PLAINS WEST DRAINAGE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5308, 3 August 1928, Page 3

PLAINS WEST DRAINAGE

FIRST REGULAR MEETING. a A GENERAL DISCUSSION. The Hauraki Plains West Drainage Board held its first monthly- meeting at Ngatea yesterday, Mr C. W. Parfitt presiding over Messrs, A. H. McClean, J. Motion, T. A. McClean, and A. Douglas. On account of the unavoidable absence: of the acting, cleitk, Mr E. L. Walton, it was agreed to informally discuss local matters and adjourn until a convenient date next week. SETTLERS’ DRAIN. A petition was received from thirteen settlers drawing attention to a blockage, caused in, the Settlers’ drain through an overgrown hedge having, fallen over, into .it. The settlers desired that steps be taken to have the obstruction removed without delay, as the flood-wate'ri could not get away and fai’ms wer,e inundated. The chairman and Mr A. H. McClean were deputed to deal with the matter,. FENCING OF DRAINS. The board’s policy in regal'd to fencing drains was discussed, and it was decided that, notice be given to all landowners who did not have fences on board drains that they must- erect a satisfactory fence sufficient to prevent stock doing damage to dwaiins. failing which the board would require a legal fence to be erected in terms of the Fencing Act. In the discussion it was suggested that for keeping cattle from damaging drains a fence of three wires with four posts to the chain w°uld be sufficient, but a better fence would be necessary to deal with pigs. b . WAITAKARURU ROAD.

The matter of improving the Wai-taka,runi-Pipii’oa roadside drains for approximately 200 chains from the Waitakaruru-Maukoro canal was brought up by Mr A. H. McClean, who reported that the settlers concerned 1 had inspected/the area on Saturday last and had agreed with the idea of contributing towards tihe cost. He estimated the cost of deepening ■the drain at about £l5O. The chairman said that the work would have to be done out of rates, and it was desirable to. do. as much maintenance in the first year as possible, so as to get the maximum subsidy. Members commended the spirit of the settlers in-'offering to contribute towards the cost of the work.

Mr A. H. McClean staid that relief was nequired' quickly, and the suggested work would lower the water in the internal drains by from two to three feet.

It was decided. to consider the matter, carefully when considering the financial programme.

SITE OF FLOOD-GATES.

Tlie chairman mentioned that the Lands Drainage Department should! be .a.dvised without delay of the, sites delected for . the flood-gates whiqh the department was to instal. In discussing the advisability of an' additional gate at Rawerawe', Mn TMcClean pointed out that the existing gate was adequate; for the present road drain, which could not be very much enlarged. It would Ire desirable to improve: the drain' on- the north side of thje, Rawerawe road on open an outlet between Messrs Cleaver’s and Burke’s. It was decided that the lands drainage engineer, be ■necommendleidl to in-st-al flood-ga.tes .at Hopai, Pipiroa, and at the road bend near Miles’, where there already was a shallow floodgate. By improving the drain along the canal reserve a,nd thence to the main ■road between the sections of Messrs Burke and Cleaver, and thence along the main loaifeide to Rawei'awe Road corner, an efficient local systfem would me made ajid relief given tlie Rawerawe roadside drains. BACK COUNTRY WATER.

Stated to be the greatest problem of the board, the mattier ,of dealing with water from outside its area west of Pouarua Road was dispussed. Mr. A- McClean said that during the flood there were cascades chains long over Pouarua Road.

Mr Motion expressed th(e opinion ■that the ro,a,d w'ould have to be raised considerably to effect relief.

Mr A. ftfcClean said that when the' Maukoro canal was opened beyond Orchard West Road and the dam® wfine removed, relief could be given by making large outlets to the canal from Pouarua Road. Mr Motion expressed the ' opinion that the area would have to be drained to the Piako Riven

Mr T. McClean visualised! a canal to th|e, sea from’Pouarua Road.'

It was decided to communicate with the Lands Dr.a,inage Department and point out that flo'oding had been caused by water crossing Pouariia Road, and ask that steps; be taken to prevent a Recurrence.

Mr Motion advocated interviewing the engineer on the ma.tter. Mr McClean said that it would be a great relief to know tlie department’s intention irt refard to the Maukoro canal. He had noticed that Mr Evitt’s shed had been removed, as if it was intended to widen the canal. It was decided to invite Mr E. Taylor to meet the board on- the subject.