HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5129, 23 May 1927, Page 3

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

B*- MEETING OF UNITED BOARD,

businbss dealt with.

The Hauraki United Drainage Board held its second monthly meeting at Tuma on Friday last. Mr S. S. Murray presiding over Messrs Miller, H. H. Hicks, F. L. Hamilton, J. W. Thompson, W. McDuff, F. A. Kneebone, and’w. E. G. Willy and J. E. Green (acting clerks). FINANCE. The Minister of Internal Affairs wrote authorising the board to obtain an overdraft up to £2OOO. The Bank of New Zealand, Thames, advised that an overdraft of £2OOO had been approved by the head office. In regard to the sale of £4OOO worth of debentures for the Horahia Drainage Loan, 1926, the bank could not take steps to sell in the meantime until the matter ‘had been discussed with the Government Department concerned. SUBSIDY. The acting chief drainage engineer, Auckland, Mr R. G. McMorran, forwarded a voucher for £l5OO, being a subsidy at the rate of £1 for £3 on part of the Horahia Drainage Board’s loan. He pointed out that £427 9s 5d was due to the Lands Department by the late Horahia Board, being proportion of the cost of the stop-bank-ing work now being done on the Piako River, cost of survey, etc., in connection wtih the improvements and extension of the drain on the south boundary of the Orongo settlement, and contribution towards the cost of a new flood-gate at the Ngatea bridge. It was not desired to deduct the amount from the subsidy;, and th% voucher would be certified in full if an assurance was given that the £427 9s 5d would be paid as soon as the subsidy came to hand. In order that claims for Government grants and subsidies might be placed on a better footing it was necessary that detailed proposals, with chainage, quantity sheets and specifications in a form suitable for inviting tenders, should be- submitted and approval obtained before the work was commenced. On the motion of Mr Hicks the assurance asked for was given. HORAHIA BOARD’S LOAN. The Prime Minister wrote acknowledging receipt • of the request for amending legislation to overcome the position arising from the amalgamation of the Horahia and Hauraki drainage districts, and in particular to the authority of the United Board to raise certain loans which the now extinct Horahia Board was empowered to raise, and said that the matter would be looked into immediately.

TE KAURI GRANT.

The Department of Lands and Survey, Auckland, wrote advising that approximately £3B of vote 63, item 19 (£ for £), £250, had been expended on improving the Te Kauri No. 2 drain, and the balance was to be expended on improving outlets to the Waihou River ip the vicinity. Members contended that the vote was a. free grant, and it was decided to communicate with the Hon. A. D. McLeod on the subject. WINDING-UP OF BOARD. The board’s solicitor, Mr E. L. Walton, reported that he had taken over the books, accounts, and papers of the Hauraki. Board, as instructed. He had not yet had an opportunity of taking over the effects. The papers, etc. were given into the charge of the chairman for safe custody until a Clerk took up duties. The balance-sheet of the Hauraki Board at March'3l, 1927, subject to audit, as writtten up in the cashbook,’ showed assets totalling £1716 9s Id, being cash in hand £lO6 Is sd, outstanding rates £lO9B 7s Bdi, cheque overpaid £4, safe, chairs, and boat £2O, and Government subsidy £4BB. The liabilities totalled £ll9O 8s 10d, being bank overdraft £7OO 9s 9d, outstanding cheques £233 19s Id;, and sundry creditors estimated at £256. The excess of assets over liabilities was £526 Os 3d. PROPOSED LOAN WORK. The Department of Lands, Auckland, wrote approving the. proposal to instal two 4ft flood-gates near the mouth of the Thames Valley drain and advising that a claim could be forwarded on completion of the work, which would be chargeable to vote 63, item 13 (£1 for £2), £1250, in the 192627 Public Works appropriations. Mr E. Taylor lands engineer, Kerepeehi, would inspect the work. It was presumed that the lowest tender .would be accepted if in

order. With reference to the request for the hire of a dredge for enlarging the drain leading to the flood-gate, the only machine available .was a Michi-gan-Walker, which was now at Paeroa, and had been under hire to the Public Works Department. This machine, although its use was not recommended for the desired work, could be made available immediately at the same daily rate as hired to the Public Works Department, namely, 7s 6d, the board to pay all expenses. The chairman said that, together with Mr Willy, he had interviewed Mr Taylor, who had stated that he would not recommend the use of this machine as it was quite unsuitable for making other than straight-sided drains. He had then inspected the work of the dredge 1 , and had concluded that it would be unsuitable. Mr Taylor had pointed out that there was ample labour available at present, and the work could probably be done fairly cheaply by hand. The chairman also reported that he had been approached by the tenderer who had been let the contract to construct the flood-gate on the Thames Valley outlet. The tender'had been let six weeks when there was a reasonable chance of having the work done in fine weather but the commencement of the work had been delayed by the board until the wet weather. Under the circumstances pumping would be necessary, and the contractor desired additional payment. He had therefore agreed that the contract price be advnnceed by £2O, which would not bring the tender up to the next one.

The- board approved of the chairman’s action. The chairman and Mr Hamilton were deputed to interview' Mr A. J. Heaseman in reference to his demands concerning the work on his land. PUMPING LOAN PROPOSAL. In reply to Mr Willy, Mr E. 1.. Walton the board’s solicitor, who was present by request, stated that an application had been made to have the proposed pumping loan for ths Ngatea-Kerepeehi district exempted from the provisions of the Local Government’s Loan Act, of last session. The reply w'as to the effect that exemption was only granted in cases where the poll had been taken at the time of the coming into operation of the Local Authorities’ Loans’ Board. In view of this board’s regulations, and the fact that the-Minister of Public Works had declined to subsidise the loan works, Mr Walton expressed the opinion that the loan w'ould not be sanctioned. It was decided that Messrs. Thompson and McDuff ascertain the views of the settlers concerned as to going on with the matter. CLASSIFIER. The formal resolution appointing Mr W. E. G. Willy to examine, report, and classify the land in the board’s district was carried, and the chairman and Mr Miller were authorised to sign the warrant. The classifier’s report must be submitted within 30 days of May 20th 1927. TENDERS! Two tenders were- received for. the supply and installation of fluming in Miller’s, Shellbank Drain, and Kneebone’s outlets. Members commented that it would be better to have the work done during the summer time; It was agreed that the wmrk on Miller’s outlet could not economically be delayed ’ As one tender was irregular it was decided to call fresh tenders for either or all of the w r orks. ACCOUNTS'. The-payment of accounts totalling £67 3s 7d since the last meeting was approved, and accounts totalling £527 12s were, passed for payment. PRICE’S OUTLET. On the motion of Mr J. M. Thompson, it was decided to serve notice on T. Castles that unless his contract was completed within 14 days the board would complete the work at his expenseMULES’ DRAIN. A. Tookey, Orongo Road, wrote, drawing attention to the state of Mules’ outlet drain, which he contended was of inadequate size. He suggested that it be widened by taking four feet from one side for about twenty chains, and the whole drain cleared. Mr J. E. Green explained the system of drains in the district concerned, and the board decided to inspect the aera before reaching a decision. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. Twenty-one applications for the position of clerk and treasurer to the' board, for which a. salary of £3 10s a week was offered, were received. The number was reduced to three 1 , who will be interviewed by a committee of the board. For the position of foreman of the works at a wage of £6 a week, provided with a motor vehicle, there were fourteen applications, and after consideration in committee the board appointed Mr E. Flavell, of Ngatea, to the position.