HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5253, 19 March 1928, Page 3

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

FIVE PETITIONS RECEIVED. MORE RESOLUTIONS RESCINDED. Petitions from ninety settlers on five different subjects were received by the Hauraki United Drainage Board at its meeting on Fridav last. BAGNALL’S OUTLET. A petition was received from R. L. Davies, Jas. Hamilton, E. W. Hollis, S. E. Bond, R. Hutchinson, H. Innes, M. Stephens, Jas. Newman, M. Clark, W. Urquhart, L. Henwood, E. Shilton, A. Zeigler, C. K. Fox, E. C. Barriball, H. Murray, D. Shilton, Win. Greenway, A. H. Green, J. B. Miller, junr-, W. McA. H. Green, J. C. Miller, junr., W. McComb, W. McKee, J. J. Jenkinp, E. .Dally, S. Phelps, D. Troughton, A. A. Fvsher, J. A. Bennett, P. R. Henry, and J. A. G. Wilson, all ratepayers of the Central-Southern area.

The request was to construct an outlet from the Waihou River t 0 connect with the Zig-Zag drain on the route of the proposed outlet known as Bagnall’s; 'The present drain through Ansford’s property was 40 chains long, 10ft top, and 6ft deep, and it was suggested th.at this be niade 16ft and Bft deep. Bagnall’s drain was 70 chains long, and the present drain was 6ft 6in. top and 3ft deep, and! it was suggested that this be made 12ft top and 6ft deep when it entered the Zig-zag ground level. Some grading would be required. It was trutsed th,at the board would favourably consider the request, as the area waU a very wet one, and the cost would probably not exceed £6OO. ■ Mr McDuff: They have made a good canvass this time.

Mr J. M. Thompson reported that, together with the promoters of the petition, he had inspected! the proposed route. Mr S. Bagnall had not offered any objection, but he would •require some concrete troughs removed. His trees, and bores would not be affected;

The chairman, said that some weeks ago Mr Bagnall ,hadi many objections. Mr McDuff pointed out that the board had decided 1 not to do any work whatever m the area until the present scheme had been tried out.

Mr Thompson said that the board Had. rescinded so many resolutions that it could easily rescind this one.~ Mr F. L. Hamilton said he whs; one who agreed to have the scheme (jried out, but there was. no doubt that Bagnall’s outlet would! be of great assistance in the event of other outlets failing. He would like to haye the proposal investigtited, and would not stick at trying out the existing scheme.

Mr Murray urged doing nothing until the present scheme was tried out. They’ should proceed cautiously, as local rates were crushing tlie farmer* of the Plains.

Mr Thompson said that the board had agreed on making the crosscountry drain,\ whereas the’ cost of Bagnall’s outlet would be very little more.

Mr Hicks said he could .not see the sense of bringing water by a route milqs. longer'than the proposed Bagnall’s drain-, and he could not see that the cost would be an obstacle., <■ Mr McDuff stateci that no mention had been made of a! flood-gate, which -would cost £4OO.

Mr Thompson said that there was' an adequate flood-gate which, was set at a suitable depth. He could not see that the board could ignore the requests of so many .settlers. , 'Mr McDuff said that an equally strong counter-petition could be obtained by the next meeting. Mr J. C. Miller said he would have liked to 'have seen the scheme tried out, but if the whole of the board and the whole of the settlers concerned desired tlie work he would not be an objector.

Mr Hamilton said that a considerable body of Ratepayers agreed, with the policy of trying out the scheme when there wafe so much disagreement. ■ ‘

Mr Murray said that before Bagnall’s, drain was authorised the resolution to try out the scheme should be rescinded. Personally he was so tired of these rescindings, that he-felt like resigning the chairmanship. Mr Thompson gave notice of intention. to move the rescinding of the resolution agreeing to stop all work in the area until the scheme had been tried out. GREENWAY—LOADER DRAIN. A petition was received from ,W. Greenway, N. Alacli, E. C- Barriball, J. C. Miller, junr., and A. A'. Fisher pointing out that it was noticed in a report of the previous board meeting in the “Gazette” that Mr J. M. Thompson was endeavouring to get the board to rescind the motion authorising the improving of the Loader-Greenway drain on the ground that it >vjas unnecessary, as the banks were stan'ding up well and that there had been lio request from the settlers for the work to be done. Tlie writers thought this work was. very necessary owing to the nature of 1 tlie drain banks. No request had been made to have the work done because it was not thought that it was tbe policy of the board to wait for requests before doing work. Tfhey were also under the impression that the board had decided to do this work as soon as fund permitted.

Mr J. C. Miller said that since the last meeting he had inspected the drain, and had come to the conclusion that it would be advisable to lay back the bank on Greenway’is side to a thrce-toi one batter, and to make the bottom a foot wide by deepening at a one-to-one batter. At the top the only work he would recommend was to take up the bottom. Mr Thompson said he considered that the drain was quite suitable for presentday needs. The work was decided on in view of the decision to construct the crons drain.

Mr Hamilton, supported Mr Miller’s suggestion as a means of reducing the maintenance costs. At one time there were 24' slips in the drain. The chairman also supported Mr Miller’s suggestion, and urged that the settlers should be compelled to fence the outet,

Mr Kneebone advocated a onedn one batter.

Mr McDuff said that the drain Had sufficient capacity, but some touching up of tlie bankjs. would be a pay u ing proposition. Mr Thompson urged that t.tie settlers be compelled to fence the drain before any work was done. The chairman sa’d that fencing would be insisted on when the improvement was done. Mr Hicks- said that if members were to inspect the drain they would know what they were talking about. Mr Murray said that the cost of maintenance last winter made it apparent that something should be doneIn accordance with notice given, Mr J. M. Thompson moved that the resolution that the Greenway-Loader drain, be improved by laying back the banks to one to one and; taking up tlie bottom be rescinded 1 . This was seconded by Mr Kneebone and carried, and it was then decided that the three area members, Messrs Thompson, McDuff, and Hamilton, go into the matter, with power to act. A KOPUARAHI REQUEST. Mr D. J. O’Carroll and 15 other Kopuarahi settlers petitioned tike board for the provision of a flood-gate to the Piako River at the end of the drain running between the lands of of D. J. O’Carroll and W. J. Abbott on . one Eide and T. M. O’Carroll and T. Hudson on the other. It was pointed out that the water had to travel up to the school and then to the Kopuarahi flood-gate. Messrs D. J. O’Carroll and W. JAbbott waited, upon the board in support of -the petition. Mr O’Carroll said that tihe need for the floodirgate was fully realised, as tlie area was now very wet in. flood time, whereas yearts ago it was the driest place on the Plains. Tim fluming to the Kopuarahi flood-gate was leaking badly and th© outlet was filled at every tide. Mr Miller suggested that an inspeCjtion of the area be made by the board before it discussed the subject. This w.ate agreed to. JUBILEE DRAIN. A petition was received from 21 ratepayers of the Central subdivision of the late Horahia drainage district asking that better drainage facilities be afforded by continuing the Jubilee drain through to Sloane’s drain at the Peat-Dann-Kern ick corner. The proposed drain, to have a one-to-one batter throughout and be not less than 14ft top at the junction with Sloane’s, drain. Mr Kneebone said that this was a. matter worthy of. reconsideration. He had inspected' the drain together with Mr Hicks and some settlers. Mr Hicks said that if more water was.to be sent down the drain provision to deal with it should be made at the flood-gate and the lower end of the drain. The clhairmaii. said that improvements. were certainly necessary at the flood-gate. It was decided to inspect the work before any action was taken. ' . ALLOCATION OF MONEY. In connection with the alleged allocation of loan moneys, on, which subject Mr Kneebone had given, notice ;of motion to- rescind a resolution adopting as correct a statement furnished by the clerk, a long discussion ensued, and though speakers mentioned: negotiations extending back for many yearn no decision was reached, i Mr Kneebone’s motion lapsing for want of’ a seconder.

A largely signed petition presented by Mr Kneebone was deferred till a later meeting for consideration.