PLAINS DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4885, 2 October 1925, Page 4

PLAINS DRAINAGE.

OPERATIONS BY DEPARTMENT. CHIEF ENGINEER’S REPORT. The following is the text of the annual. report of the.drainage operations in the Hauraki Plains by the Chief Drainage Engineer, Mr 0. N. Campbell, as presented to Parliament by the Under-Secretary for Lands, Mr J. B. Thompson “I have the honour to submit herewith the seventeenth annual report on the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Hauraki Plains drainage scheme for the year ending March 31, 1925.

“The winters of the years, 1923 and 1924 were remarkable for the excessive rainfall and the intensity of the storms. The average yearly rainfall at Kerepeehi for the past nine years is 44.32 inches, the- total for the last year being 52.56 inches, rain falling on 1'56 days. Severe storms last May produced floods in the Waihou and Piako rivers which caused damage where the present incomplete protective schemes dp not yet provide permanent protection form overflow. An area of> approximately 5000 acres of occupied land, representing about toneeighth of the settled area,, was flooded, necessitating the removal of stock. The settlere generally accepted these trying conditions with characteristic fortitude, and an encouraging development was the remarkable recovery of the pasture on the return to normal conditions. In spite of the unfavourable conditions the farmers have experienced a successful season. Returns from the factories handling the most of the dairy products of the Plains continue to increase. The butter export was approximately 4,139,5201 b, and cheese 2,349,7691 b, for the year. The value of the stock sold at Ngatea, Turua, Waitakaruru, and Patetonga was approximately £33,842. Water transportation of produce and goods, exclusive Of coal, shingle, timber, etc., amounted to 8319 tons. Peat lands in the district have in the past' produced some remarkable returns of flax, and there are indications that the suitability of certain, classes of peat land for fl.ax production are becoming more generally recognised. There are at present four flaxmills operating in the district, and the combined output of hemp for the year was 1014 tons, and 127 .tons of tow.

LOCAL CONTROL. A recent development or importance Is the formation of the Horahia drainage district, to control, the area comprising approximately 13,000 acres which lies to the east of the Piako. River and north of Kerepeehi. The work for the reclamation of swamp land such as the Hauraki Plains necessarily falls into two phases. The work first planned and constructed provides a degree of .agricultural drainage and public utilities sufficient to permit settlers to obtain cheap land capable of being profitably worked and with possibilities for future development. Atfer a period of years during which closer settlement follows development of the land there comes -a demand, for a greater degree of agricultural drainage. This stage has been reached in ,the arejt handed over to the newly constructed Horahia Drainage Board on November 15 last. The sale price of tltis land to the original settlers was £5 to £7 an acre, free of capital, charges for drainage and reading, and the future policy of the settlers in the district should be directed towards perfecting the improvements and so increasing the production of the land. ■

DREDGES. “The principal work done by the drginage branch during the year has been construction, enlarging and deepening of channels, river improvement works, and stop-bank construction with_the dredges of the department. The nine dredges operating during the year excavated 822,286 cubic yards of material at an average cost of 5.86 d per cubic ,ayrd,. a very, creditable output. The average daily output is nearly 3000 cubic yards. CENTRAL DISTRICT. In this district a road-forming ®ut- 8 fit has made good progress' with the formation of new roadis on the western embankment of the Puhangg canal and filling bridge .approaches and culvert’ excavations. For ballasting the Torehapd* Road 6330 cubic yards of clay were delivered by tramline alpng the deep peat Maintenance and improvements to drains and stopbanks have been carried out and new drains dug where necessary. For metalling Kaihere Road from the landing westward 332. cubic yards of gravel and 1984 cubic yards of metal were delivered, 80 chains of road being formed 'and a section of about 30 qhains, of road embankment which l,had subsided below permanent grade lowing to the compacting and lateral displacement of the marsh on which it is built, necessitating the carting of 9524 cubic yardsof filling. For piling weak places in the canal banks, i earthwork timbering, and other purposes, 1479 white pine logs were cut, hauled, and used. In the Kerepeehi Block 100 chains of road and road embankment was formed, and a large amount of stop'-bank and earthwork carried out, and 1647 cubic yards of metal laid on the Kerepeehi-Ki.ahere road. In kerepeehi township 53 chains of street formation were completed. WAITAKARURV-PIPIRDA DISTRICT “A heavy road constructs outfit has been employed on road embankment on the western side of the Mau'-korjo-Waitakaruru canal, one mile and fifty chains being completed. Stopbanks on the Pi.ako River and a section of the foreshore have been strengthened, a distance of 7 miles 4,3 chains being completed. A large drain is under construction for the purpose of diverting the drainage of the .area between Pouarua Road and the Waitakaruru-Maukoro canal into , the canal., and is. effecting a marked improvement in the drainage outlets leading to the foreshore and the Piako River. Of this 1 mile 60' chains has been completed. About 38 chains of timber fluming is being construct-

ed ,at the Apple-tree outlet through the mudflats, on the foreshore.

PATETONGA, AWAITI, & TAHUNA. “The principal works carried out in these districts has been drain improvements and maintenance. A large amount of earthwork is being carried out with teams, dredges, nad manual labour in the Awiati district. About 25 chains of Mangawhero Road were formed and 1267 cubic yards of clay carted for repairs to the Fatetonga and Mangawhero roads. The Patetonga tramway service has been maintained, the freights collected amounting to £822 2s 6d. A large twp-barrel flood-gate is being conistructed by the department for the Waitoa Drainage Board near TaliunaKOPUARAHI DISTRICT.

“This district is now controlled by the Horahia Drainage Board. Prior to the board taking control the drains Were cleaned by the department and some improvement works carried put. The work carrid out by the department in the Horahia-Opou special rating area was practically completed during the year. ROAD WORKS.

“Satisfactory progress was made with new road formation during January, February, and March of this year. In .the peat lands 17,121 cubic yards of clay and 1322 fascines were carted for road formation and repaiis. As funds for the metalling of roadie were in some instances limited to subsidies of £2 to £l, metalling had to be curtailed as. the amounts required from the County Council were ..not provided. The .tot.al quantity of metal and gravel received during the year was 3963 yards, and the Ker-e--peehi-Kaihere road was metalled for 70 chains and the Kaiherc Landing road for one mile 17 chains. “A total of 5 miles 14 chains of road was formed, and 4 miles 65 chains of peat roads ballasted with clay. DRAINS. “New drains constructed during the year totalled 19 miles 52 chains, bringing to total-to date to 569 miles 13 chains. nA unusually l|arge amount of ditch improvement was carried out, and with few exceptions the drainage 'ditches throughout the whole area are in very good condition. Drains cleaned by day labpur total 82 miles 16 chains, and by contract 149 miles 60 chains. Drains widened and deepened total 57 miles 27 chains. Nine miles of stop-banks have been improved, and 19 milesi 52 chains of new drains have been dug. WHARVES. “Minor repairs were carried out to wharves. and • bridges. Two small hardwood bridges were constructed. The departenmt has maintained in good order its 15 wharves' on the Piako River and one at Waitakar.uru. . These wharves are used free of charge by the settlers and general public, and it now appears, time to take into consideration tile, imposition of dues for all’ cargo shifted, and storage charges for goods left in the department’s sheds. ' SURVEYS. “Engineering surveys carried out duirng the year involved 19 miles of traverse and 84' miles of levels- Full use was made of the opportunities, afforded for gauging flood flow and. collecting and recording hydraulic data. “The survey commenced last year tor the purpose of determining the topography, soil characteristics., and possibilities for reclamation of an area c-f- about 35,000 acres was continued this summer and is nearing completion. The general work consisted of running base-line levels-and lines.of levels 40 chains apart'across the area from east to west and determining the depth of peat and sub-soil conditions by boring at ten-chain intervals along these lines. Levels totalling 151 miles and 1420 borings, varying in depth to 30ft have been completed to the present time, and 30 miles of levels and 536 borings hiive been carried out during .the year. FLAX LEASES. i “During the - year an area pf 879 acres was, opened up for (lax culture. ' Thifi is. in the nature of' an experiment, and will be watched with the Cheeriest interest. I am hopeful that the results of the flax cultivation will come up <o. expectations. The flax revenue' received during the year amounted to £239 7s 9d. ' GENERAL.“As stated in last year’s report, it “w,as decided to delay opening further ' areas until the land had had time to I consolidate. As a conse- , quence no land was opened during i the year. The total area handed over i (including permanent reserves) js -13,91)4 acres. • “No artepian bores were put down ■during the year. The total area under • temporary .. grazing tenancy is ■-5437 acres, divided into live holdings, the annual rent amounting to £242 18s- The total expenditure for the ’year was £78,917. Of this day labour /••amounted to £38,817, contracts £13,- ' 013, and hire of teams £1453. ' FUTURE PROPOSALS. “The works in hand will be continued. They are principally Piako i River improvements and stop-banks, Awaiti Canal construction, Waitoa River improvements, and also reading and subsidiary drainage.”