HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4846, 29 June 1925, Page 3

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

MEETING OF BOARD, The regular meeting of the Hauraki Drainage Board was held at Turua on Friday last, Mr G. Gray presiding over Messrs D. G. McMillan, R. Baker, R. H. Heappey. and the clerk, Mr J. E, Green. WHAREPOA CULVERTS. Mr McMillan reported having conferred with the county engineer and Cr. Madgwick in connection with the recently installed culvert. It was agreed that an extra pipe should be added. It was a peculiar fact that though the north side had not been fitted with large pipesa that drain was taking the greater part of the water through a culvert near Mr Jurey’s. Since the drain had been deepened it was drawing very well. MILL CREEK. Mr Green reported that since the last meeting Mr Mules had had more repains done to the Mill Creek outlet. THAMES VALLEY OUTLET. A letter was received from the N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co. agreeing to the board’s proposal to improve the Thames Valley outlet alongside its Huirau Road farm, provided the spoil was graded back so as not to impede surface drainage. /Mr Baker pointed out that spoil could not be graded back so as not to impede surface drainage. The spoil had to be put somewhere, and the purpose of the grading was to remove tiie high bank from the drain bank. It was decided to grade back the bank through the company's farm property.

Mr A. J. Heajseman whote asking the board to meet at few of the ratepayers interested in the taking of the Thames Valley outlet right through to the Te Kauri No. 1 drain, and to. discuss a larger flood-gate and the improvement of the mouth of the Thames Valley drain. Messrs Baker and McMillan reported having interviewed the settlers and arranging to instal a new 4ft gate in the Thames Valley outlet and open up the mouth. It was also agreed to continue the extension of the drain to the Te Kauri No. 1 drain at Uie back of Messrs Hamilton-and Clark’s sections. They had agreed that the apportionment of the cost of Much work and the maintenance of same should be two-thirds of the gate and the installation; the opening up or the mouth of the drain to be borne'by the Central area, and one-third of the cost to be borne by the Te Kauri area, also the completion of the new extension of 10 chains by the Te Kauri area. As to the maintenance, the Central area would clean the Thames Valley cutlet from the river to the road. . The continuation from Huirau Road to No. 1 Te Kauri drain was to be cleaned at the expense of the Te Kauri area. The arrangement was approved by the board, and it- was decided that Mr McConnell be asked to prepare an estimate for procuring the material and installing the floodrgate. DUAL DRAINS. A_ letter was received form the Horahia Drainage Bo.ard as follows : “Please find enclosed cheque for £92 16s 3d, in settlement of account for Horahia Board’s half share of cleaning, etc., Of dual drains. In reply to yours of the 30th ult., I am instructed to. inform you that any urgent work on dual drains requiring immediate attention can be dealt with by communicating with me prior to October 1 next, after which date .1 have no doubt the respective area members on our board will deal with those urgent matters affecting their particular areas.” AMALGAMATION. The Horahia Board wrote as follows on the above subject:— “Your letter of June 15 concerning amalgamation and a commission was read at the last meeting of .this board and duly considered. As your; bobard considers that the respective responsibilities and liabilites where dual drains and suggested dual drains are concerned can be amicably settled and agreed upon when all the matters are clearly defined and fully considered, I am instructed to put before you this board’s opinion as to which drains it considers should be regarded as dual drains: Orongo southern boundary drain; Ngfttaipua Road drain (as already recognijsed) ; Taylor’s drain (through Kaipapaka) When constructed from this board’s boundary to the Waihou River ; Piako Road drains (as already recognised) ; Jubilee drain, when constructed to link up this board’s area with the Waihou River ; Willow drain from the river to its intersection with Te Kauri No. 2; Te Kauri No. 1, when and if constructed as an outlet connected with the Willow drain extension.; Te Kauri No. 2, from the Waihou River to our eastern boundary ; Wharepoa Road drains (as at present recognised).” “The foregoing constitute the drains this board considers should be dealt with on a 50-50 basis for maintenance work When completed, if not already constructed, and I am to inform you that it is not the intention of this board to do any constructive work in Te Kauri No. 1 except on a 50-50 basis with your board. “This board would be glad to hear from you as to whether your board is agreeable to treat all the abovementined drains and suggested drains as dual drains on a 50-50 basis for maintenance work. It would seem that the whole matter can soon be settled as far as this board is concerned by agreement as to which drains should be classed as dual drains. “The question of dealing with minor maintenance matters enumerated in your letter will be dealt with as each matter arises from time to time, and this board will, in so far as .it is financially able, treat all the suggested difficulties with reasonableness.”

The matter was discussed at length in committee, but prior to the sus-