HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5168, 22 August 1927, Page 4

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

UNITED BOARD’S MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Hauraki United Drainage Board was held at Turua on Friday, Mr S. S. Murray presiding over Messrs. W. McDuff, F. A. Kneebone, J. C. Miller, H. Hicks; F. L. Hamilton. The clerk, Mr Wallace, was also in attendance. LOAN AUTHORITY. The Minister of Lands apd Mr ledging, and promising of the board's request for special legislation, enabling the United Board to utilise the Hauraki and Horahia Boards’ loan authorities'.

The Minister of Lands and Mr Rhodes, M-P-. wrote promising their support in the- same matter.

The Minister of Internal Affairs wrote on the same subject, seeking further information. With reference to the alternative method of securing a ruling as to the title of the debentures by means of a Supreme Court ruling, the Bank of New Zealand wrote advising that if a copy of the originating summons was forwarded useful suggestions for expediting the matter might be made. The bank would accept the Supreme Court’s ruling, and if it was decided that the; board’s title to the £4OOO Horahia Dra.inage Board debentures was in order it would favourably consider further advances, on the security of the debentures of £4OOO, and on those of £5500 when issued. A further lettter from the bank asked the board to guarantee the costs of the bank’s solicitor at the Supreme Court hearing. After a long and involved explanation by the chairman and clerk the board decided to guarantee up to £l5 costs. THE COMPENSATION CLAIM. The board's solicitor, Mr E. L. Walton, advised that the Compensation Court had decided the claim by Scott in favour of the board. The, Court ordered each side to pay its own costs. DRAIN WATER PUMPS. The board’s engineer, Mr J. N. Anderson, Pukekohe, wrote advising that he was endeavouring to secure Information concerning the use of drain wa.ter pumps as used on the Ake Ake swamp. TE KAURI OUTLET. i The lands drainage engineer wrote approving of the plans and specifications for the Te Kauri No. 1 outlet am] asking for plans of .the bridges-, and quantity sheets showing the amount of excavation necessary. In regard to the subsidy, an effort would be made to preserve the £1250 of vote 63, item 13, of last year for the work. The board’s engineer forwarded the schedule of quantities and the plans of the bridges. The Minister of Lands advised that the question of making a. free grant of £250 for the Te Kauri outlet in lieu of the £ for £ subsidy was being considered with the Public Works Estimates for the current year. The foreman reported that the contractor would complete the erection of the flood-gate in about a week’s time. BANK OVERDRAFT. The Bank of New Zealand advised that the board’s, overdraft limit had been extended to £3OOO. FINANCE. The clerk reported .that since the previous meeting the rates collected from the old Horahia area totalled £8 18s 9d, and from the Hauraki area £54 9s 2d. The bank overdraft stood at £2095 12s Id. Accounts totalling £176 3s 10d were passed for payment. PIAKO STOP-BANK. The lands drainage engineer forwarded for the board’s information an agreement signed by James Bros, in connection with the widening of the stop-bank on the eastern side of the Piako River between Ngatea and Kerepeehi. The foreman reported that the gap in the stop-bank which James had been notified to close immediately had not been given attention, nor had the I 3in pipe been plugged. The clerk was instructed to forward the agreement to the board’s solicitor for his report, and for his comments on the ownership of stopbanks generally. DRAGGING WEEDS. A plea for-the dragging of weeds out of drains at the present time was made by Mr Hicks, who contended that it was very to have an unrestricted flow in all outlets during the wet weather. j The foreman was; instructed to use : his discretion in the matter. PRICE’S' DRAIN. j The foreman reported that slips oc- ; curred so frequently in Price’s outlet , that a gang was continuously em- 1 ployed and yet could not keep the channel open. Mr J. C. Miller voiced the opinion ' that this drain was the big mistake of the board. It would have been : bettor to have abandoned the old j drain and provide an outlet some- j whe‘re else. i This view was not opposed by other < members, although the opinion was i expressed that less slipping would oe- , cur iii the future, when the banks con- ■■ solidated. S PEKAPEKA ROAD PIPES. The matter of attention to the , pipes across Pekapeka Roadi wasbrought up by Mr Hicks, who mem tinned that the work should be done before the road was metalled. Mr Kneebone mentioned that the Public Works Department was doing work in the locality which might affect the position. It would be desir- i able to investigate the position. This course was decided upon. CONTROL OF DRAIN.

John Whitmore wrote asking if t,fie board had abandoned the Kercpe< jhiKopuarahi roadside drain along his frontage, If not, he wanted to k;now wliy it had not been cleaned, a nd if the board would refund hiirj the amount he had paid for clean Ing it. The writer stated that if the . drain was to be abandoned be wou’jfl have to assume control, and he wm jld block it at the- Piako corner to pr event the water coming up from the shellbank drain. The drain he refe- to waa

necessary for the Piako Road settlers, and should not be abandoned. The chairman said that about 12 months ago the board had suggested abandoning the drain, but nothing had been done. It had been cleaned.

Messrs Kneebone and Miller advocated keeping the drain and cleaning it regularly, as it would prove a good safety valve in the event of anything happening to the Shellbank outlet. It was pointed out .that if the dra.in was, to be maintained Mr Whitmore should be refunded the amount h e had expended on cleaning it recentlyOpinions were voiced that the drain should under no circumstances be blocked by the board, nor should Mr Whitmore be allowed to block it. The, chairman pointed out .that, the board’s revenue did not permit it to continue maintaining all the drains in its area. He was, of, opinion that this drain could be abandoned, but it should not be blocked. The matter could be deferred and observations mades.

It was decided that as the drain was a safety valve it would probably be cleaned every second year, or as, the occasion demanded. CARE OF FLOOD-GATES. Russell Green Kopuarahi, advised that he would attend to the Shelly Beach flood-gate during the winter and spring for 30s. OFFICE FOR CLERK. The chairman reported that the office suggested for use by the board was not satisfactory, and the committee had decided that the present quarters" could be made suitable. This was agreed to, and the installation of a telephone was, authorised. REPAIRS TO FLOOD-GATE. Messrs J. McCormick and J- Spencer waited upon the board with a request that it effect repairs to the bank at the side of the flood-gate at their boundary before the damage extended, as it would do very rapidly unless given attention at once. The board authorised an expenditure of 325, which the deputation considered sufficient. THAMES VALLEY FLOOD-GATE. . Attention, to the flood-gate on the Thames Valley outlet, costing about 30s at the outside, was advocated by Mr Hamilton, who pointed out that slight attention to the 'hinges was (necessary. The work w’as authorised. FOREMAN’S REPORT. The foreman, Mr E. Flavell, reported that the following works had been completed : Fences on Mrs Irwin’s and Rangi’si sections, on Price’s drain, and sections 5 and 6, Orchard East Road. Drain graded at Kopuaraihi from tennis court to boundary of Death’s and James’ section. New gato hung at Kopuarahi wharf. Stop-bank built on Me Watters’ and McKerchar’s property. Weeds dragged from Jubilee drain to Hicks’ boundary. Three extra pipes, put in at Henry-Trought.on culvert. Intake at Handley’s flood-gate made bigger. Small repairs to Carter’s Corner gate. Slips removed from the following drains : Willow, Ziz-zag, Loader-Greenway, Te Kauri No. 2, Orchard East roadside, Price’s, Hora■hia roadside, Kneebone’s outlet, Miller’s continuation, No. IA, Towers outlet, Piako roadside, and Carter’s corner.

After the report had been discussed Mr Hamilton observed that the forer ; man deserved to be congratulated on the work done during the month. Tho position was very satisfactory.