outlet for the area would eventually be provided, but it could not be stated when. A comprehensive scheme would have to be compiled and a loan raised. * COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME. Mr Willy, on behalf of the committee, reported on the comprehensive scheme of outlets which had been suggested. It included the improvement of the racecourse drain and Price’s outlet, the provision of a new dram behind the sections facing Orchard East Road, the continuation of the drain between Horahia Road and Orchard East Ro,ad across the Kere-peehi-Kopuarahi road to connect with the soldiers’ drain,. the improvement of Kneebone’s drain and the provision of a flood-gate, the. shell-bank drain and Miller’s drain to be improved; Hale’s outlet to be taken over, a new drain to be constructed at the ends of Hudson’s and Christie’s sections. Outlets to the Waihou River would include the suggested continuation of Miller’s outlet to Taylor's outlet, the Jubilee drain continuation, and the No 1 Te Kauri and the Thames Valley outlet. It was advisable to get away from the roadside as much as possible. The matter had been discussed, with Mr E. Taylor, and he had agreed to the board’s suggestions, and it was therefore probable that no trouble would be experienced in getting the department to approve of the scheme. The next point would be to get an engineer to take levels -and determine sizes, etc. It would be possible to secure the services of an engineer for this work at a reasonable cost. Mr Hale moved that the scheme be adopted as a comprehensive scheme of outlets for the Horahia drainage area..

Speaking to his motion Mr Hale said that no progress could be made until a definite scheme w,as adopted. The work would not necessarily oc carried out immediately. It was very gratifying to see that Mr Taylor had agreed with all the ideas of the mem? bc>’s.

The question of the inclusion of the No. 1 Te Kauri drain in the scheme was discussed, members pointing out that the full benefit of the work done last winter had not yet been noticed. Other .members argued for its inclusion in the scheme ,as the board wais not committing itself to the work, but the data would be useful, and in time to come, when the Waihou River was stop-banked, this outlet would be muhe more efficient than the No. 2 Tc Kauri drain. ?,lr McDuff contended that, a drain was not required behind the sections fronting Orchard East Road and Horahia Road to connect with the soldiers' drain, It was decided to investigate the position on the tour of inspection. Mr Davies contended that the widening of the Wharepoa roadside north drain should be included, and this was agreed to. The motion to adopt the scheme of onUete was seconded by Mr J. C. Miller. Mr Davies and Mr Thompson questioned tlie wisdom of constructing a new drain near Mr Louch’s, and contended that if Price’s outlet was satisfactory it. would not be required. The drain would be in the southern area, but the central area would get the greatest benefit. It was pointed out that the inclusion of the drain in the, scheme did not necessarily mean that, it would be constructed. It would be a small matter to get it surveyed at the same time as the other works. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Hale said that the next step would be to look about for a suitable engineer to take levels arid prepare estimates. The clerk was instructed to obtain information from various engineers on th»> subject.