HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5303, 23 July 1928, Page 3

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

MEETING OF UNITED BOARD.

z ELSTOW BOUNDARY QUESTION. The Hauraki United Drainage Board (held its; monthly meeting at Turua on Friday, last. Mr S- S- Murray presiding over Messrs W. McDuff, H. H. Hicks. J. C. Miller, J. M. Thompson, F. A. Kneeone, and F. L. Hamilton. The clerk, Mr, T. D. 'Wallace, was also hi T^.clerk reported on the conference held with the Elstow Drainage Board concerning the land near- Kercpeehi which drained , the Racecourse Drain. The Elstow Board had submitted four proposals, namely : (1) That there be a floodgate installed to prevent the water from the Racecourse Drain flowing to the. Elstow Board's drain. If a £1 for £2 subsidy was received the cost would be £25 to the Ha.uraki Board.. If a stopbank was; erected the cost would be £45, but if this stopbank was not erected at once the’ Hauraki Board would have to give an undertaking to fln.d one-third of the cost of the stopbank. (2) That tlite Hauraki Bo,a.rd contribute towards the; cost of pumping bn, an acreage basis —Elstow Board 3000 acres, and Hauraki 100 acres. (3) That the watershed be; made the boundary between the two areas. (4) That the Pekapeka, Wairau, and Kerepeehl road to the wharf be the boundary between the two areas. In the dscussion oni the subject r it was pointed out that the contribu- . Hon required toward the cost of pumping would" be about £l2 per annum. The Racecourse" Drain would still require maintenance. , Mr McDuff said that ’he. thought the installation, of the floodgate- would be the best propostion. Other members agreed that it was. th)e best proposition, but ap absolute, gift to the Elstow Board, as no benefit would be gained by Hauraki Plains settlers. The Elstow Board could compel a contribution. Mr McDuff moved that the Board contribute one-third of the, cost of the" floodgate, up to £25, this to be limit of the Boardi’s liability, r Mr Hicks moved as an amendment that the Elstow Board be asked to state the lowest possible annual cost of pumping. Mr J. M. Thompson, seconded 1 . The chairman suggested that legal advice be obtained on the,- question of whether the Elsstbw Board could compel the Hauraki Board) to contribute, and also whether the Hauraki Board could use loan money for the wortk, seeing that the work was outside the Board’s area. Tim motion and the amendment were -withdrawn, and it was decided to obtain legal advice. HAMILTON-MILLER DRAIN. The Board had inspected tlie MillejHamilton drain proposal ,ap a means of giving relief to the Opou area, but ' no decision had been reached 1 . Mr McDuff opposed the) decision to go through Hutchinson’s, contending that the Orchard Easjt road l drain woilMbe overloaded. He" gave notice of motion, to rescind the resolution ' authorising the drain through Hutchinson’s. DRAINAGE FROM SALEYARDS. A. Buckland and Sons’ agent wrote; asking that the slaughterhouse road drain be attended to. It ha,d not been cleaend for several years. The matter was referred to the foreman for attention. WILLOW OUTLET. Mrs T. Scott. Turua., wrote asking that something be done to prevent the banks of the Willow drain outside the flood-gafe-, from slipping,. Much r' land was being washed away, an.d the planting of willows was suggested as a possible remedy. The chairman, Messrs Hicks rind Kneebone were deputed to investigate the matter. DALLY’S (OUTLET. • Mr R. Baker, Huirau Road, wrote complaining of the" amount of weeds in Daily’s outlet. These weeds kepi, the dra : ,n full and his land flooded. It was, agreed to have the drain dragged. The chairman, mentioned that no permanent relief could be given until ■ the river was stop-banked. The foreman estimated the cos) of the work -necessary as £2O". ORONGO-KOPUARAHI DRAIN. Improvements to the Orongb' /Kopuarahi roadside drain wer-o; au- % thgrised, and it was decided that the ’ lands drainage engineer be asked to prepare plans and specifications. MAIN OUTLETS. The chairman, -moved that tte foreman be instructed to have the weeds dragged out of all main outlets. Seconded by Mr Hicks and carried. HUIRAU ROAD DRAIN. On the. motion of the chairman it , was decided to improve the upper end of the Huirau Road drain to connect with Taylor’s drain. FINANCE. The treasurer reported that the debit balance of the general account ' was £944’ 18s 9d, and the credit balances in the loan accounts were £1530 19s 7.d and £2O 7s 4d. General I rates collected totalled £265 9s 9d. Accounts totalling £226 14s 4d on the general account, £346 2s 7d on the big loan account, and £156" 9s Id on the No. 2 Loan Account were passed for payment. FOREMAN’S REPORT. , "The foreman, Mr J. A, Bennett, reported on the month’s work, mentioning that certain fences (had been ‘erected. " Erosion outside the Tc Kauri- No. 1 flood-gate had been atle'nikdito. The Kopuarahi Wharf culvorAiad! beep temporarily repaired. been removed from sundry drains. Mr Bennett reported at length on works, in hand.