PUMPING DRAIN WATER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5017, 23 August 1926, Page 4

PUMPING DRAIN WATER.

HORAHIA BOARD’S AREA.

GENERAL USE DISCUSSED.

Following o>n the success o£ the electrically driven pump on the Puhanga island the Horahia, Drainage Board at its meeting on Thursday briefly discussed the general .application of similar pumps on all its outlet drains- south of the Ngatea bridge. A letter - was received froim Mr W. Lawrence on behalf of the settlers of Orchard East Road pointing out a grievance in regard to the new drain recently constucted between the properties of Messrs Louch and. McDuff. Despite the representations d£ the settlers the drain had been made in its present position rathqr than in the higher land further south, and as low land-was traversed it had to be stopbanked. For the last ten days the river had been too high to alloxv the flood-gates to operate to any extent; consequently the; drain had bee practically bank high most of the time, and, the drain, being higher than the surrounding land, there was, considerable soakage, causing excessive wetness. As the drain was connected to all the back drains, the settlers concerned were of opinion that pumping would be the only solution.

Messrs, W. G. Hayward, W. Lawrence, and H. F. Louch waited upon the board on this and other matters. Mr Hayward pointed out that at floodtime the flood-gate only operated ip l an hour or so a tide, and thus- the drain was merely a sump from which the water percolated on to> the farm lands.

The chairman, Mr F. Kheebohe, said that it certainly appeared as if the southern area would have to raise money for the installation pE pumps. This, appeared to be the only solution, ■and the position would become steadily worse as the drainage operation--iii the upper parts of the. watershed were continued.

. This was endorsed by the other •members of the board, and it was stated that a pump would be necessary on every outlet south of the bridge. A pump on Price’s outlet was very necessary. The question was. one ojO finance, but it would -receive the careful consideration of the board. Mr McLeod the T.hamtes Valley Power Board’s engineer, was going into the proposition very thoroughly, and his report should prove vegy interesting-

agreed that the matter required thorough investigation by a competent engineer, for ft the board had pumps installed it would require the most efficient lay-out. By the next meeting Mr McLeod’s report would be available, and the 'results achieved by the several pumps which would then be in operation would be available,. LARGER DRAINS NEEDED. On behalf of the settlers concerned in the pump now being installed at the mouth of the Orchard East roadside; drain near the Ngatea bridge Mr Lawrence asked that the drain, be enlarged to enable the maximum benefit to be derived from the settlers’ .pump.

Speaking on this matter Mr' /W. G. Hayward sa,id that about 70 chains of deepening was required. If the spoil was put on. the farm side df the drain it would form a useful stop-bank. Only about a spit was required, and the work could possibly be done next we,ek, when the pump would be in operation and the water level thereby

reduced. Members s.aid that the question of finance governed the situation. As there jvas a, considerable quantity of silt in the drain this might possibly be washed out when the pump was in ■operation. It would therefore, be advisable to defer .action until the' next meeting. This was agreed to.