DRAINAGE MATTERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4834, 25 May 1925, Page 3

DRAINAGE MATTERS.

HAUI’AKI INB HORAHIA BOARDS. DUAL CONTROLLED DRAINS. Several matters in connection with drains controlled by the two drainage boards on :he Hauraki Plains came before the Hauraki Board at its meeting on Friday last. The Horahia Board wrote stating that- it was prepared to pay half the sum of £6 now owing on the Ngataipua Road drain. It not only agree.l, but heartily approved of the suggestion that all matters necessary for both boards to deal with should be put in writing. Regarding .he Wharepoa Road culvert, .the promise to pay fifty-fifty stood good, and had not been altered or qualified in any way. The board was. prepared to contribute towards the cost of the Wharepoa Roa-.’ and Piako Road flood-gates on the half-share basis, but considered that the suggested prices of £l2 each were rather heavy, and its committal or the two gates was limited to £l2. The contractor was .expected to carry out Ins agreement to clean the Kerepeeni roadside] drain at the price tendered, and the board would noti agree to an increase.

Regarding the removal of the bar outside the Willow Drain flood-gat' l , the ooard would contribute on the half-share basis with a limit of £25. With reference to the new portion of the Willow drain on the f ajst of the Horahia Board's boundary, that board wanted to know if the Hauraki Board would contribute half the cost ef cleaning.

Concerning the statements made at the last meeting of the Hauraki Board (as reported in the Prbss), the Horahia s Board considered the remarks quite unwarranted, as in no instance could it be shown that that board had changed its attitude cr broken a pledge given, and the inference that the board had repudiated any agreement made with the HoraIng Board was absolutely contrary to fact. In view of the large amount of money the Horahia Board was finding for work done in the Hauraki Boards district the desirability of amalgamation or the setting up of a commission to define the respective responsibilities and liabilities where dual drains and suggested dual drains were concerned was suggested. Mr McMillan reported that the north side of the Wharepca culvert haa been completed by a contractor assisted by settlers. Unfortunately, only ten of the eleven pipes had beei laid, and though there was no danger, and the roadway could hot be widened bring to the proximity of the telephone and electric power poles, he would suggest that h»na-rails be erected or that the extra pipes be laid.

It was agreed that Mr McMillan co-ifer with the riding members of the County Council and the county engineer.

Concerning the criticism. Mr McMillan said that it should be ignored. He had, newspapers in his possession which showed that members of tne Hi-raliia Board had made statements at..the. meeting of that body to tne effect that' he had stated that he would do certain things. He had not made such statements.

Passing on to the question of tne estimated cost of replacing the floodgates, it was decided, after much discussion, that the offer of the Horahi'i Board was unreasonable, and it was moved by Mr Mules, and seconded by Mr Baker, that the contribution of the Horania Board to any dual drain, flood-gate, or works must be on a fiftyfifty basis, and that failing an arrangement being arrived at the Horahia Board undertake the work and the Hauraki Board pay halt the cos'-. — Carried.

Dealing with the increased cost of cleaning. the Wharepoa-Kerepeehi drain, Mr McMillan expressed regre-: that the Horahia Board had not seen tit to pay a fair price, particularly as the work done wag of more benefit to that beard’s district than to the Hauraki board’s settlers. The contractor had made a real good job of it.

Passing on to the next item, it was pointed out that the Horahia Board bad not replied to the request for a working arrangement for dual drains on urgent matters arising between meeting, as discussed at the conference. The matters referred to we.-e cleaning and the removal At heavy slips, keeping clean flood-gates at regular periods and to keep sain? in constant working condition, tie •dragging of weeds \yhen an obstruction occurred, and the removal of silt outside the flood-gates. . A motion asking the Horahia Board for a. definite reply was moved by Mr Heappey and carried. At a later stage members of the board, were empowered to make arrangements to clean the outlets outside tne flood-gates of all drains in their respective areas with the exception of dual controlled-drains as time, and opportunity offered. The request for a contribution te" the extension of the Willow drain was then considered, and it was de cided that the board tould not see i*K wav to pay half the cost.

Tn regard to the statements published. in the Press the members, boih individually and as a bqaril, agreed that they had nothing to withdraw. Exception was taken to a statement made by one of the Horahia Board members as reflecting on the integrity of the Hauraki Bdai’d, and the cleik was instructed to communicate wii'i the Hauraki Board on the subject.

The question of amalgamation or the setting up of a commission was diseusfsed in committee, the clerk be- - instructed to write to the Horah a Board