HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5277, 21 May 1928, Page 3

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

MEETING OF UNITED BOARD. The Hauraki United Drainage Board met at Turua ; on Friday /last, Mr. S. S. Murray presiding over Messrs H. H. Hicks, F. A. Kneebone, W. McDuff, F. L. Hamilton, J. M. Thompson, J. C. Miller, and the clerk (Mr T. D. Wallace). JUBILEE DRAIN. The petiton of 21 settler,s asking for the continuation of the Jubilee drain tq junction with, the Sloan drain at the Peat-Dann, Kernick corner again came up for consideration. The chairman reported that an inspection of the lower, end had been made, and it had been found -that very little improvement w'as necessary. . Messrs McDuff and Kneebone advocated granting the wishes of the petitioners. The chairman urged caution, contending that greater advantage could be made of the existing outlets. By improving the Oparia ROad drain to the mill creek an efficient outlet would be obtained, and this would probably be cheaper than improving the Jubilee flood-gate. On the motion of Mr Hicks, the chairman and Mr Kneebone were deputedl to report kt the next meeting oni| the comparative' cost of the Jubilee flood-gate and the Oparia Road drain. ELSTOW BOARD’S BOUNDARY. The chaii.man reported that an inspection of the existing boundary of the Elstow Board’s area and the, boundary proposed by that board had been made. Mr McDuff pointed out that if water from the Hauraki Board’s area continued to flow to the Elstow area a claim could be made for a contribution towards the cost of pumping. Under the circumstances it might bo advisable to install! a flap on the Racecourse drain and erect a stopbank, as suggested by the Elstow Board. Mr Hicks contended that the Hauraki area would receive no advantage from the work. This was generally .agreed to, but it was admitted that the Elstow Board might have a. cla'm. Mr Thompson argued that Hauraki water very rarely went tq the Elstow Board’s pump. It might have done so in exceptionally high floods, but there was little, or no chance >c(F such floods again. occurring. Mr Murray said that there was no hurry, and it might be advisable to wait unftl flood time and determine

the direction of tihe flow. Mr Hicks expressed the opinion that the Elstow Board should take! steps to prevent any Hauraki water from entering its area, and he mo,vefl> that the Hauraki Board has no objection to this course. —Carried. RIVERSIDE DRAINS. Mr W. McDuff reported that a portion of the riversidte drains near Nga,tea bridge had been cleaned. The outlets of several flood-gates were blocked up. Mr Kneebone- advocated sluicing out the Louch-McDuff drain; It was decided to approach the lands drainage engineer ofn the matter;. SUBSIDIES. The chairman, reportedythat, with Mr Hicks, he 'had interviewed the Prime Minister on his recent visit and had driven him through thei board’s area, for the purpose of pointing out the various works. The position in regard to further subsidies on the loans was discussed, and the Ministers appeared to be favourably impressed. They promised: to place the matter before the Hun. A. D. McLeod on their return to Wellington. KOPUARAHI EASEMENT. The cihajrman brought up the matr ter of- improving the Kopuaraihi outlets, which, matter, had been investigated by the whole board*. Mr Hicks pointed out that at the school corner the culvert could be deepened or enlarged, and at the same time it would be advisable to extend the culvert with the idea of improving the road corner. The wingwalls should be the duty of the County Council. Mr Miller argued that there was no congestion at this point, and the road could not be very much improved by extending the culvert. Mr Murray thought that the lowering of the culvert might overcome the need foir a new flood-gate at Abbott’s and O’CaiToll’s. The, existing, system had not been tried out.

Mr. Miller disagreed, and! contended that the flood-ga ; te would be found to be necessary and that it would. 1 be a waste, of money to touch the culvert. Mr Murray urged deferring the matter until after the winter,. No work could 1 be done in this weather, and the position could be investigated. Mr Hicks, suggested improving the Orongo Road drains where much fall had been lost. After a free discussion it was decided to write, to the la.nds drainage engineer and bhe chief drainage engineer to ascertain what contribution would be forthcoming towards the ccist of taking up all the fall in- the Orongo Road drain from the; river to the Tforaihia boundary. On the. motion of Messrs: McDiiff. and Kneebone it was decided to call tenders for the installation of a 4ft flood-gate on the point of the S’helljy Beach road, the depth to be 2ft 6in below the depth of the Hudson-Chris-tie flood-gate. WILLOW DRAIN. Mr Hicks reported that the willow trees had been removed from tlie Willow Drain bank in a very capable manner. The contractor was given notice to remove the spoil which he had caused to fall into the drain. NOTICE OF BUSINESS. At tlie conclusion, of the reading of the inward correspondence Mr ,Thompson asked if there was not a letter from him. The -clerk replied in the negative. The chairman said that he had the letter, which had come in too late to be included in the business of the .meeting. The rules provided that members were to be given seven, days notice of the business of the meeting,

and in this case it was not possible. Mr Thompson asked whojse /fault it was. Hei had called at the office on Thursday, May 10', and the clerk had adviqd, that he hafl posted the letter to tiie chairman. The chairman said that he had not received the letter, until the Friday afternoon. Mr Thompson commenced to argue that his letter should be rejid., but the, chairman interrupted him with a ruling that the matter, could not be discussed, as it had come in too late. Mr Thompson said that he did- nOlt intend to be hard. All he would say at present was that there was going to be a thorough investigation of the board’s office methods. KEREPEEHI DRAINAGE. It was decided to have cleaned about five chains of the Kerepeehii Kopuarahi roadside drain westward from the cqrner. SLUICING CHANNELS. Mr Hicks, expressed the opinion that consideration should be given the matter of devising a machine of some sort to open up a, ehanniel outside flood-gates. When, the new bOfard was formed: west of the Piako River the two boards and thq Lands Drainage Derpai.tment could profitably unite to obtain a suitable machine. There was enough work in the three areas to keep the machine in constant use. FOREMAN’S REPORT. The foreman, Mr E. Flaveip, reported that during the month pipes had been placed under Pekapeka Road and Hamilton's Road. The board’s shanty had been shifted from Sloane’s floodgate to bhe board’s section. Two concrete flaps had been ins-tailed- in the Huirau Road dra,in for Messrs Heaseman .and Dally, and a blockage had been placed in the bld Te Kauri No. 1 and sheathing done-- in- Te Kauri No. 1. The dam in th e Davis-Innis drajn -had been, removed. The report concluded with a long list of landowners who had not feniced the board’s drains in their properties. It was decided to serve a notice on these landowners under the terms of the Fencing Act. It was explained, that in most cases the board had supplied- the wife necessary, and numerous promises ha.d been received. Reporting verb, ally, the foreman stated that the contractors had beeh sent back to complete the Wharepoa Road southside drain. In the Orchard East Road drain ■'.t the Ngatea Bridge approach the timber was being pushed in by the vibration, and the drain was being blocked. The foreman was instructed to approach the county engineer on the matter. KOPUARAHI ROADSIDE. It was decided to clean the roadside drain from the Shellbank to Sloane’s drain.. TENDERS. Five tenders werp received for the improvement of the Soldiers’ drain, aisd that of J. Juranovioh at £270 was accepted. LOAN WORKS. It wa.s decided to call, tenders as soon as the plans and specifications were, received from the l,a,nds: drainage. engineer for. the construction or improvement of drains in Taylor’s, the Te Umut.awa block, To Kauri No. 2, Johnstone’s, and in Challis’ and McLaren’s sections, and also the erection Of the Waihow River stop-bank near Huirau Point. FINANCE. Accounts: totalling £315 18s 9d on the general account, £279 7s on the No. 1 loan account, and £2l 16s on th,e : No. 2 loan account were passed for payment. The bank statement showed 1 the general account to be £1577 2s 3d in debit, and credits of £44 2s 9d and £792 9s 8d in the, Hbrahia' and Hauraki loan accounts respectively.