HORAHIA DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4869, 24 August 1925, Page 3

HORAHIA DRAINAGE.

MEETING OF BOARD. The monthly meeting of the HoraIlia Drainage Board was held at Mr F. A. Kneebone’s residence on Friday last, Mr W. MeDuff presiding over Messrs W. E. Hale, F. A. Kneebone, R. L. Davies, J. C. Miller, J. McKerchar, J. M. Thompson, and the clerk, Mr W. E. G, Willy. DUAL DRAINS. The letter from the Hauraki Drainage Board in reference fo the control of dual drains,the use of fiew dual drains, and the conference to discuss these matters and the question of amalgamation as discussed at the Hauraki Board’s meeting was received. . The chairman said said he considered it useless to have the conference. It would be some considerable time before the information requried would be available, as it would be a long time before the engineer could geti out to the Waihou drains. Mr Miller said he would like to know what the dual drains had cost the Hauraki Board to construct. Mr MeDuff advocated asking the Hauraki Board to supply information as. to the cost of construction of the existing dual drains. Mr Hale expressed the opinion that the dfficulties would never be overcome. He moved that the clerk take the necessary steps to bring about the amalgamation of the two boards. Mr MeDuff said that such a step might hang up proposed drainage works. The matter was discussed at length, there being much argument as to what had been stated at the conference between the two boards. Members had different ideas of what had been agreed upon, but none of the terms could be reconciled with later correspondence. It was agreed that the engineer be instructed to get out detailed estimates for all the drains from the Horahia area to the Waihou River in time for the next meeting, andshr at that meeting the position should be discussed with a view to submitting the concrete proposals, desired. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The board’s engineer, Mr J. N. Anderson, reported that during the past month he had taken levels of Willow drain (Thompson's to Te Kauri), Price’s drain, McDuff-Louch boundary drain, Johnstone’s drain, Kneebone’s outlet, Miller’s outlet (From road to river), Shellbank drain, and the new drain from . Pipiroa-Orongo Road to Shelly Beach Road. Unfortunately he had been ill for a week and could not get on with the drains, on the Waihou side, but he hoped to attend to them next week.

The Public Works Department’s proposals on the Waihou side bad no-t yet taken definite shape, and it would be necessary to complete the scheme for the outlets to the Waihou River. The specifications for the Shelly Beach Road floodgate had been approved by the Chief Drainage Engineer and he had given permission to proceed with the work. Members, advocated forwarding all the plans and specifications tp the Lands Department for approval as soon as possible, so that the work could be put in hand as soon as the loan was approved, or, in case the loan was not approved, so that certain works could be done and paid for out of grant money. This was decided upon.

Mr Anderson attended the meeting at the board’s request and explained details of the work he had done. The size of the drains was calculated to give a run-off of one inch of Water from 500 acres every 24 hours. This should be ample, and was more than that allowed by the Lands Department.

It was agreed that the engineer go into the comparative cost of timbering the ends of the outlets to the Piako River or laying the batters back to two to one -where necessary. The engineer reported that provision would have to be made in the loan for renewing or repairing floodgates. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The overseer, Mr E. Flaveil, reported inspecting the Shelly Beach flood-gate and finding it broken. An iron gate had been obtained from the Horahia wharf and hung. All other flood-gates had been inspected and were in good working order. The outlet outside Kneebone’s flood-gate required piling, as, the tide water was washing the banks in. About a chain of stop-banking was required at the Shellbank outlet. At the Horahia wharf a small stop-bank was required from Kneebone’s stop-bank to the wharf, as high tides came over the road. The estimated cost for labour was £6, and piles and fascines were required. Slips had been removed from Orchard East drains, Kneebo>ne’t> outlets, Horahia outlet, and Price’s outlet A. Phillips’ contract for cleaning portion of the Kcrepeelii-Kopua-rahi roadside drain had been completed and passed ais satisfactory.

With reference to the overflow from the river at the Horahia wharf the chairman mentioned that the dredge would be building a stop-bank there shortly. Mr Kneebone advocated having a. temporary stop-bank built as soon as possible. Mr Miller pointed out that the county Should build up the road. The matter was left in the hands of Messrs Kneebone and McKerchar, with power to act. It was decided to raise the stopbank at the Shellbank outlet. Mr Kneebone advocated placing a grating in the Horahia roadside drain. A pettier had offered to keep it clear of debris,. It was agreed that a grating from Ngatea be used; ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £46 5s 8d were passed for payment. RATES. It was decided that the ten pei

cent, penalty, be imposed on all outstanding r.ates after September 25. WHAREPOA CULVERT. Mr Thompson mentioned .that the pipse had not yet been placed in the Wharcpoa Corner culvert. The work could not be done until the silt had been removed from the drain. The drain was under the control of the Hauraki Board. Owing to the quantity of water in the drain at the present time it was decided to take no action. TE KAURI OUTLET. Mr J. C. Mille'r, Junr., on behalf of the settlers- interested, wrote stating that owing to the southern area members apparently not being fully aware of the necessity of the Thames ValleyTe Kauri No. 1 outlets it was again necessary to bring the matter before the board. • As the Hauraki Board had the datea ready there was no need, so far as the settlers could see, for the matter to be shelved any longer. Whether the canal as proposed by the Public Works Department was completed or not, it was understood that the Hauraki Board would base its claim for credit for work already done by that board on the portion which would eventually become a dual drain. If the matter could be clearly defined before the proposed conference, which was mooted, one action might lead to another and the unsatisfactory position which apparently abounds might be cleared up. Mr Baker, member for the central area of the Hauraki Board, had intimated to the settlers, that his original offer of credit for work already done and half on maintenance and new work still held good, and the settlers - considered that on this offer the negotiations could be proceeded with on a, fair and equitable basis. The settlers wished to point out a weakness in the board’s plank in that it proposed to construct and apparently bear the Whole of the cost of two new outlets, namely, Taylor’s and the Jubilee, without asking for any subsidy from the Hauraki Board on the same, hi the face of the above the Hauraki Board’s request for credit for work done on the Thames VaileyTe Kauri No. 1 seemed only fair and reasonable. Regarding the request from the Chairman and Mr . Thompson (at the meeting at Parry’s Corner) that the Hauraki Board forward to the Horahia Board data in connection with work already done on the Thames Valley and Te Kauri No. 1 drains, the Hauraki Board (in face of previous correspondence) would not forward same until officially requested to do so by the Horahia Board. The settlers wished tp apologise for apparent intrusion, but as the works were of vital importance to both the southern, and central areas it was trusted that negotiations would proceed and a definite agreement with the Hauraki Board would be arrived at in the near future. The chairman said that the writer was mistaken in his view that the Hauraki. Board would! contribute half the cost of the work. , It was pointed out that several settlers were draining into the No. 1 Te Kauri in addition to the settlers mentioned by the Hauraki Board. The drains were working well, and there was no duobt that the outlet was of great benefit to the Hauraki area. Mr Hale said that Mr Baker’s offer covered the drain in his area, but Mr McMillan had no offer for the portion in life area. Despite Mr Baker’s offer the Hauraki Board had written disclaimiing any responsibility. Mr Willy suggested letting the matter stand until the board had compiled complete details, of its scheme. Mr Miller said that should Mr McMillan agree to the same terms as Mr Baker the board would consider the matter. The one offer was of no use without the other. <

Mr Hale said that the matter would have to be taken up with the Hauraki Board as a whole. The clerk was instructed to lay the position before the settlers.