PLAINS WEST AREA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4888, 9 October 1925, Page 2

PLAINS WEST AREA.

PROPOSED DRAINAGE DISTRICT. NEGOTIATIONS PROCEEDING. Little liais been heard for some time ’of the proposal to have the area between the Piako River and Pouarua Road constituted a drainage area under the Land Drainage Act, aud thereby shift the control from the Lands Drainage Department to a drainage board, but the committee set up by the settlers still., has the matter in hand.

Some months ago an inspection of the are.a was made, and a list of works that would have to be done by the department before the settlers would consider taking over the control ,was formulated. These requests were placed before the Chief Drainage Engineer, Mr O. N. Campbell, who promised consideration after a report had been received from the local drainage engineer.

The investigations having been concluded, a conference was held at Nsratea on Wednesday between the drainage engineer (Mr E. Taylor) and Messrs A. H. McClean, A. Cleaver, C. Parfitt, J. Motion, and T. McClean, the committee. Details of the work done by the department in the area since the requests were formulated were given by Mr Taylor, and the cost of the other works was discussed. The works done include the completion of the stop-bank from Waitakaruru esatward and the laying back of the batter of the Pipiroa Road northside drain for 70 chains. Works in hand include improvements to the roadside drain from D.alge.ty’s corner to French’s outlet, the outlet from the Centre drain to the river, and the deepening of the Pipiroa roadside drain to the Apple-tree outlet. The whole matter was discussed in detail, and it was, agreed that when the Drainage Department had stated what money would be available for expenditure, and had given an assurance that it would be spent, a meeting of settlers would be called to discuss whether a ■'drainage district should be constituted or whether the area should remain under .the Lands Department.