HAURAKI WEST DRAINAGE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5324, 10 September 1928, Page 3

HAURAKI WEST DRAINAGE

MONTHLY BOARD M.EETING. The first regular meeting of the Hauraki Plains Drainage Board was held at Ngatea last Thursday, Mr C. W. Parfitt presiding over Messrs; T. A. McClean', A. H. McClean, A. Douglas, J. Mfttion, and the clerk, Mr E. L. Walton. RATING. On the m’tioni of the chairman, seconded by Mr T. A. it was decided to apply to the Minister, of Internal Affairs for permission, to levy a uniform general rate over the Board’s area, BORROWING AUTHORITY. The Minister of Internal Affairs forwarded authority to borrow money under. SectiOjn 3 of the Lqcal Bodies Finance Act, with .a; limit of The formal resolution necessary was carried. PEAT COUNTRY WATER. The Lands Drainage Engineer wrote in reply to the Board’s representations that the: chief cause of the overflow frqm the, Pouarua Road 1 drain was the breaking q£ the peat bank where it had been burned l as t summer. Though 'it w;as not possible at the present stage of the drainage operations to entirely prevent overflow during heavy rain, the Department was anxious to reduce usi much, as possible the flow to the Piako. River outlets, and he was at present lookng into the possibilities of further improving the outlets 1 to the Waitakaruru Canal. Consideration of this matter was deferred until the Board conferred with. Mr Taylor. URGENT WORK. Authority was given, Board mem" bers te authorise urgent works in thteir. area up to a limit op £5. PUMPING COSTS. T Mr A. H. McClean mentioned the high cost of electricity for pumping drain water and in view of th e likelihood of discussion in the near future ojf the installation of urther. pumps it was decided to invite the manager, engineer, and local member of the Tha-mes Valley Power Board to confer with the Drainage Board. BY-LAWS. Mr. A. Douglas wanted to know if it was possible to bring a set of by-laws into effect. The chairman (Mr Parfitt) said that it was a Iqng process requiring a. great deal of careful consideration. He. was of the qpini'on, that for. the time ebin,g the Bqard would have to do without them. The cest would be fairly great. Mr Douglas said that the first cost would be the last. The clerk pointed out that nothing could be done that day, but members could advance the matter a? much as possible by noting subjects on which by-laws were necessary. COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME. Mr C. W. Parfitt pouted c,ut the advisability of obtaining expert advi.ee on the best meens of un;watering the area to the best 'advantage. He proposed introducing the matter at U. later, meeting, and. desired members to think over the matter. CROSSINGS. Permission t.o in.stal a 4-. ft. conjcretc pipe; crossing to the new factory at Waitakar.uru was granted the N.Z. Dairy Company. The Ngatea Public Hall Society w a s also granted permission 'to pipe the drain on its frontage. A', a matter of policy it was laid down that in general cases a 4ft. culvert would be required.