HORAHIA DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4954, 22 March 1926, Page 4

HORAHIA DRAINAGE.

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING. ! ;ie regular meeting of the Horahia Drainage Board was heal at the chairman’s residence, Mr F. R. Kneebone presiding over Mejssrs S. S. Murray, W. E. Hale, J. C. Miller, R. L, Davies, J. M. Thompson, W. McDuff, and the clerk, Mr W. E'. G. Willy.' DUAL DRAINS. The Hauraki Drainage Board forwarded a lisit of the tenders received for the cleaning of dual drains. With one exception the acceptance of the 'lowest tenders was recommended, The recommendations were adopted. The Hauraki Drainage 1 Board forwarded an account for installing a new wooden gate in the Wharepoa Road outlet and Piako Road drain ; also for taking out eld pipes, and replacing .the culvert at Wharepoa Road with 4ft pipes, as arranged.

In reply to the request that the Hauraki Board pay half the cost o' putting a new gate at the Willow Drain, that board was quite prepared to do this, but, could only estimate the cost of same at approximately £l2, and would, on hearing from tne Horahia Board, put the .work in hand on the suggested basis. LOAN SCHEME.

Mr J. N. Anderson, the board’s engineer, forwarded the plans tor Johnston’s Willow, McDuff-Lough, HudsonChristie, Shellbank, and Taipara’s drains, and Miller’s, outlet and Kneebone’s outlet.

The State Advances Office advised that owing to the demands made on i'tis' resources it v/asi not at present in a position to entertain any application for loans from local bodies.

The State Fire and Accident Insurance Company also ■ advised that it had no' funds available. It was decided that £lO,OOO of the board’s, loan, which in future would be known as the Horahia Drainage Board’s 1926 loan, be hypothecated, and that £5OOO be taken up in the first year and £4OOO in the second year, but if the debentures are sold in the meantime the wole £5OOO be taken up in the second year. , After much discussion on technical details it was decided to call tenders for the Willow Drain extension and file McDuff-Louch drains, the work to be completed by July 31. A separate tender will be called for the placing of a culvert under the KerepeehiWharepoa road on the McDuff-Louch drain, and the chairman, Mr McDuff, and the clerk were authorised to deal with the tenders- • In connection, with the fencing it was decided that where there was, a sound fence in existence tire contractor would have to repla.co it, and where theic was anl indifferent fence the contractors, would- erect a sound fence if the landowner provided the required materials, but if the landowner refused to provide these materials nothing would be done. The compulsory clauses of the Fencing Act could be brought into effect if necessary. The action of the chairman and Mr Miller in -letting a contract for the construction of .the Shelly Beaich floodgate was approved. JUBILEES DRAIN. . Mr H. H. Hicks waited on the board on behal’f of Mr Kcrnick and himself with the request that the extension of .the Jubilee Drain be included in the board’s comprehensive scheme, The work had been done- by the settiers but had they not done, it the board would have had to undertake the- work. There wais- no question that -the area had been in- a very great need of an outlet. The matter had been the subject of much negotiation with 'the Hauraki Drainage Board, and the deputation; hoped that the negotiations would be continued in an amicable manner. On Mr Hicks proceeding to explain the negotiations with the Hauraki Board it, was agreed to take the matter in committee. On resuming open meeting it was decided to favouraji’iy consider assistance in the maint'enance of the outlet drain to Mr Hicks’ boundary. KAIPAPAKA OUTLET. A firm df solicitors, wrote on behalf of Mr E. Taipara consenting to the board’s proposal to run a drain through his. property?on certain conditions; Compensation would-be claim-/ ed for the land taken. The cha.irman and Mr Murray were authorised to confer with the landowner, and .the three members, of the Northern Area, were authorised to deal with the tenders; for the floodgate, provided satisfactory arrangements were made with the landowner.

, VALUATION.

The Valuation Department advised that the valuation roll atfpresent in use would be superceded by a new roll as 'from Marcli 31. The clerk was authorised to purchase a copy. PIAKO ROAD SECTION. In reply to the board’s to purchase section 24, block IL, Waihou Survey District, for £l2O on terms, the Lands Department advised that there was no statutory authority l ' to. grant land for public purposes on a. deferred payment basis, but in view of the board’s limited income the Commissioner was endeavouring to ascertain whether the necessary authority could be obtained. In the event of this being possible it would be necessary to obtain from the board particulars o¥ the period of time required. HAMILTON’S! ROAD. The Hauraki Plains County Council advised that the question of providing outlets from the water-table to the roadside along Hamilton’s Road had been referred to its engineer for a report. FENCING OF DRAINS. The Hauraki Drainage Board wrote asking if the board, would be prepared to pay a half cost of the wire for a three-,wire fence on approximately 115 chains of No. 2 Te Kauri outlet drain on the Haurajd Board paying the other half cost of the wire and the settlers finding the posts and strainers. Each board would pay half tjie cost oft erection. The matter was referred .to Messrs Thompson and Davies to confer 1 with the member of the other board and report to the next meeting. rates; The clerk asked whether he should proceed to give notice of intention to istrike next season’s rates. To get the rates in at the usuaj time it was, necessary to take the formal steps immediately. On the motion of Mr Hale the.clerk was authorised to advertise the striking of .the same rate as- for the previous year. It was, pointed out .that under the new valuation the totaj amount would be -much less than previously. The rates at present outstanding were: Northern Area, £lO 10s iOd, or .6 per cent.; Central Area, £l3O 3s lOd, or 3 per cei t.; and Southern Area, £137 7s 2d, or* 14 per cent. 11l addition to tills native rates amounting to £B9 10‘s- lOd were outstanding, bringing the' to.tal to 10 per cent, of the rate struck. ■ Instructions were given to take legal proceedings to collect aU outstanding rates. WILLOW DRAIN. The Chief Drainage Engineer, Audi-, land, wrote advising that the cost of the improvements, being carried out in the, Willow drain would be charged against the £150 ! .(£ for £) subsidy. ; ACCOUNTS. Accounts, totalling £l4'l Is 8d were passed tor payment. Included Was £l5 2s 6d, being .tjhe board’s half, share oft the cost of the culverts at the. Wharepoa ferry corner.