MORE DRAINAGE DESIRED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5003, 21 July 1926, Page 3

MORE DRAINAGE DESIRED

central plains area. meeting of settlers. Consequent upon the flooding during a recent week-end due to the extraordinary high tide overflowing the land and taxing the outlets to their utmost so that the storm-water due to the abnormal rairffall of 3% inches in 48 hours could not get away, a meeting of settlers of the Orchard East and Huirau Road districts was held at the Huirau Road factory on Friday morning last for the purpose of discussing the advisability of securing additional drainage facilities tb cope with abnormal circumstances. There were about 25 settlers present, and Mr P. R. Henry was appointed chairman, The Horahia Drainage Board was represented by Messrs F,, A, Kneebone (chairman), R.. L, Davies, S. S, Murray, J, C, Miller, and W, E, G. Willy ( cle '" k )’ and the H,auraki Board by Messrs G, Gray (chairman), D. G, McMillan, R. H, Heappey, and J, E, Green (clerk). Mr D. G, McMillan explained that the. meeting had been called to discuss further and better drainage 'for the district. What had gone before was gone and dead, and he hoped that this wbuld be realised so that the position could be discussed impartial-, ly and some finality could be reached. He hoped that both boards and all ratepayers would sink their differences. The Hauraki Board had expended all its loan money, but the Horahia Board wajs only just commencing. He would like to hear what its proposals were in regard to the Te Kauri and the Central areas. Some improved drainage was necessary, and he was sure the settlers would agree to a special rating area to. raise a loan to provide sufficient drainage to deal with abnormal rainfall and conditions. The flood had made all sections wondrous, kind, and the time was ripe to get something done. He suggested that a committee be appointed to define a rating area and evolve a scheme for. subdivision to a later meeting. The main outlines of the scheme ■would undoubtedly be discussed at the present meeting. Concluding, he expressed the hope that differences, would be forgotten for the common weal. Mr Heappey (Hauraki Board) said that his board would assist the ratepayers if they were prepared to find the money. The flood had been caused by the -heavy raidfall coming oh top of an exceptional tide, and no matter how. many drains there were, little couid'be done except get the water away quickly in such circumstances. Mr S. Bagnall agreed, but pointed out that a new drain was necessary to deal with the basin between Huirau and Wharepoa roads,.

Mr F. L, Hamilton considered that a big scheme was necessary, and it shb'uld be put in hand immediately. Mr P. R, Henry gave it as his opinion that it was not possible to construct a sufficient drain by hand labour. He : suggested that the two boards should co-operate and have a canal 40 or ’5O feet wide made by a dredge from the Waihou River to the wide area between Ngatea and Huirau Point. •

Mr A. Sutton disagreed with this, and submitted -that improved floodgates and larger stop-banks woitfl prove the solution. He understood that the. Government proposed stopbanking the river to Huirau Point. Mr G. Gray (Hauraki Board) said that the area concerned was from the Willow drain to Wharepoa Road. He agreed with' Mr Sutton in regard to the smallness of the flood-gates, but submitted that more and larger <Aitlets were als.o necessary. The Te Kauri, Thames Valley, and Willow outlets had proved insufficient .during the previous week-end. They wege too long and too small. There was merit in the' canal suggestion. > Mr W. Madgwick said that to him the key to the position was the stopbanking. This required co-operation between the riverbank areas and the back areas.

This brought up the question of amalgamation of the two boards. Mr D. G, McMillan said that his idea of the rating area was 'from the Willow drain to. Wharepoa Road. Money would be set aside for the stop-banking if it was found that the work was not going to be done by the Government under the Rivers Improvement scheme. Mr J. E. Green said that if the special rating area was the Hauraki Board’s central and Te Kauri areas the rate would be l-6d in the £ for every £lOOO of capital expenditure. Mr McMillan said that a 10s, in the £ subsidy might be obtained. Mr W. E, G, Willy said that a £ for £ subsidy had been applied ‘for on £6OOO of the Horahia Board’s loan, but sb far no promise had been received.

Mr F. L, Hamilton said that. Mr Green’s figures of the rate should not frighten farmers when they considered what they had to pay for grazing. Mr P. R, Henry thought that the area should extend beyond the Te Kauri and Central districts, as, the benefit would extend far beyond.

Mr R, L. Davies supported the canal suggestion. Mr P, R, Henry said his idea of the route' Of the canal was from the Waihou River at the mouth of the new drain through Taipara’s, right through the low-lying area midway between the two rivers to Pekapeka Road.

Mr McMillan asked for an expression of opinion frOm the Horahia Board.

Mr F. A, KneebonO said that the Horahia, Board’s new drains averaged 17ft top, and when completed wOuld undoubtedly give much relief. The board was. agreeable to coi-operating with any reasonable suggestion made by the Hauraki Board. Mr P. R, Henry pointed Out that a canal would /function for a much longer period than would drains emptying into rivers which were backed up by the tide for long periods so that the flbod-gates could not opperate.

Mr J. C, Miller said that the nCw drains the Horahia. Board was having

[ constructed to the Piako River and the new drains and improvements to existing drains to the Waihou' River would give much relief, but perhaps not sufficient to meet abnormal requirements such as were being experienced at the present time. The works were not yet completed and no benefit was yet felt, but there was nd doubt whatever that the relief would be very general and far-reach-ing. Since .the scheme had been designed and the flood had come, the need for enlarging the No. 1 Te Kauri drain ha.d become apparejnt. Mr W. Madgwick said that the Horahia Board’s scheme was undoubtedly sound, comprehensive, and 'efficient, but the weak point was the inefficiency di the Piako River as, an outlet when compared with the Waihoai River. Mr G. Gray spoke in favour of the ca.nal, and said that it could very , v,;ell be taken through Orongo. The cost of the canal if done by a dredge' would be about 4'd per cubic yard, as compared with Is per yard for hand work in drains. The proposal appealed to him as much less costly than the many drains. A dredge could be hired. Mr P, R, Henry said tha,t if the money was available the Lands Department or the Public Works Department would undertake the work. A shallow canal Was, desirable, and a . machine could also be secured to do the cleaning. Mr D. G, McMillan cclmmende'd the idea, of the canal, but pointed out that it would take two years to get the work done* whereas in his opinion the settlers, could not wait that long. What was necessary was some scheme that would give immediate relidf.

Mr Henry considered that the canal should not take any longer to get under way than a, scheme of handmade drain?.

Mr Heappey pointed out that the canal wouldi-not give such great relief as was anticipated, as at high tide the sea level was higher than the ground level. Mr Kneebone advocated the construction of drains as in the past, and to defer the canal question in the meantime.

To reach some finality Mr D. G. McMillan moved that a strong committee be set up to go into the whole matter and report on facts-and costs to a further memeting as soon as, possible;

Mr A, H, Sutton seconded. Mr G, Gray asked for information as to where the easements were necessary.

Mr D, G. McMillan submitted that his resolution should be put to the meeting, and if carried, the meeting could, and should, then discuss the work necessary. The motion was then put a,nd carried unanimously. Mr McMillan asked whether the meeting considered one new outlet would be sufficient, and from all over the room there were cries df “no.” Discussion then ensued on the amount of money the Horahia Board proposed, spending in the Hauraki Board, and the past difficulties between the two boards until Mr McMilla.n pleaded to let bygones be bygones.

Mr Madgwick suggested that the committee be the two' drainage board chairmen, the members olf the boards representing the areas affected, and three outsiders.

Mr He'nry suggested that the committee sit first as a commission tb hear evidence from the settlers desiring relief, and then bring down proposals.

Mr Gray thought that the committee should" hot include members of drainage boards. Both boards were out tb.do their best for the settlers, but in his opinion it would be; more successful if the committee comprised other met.

This, was opposed by Mr Madgwick and, supported by Mr McMillan, who moved that a committee of five be appointed at once. Mr j; Newman seconded.

Mr F, L, Hamilton said that the Orchard East settlers had defined the relief they desired, and had submitted the mattei' to the Horahia Board. He was of opinion that the two boards should get together and consider .this.

Mr Willy apologised tor bringing up past history in pointing out that the Hauraki Board had refused to permit the Horahia, Board to make new drains, through the Hauraki area.

Mr Gray said that the opinion of his board had been changed by the flood.

The motion to up the committee'was put and carried. The committee nominated comprised Messrs A. Chatfield, W. McKeb, A, Sutton, F, L, Hamilton, J. C, Miller (junr.), J, Hamilton, and' J. Newma ; n, and it was "agreed that the number be seven instead ofc five members. The meeting then closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.