AWAITI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5090, 18 February 1927, Page 2

AWAITI DRAINAGE.

CONFERENCE WITH SETTLERS. SATISFACTORY SCHEME MOOTED. The conference ordered by the Minister of Public Works when in Netherton some time ago to inquire into matters concerning the drainage of the Awaiti district, was held in the County Chambers. Paeroa, on Wednesday afternoon. The Public Works Department was represented by Messrs L. B. district engineer, and O. G. resident engineer, Paeroa,; and the Lands Drainage Devartmeiit was represented by Messrs O. N. Campbell, chief engineer, and Mr E. Taylor, drainage engineer in charge of the Hauraki Plains works. Tne settlers and drainage boards were represented by Messrs E. Jamieson, H. E. Hill, T. Vowles, R. Adam, F. T. V. Johnson, T. Considine, M. A. Carter, and R. A. Wiggins. The conference was quite an informal one, and by the- request of the chief engineers the Press was not admitted, as it was thought that with a reporter present the settlers might not 'feel entirely free to discuss all aspects, and the engineers, who had no power to commit their respective departments, would have to be guarded in their statements. However, the following report has been supplied for publication: “A proposed scheme of works was submitted by the engineers, involving the capital expenditure cf £7OOO necessary to bring the district into a state of efficient drainage, the sum to be expended mainly on the Netherton main drain and Drain H. Stress was laid on the absolute necessity for the formation of a drainage board t° control the Awaiti, Netherton and Drain H areas in order that this sum could be expended and the drainage maintenance assured. The proposals were discussed at length, and the ■meeting was agreed that they would undoubtedly serve th© purpose intended. No definite policy in regard to ways and means of raising the necessary finance was arrived at, and the meeting concluded pending the submission of the engineers’ reports to their respective Ministers.”