DRAINAGE PROBLEMS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5038, 11 October 1926, Page 1

DRAINAGE PROBLEMS.

PLIGHT OF AWAITI SETTLERS.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. A large deputation of Awaiti Crown land settlers waited on the Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works, on Thursday last, in connection with drainage matters. The settlers were introduced to'the Minister by Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., and the gathering took place at the junction of Wilson’s Road and the main Notheiton-Awaiti road.

In outining the case for the settlers Mr Samuel said that through the placing of certain blocks in the Awaiti West drain by order .of the Elstow Drainage Board the water had been thrown on to the Crown settlers’ land, causing considerable damage, and immediate relief was sought. The drainage rates in that particular area amounted to 3.67 d in the £, and the approximate value of the sections was about £l5 to £l6 an acre. Settlers, in the H drain area, which practically adjoined, were not required to pay a drainage 'rate, or to contribute towards the first roading rates. The H drain could not deal with all the water, much of which flowed into the lake and out into the Awaiti stream, providing the drains were functioning. What was necessary was the enlarging of the main Awaiti drain from the mouth at the Waihou River up to the Awaiti West road, a distance of about one and a half miles, and the removal of the blocks in the Awaiti drains.

On behalf of the settlers. Mr B. Halligan said it was considered that the flood-gate in course of erection at Netherton was not nearly big enough, and he asked that it be increased by a further two barrels,.

Mr S. J. Laughlin supported the request, and said that in the first place the drain had been put through by the Lands Department as a temporary measure. It w.as very desirable that the size of the main drain should be increased. In flood time the river ran from 3ft to 9ft higher than the drain. If the size, of the drain was increased it would tend to s,tablise the water and keep it confined until such times as it could get into the river. REPLY IF MINISTER. The Minister said that he would go carefully into the matter. It was obvious, that the water had to be got off the farms as quickly as possible, but the difficulty was to know how. Few people realised the frequent deluges in New Zealand which did not occur when the land was in its normal state. It was desirable to make provision accordingly. He promised to try and ferret out the matter and see where his department stood with the Lands Department, and he would do what he could to give relief.