NEW DRAINAGE DISTRICT

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4828, 11 May 1925, Page 1

NEW DRAINAGE DISTRICT

BEST OF PIAKO RIVER.

MATTER BEING INVESTIGATED.

tor some considerable time the idea of having an area west of the Piako River constituted a drainage distirct na-: been in tile minds of settle)s, anti since tlie constitution of the Horahia dismet on the eastern side of tnc river tlie movement lias received an impetus.

Al a claring sale recently a number oi settlens discussed the matter and decided to seriously investigate the position. Mr E. Walton, tlie county clerk, was approached and the necessary foi nialities ascertained.

The suggested area for the drainage dishrct is nil that within a line from tiie Puhauga canal westward up to the road between Messrs Phillips Bros’, and Hayward's farms to Pouarua Road; thence along that road in the seaward direction to the back boundary of the sections fronting Pipiroa Road ; thence along that boundary to the Waitakaruru-Maukoro ear.al ; thence, at the water's edge, down the canal, along the isea-coast, and lid the Piako River and the Puhanga canal to the starting point. The suggested are* comprises approximately 14,000 acres, and the unimproved valuation is approximately £194,000. There are 90 miles of Government constructed drains, 20 concrete floodgates, and four wooden flood-gates in the .area, and only for a small distance from the Pouarua read to the Mnukvru canal is the boundary along a drain. 1

The matter was submitted to the Lauds Drainage Engineer, Mr E. Taylor, i'oi his comments. Mr Taylor was of the opinion that no difficulty would be experienced in having the area conistituted a drainage district. The idea, of making Pouarua Road the boundary was a good one, as it was the watershed. There was the possibility of water from west of Pouarua Road flowing to the Piako River when the canal was constructed to obtain spoil for the formation of the railway line, but in other respects there should be no difficulty about eacn area dealing with its own water. Pressed to state what work was contemplated by the Lands Drainage Department in the. proposed area, Air Taylor is reported to have plated that, there was under consideration the fitting of a new concrete flood-gate at Hopai, the laying back of the batter on the Settlers’ drain, and the widening and deepening of the drain on the no. thorn side of Pipiroa Road. The subject was laid before the settlers concerned at a meeting convened by Messrs C. Parfitt, H. Torr, and J. Motion, the prime movers in the matter, and held in the Pipiroa Hall on Wednseday last. There were between 40 and 50 present, and Mr A. H. McClean presided. The information already gained w r as laid before the meeting and fully discussed, and the opinion was expressed that the area could be drained as efficiently but not at less cost by the constitution of a drainage district under the Land Drainage Act and the appointment of a drainage board. It was explained that under the Act the maximum general rate that could be levied must not exceed an average of three-halfpence in the pound, but by a petition of the ratepayers it could be increased to 2d. In view of the mileage of existing drains to be maintained, and the fact that the average cost had proved by experience tp be about Is a chain, it was thought necessary to have a 2d rate unless some of tlie less important drains weie abandoned.

The idea or abondoning drains naturally raised a protest at the meeting, and definite information was sought. Mr Toor explained that this was only a possibility which had been pointed out. It was obvious that, nothing' definite could be decided upon until done so by the drainage boar l when apopinted. The feeling of the meating on the proposal was hard to gauge. It had many advocates, but a general desire for further information was evinced. A resolution was moved by Mr H. Toor, and seconded by Mr P. Motion, that a committee of five be appointed to investigate, further, and to that end to send two of their iiumbe.' to interview th« Chief Drainage IGi.-gineer at Auckland, and that if, after due consideration, it was thought that the scheme was feasible, a petition praying tor the constitution of the drainage area be prepared and the required number of signatures obtained.

After further discussion an amendment. by Mr E. C. Marshall was carried by a large majority to the effect that a committee of five, representing the areas of Pipiroa, Pawera'wo, Hopai, Ngatpa, and Waitakaruru, be appointed to investigate, the position and report to a further meeting.

The committee appointed comprised Messrs T. A. McClean (Ngatea), A. H. McClean (Waitakaruru), J. Motion (Hopai). A. Cleaver (Rawerawe), and C. tV. Parfitt (Pipiroa).