NETHERTON DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5334, 3 October 1928, Page 2

NETHERTON DRAINAGE.

MEETING OF BOARD. The Nethertop Drainage Board held its, second meeting in the Nethertort Hall yesterday, Mr. G. Buchanan presiding over Messrs, J. A. Reid, B. Halligan), F. T. V. Johnson, and the acting-c,lerk, Mr J. E. Greein. THE CLERKSHIP. Four applications were received for the position of clerk at a salary of £lOO per annum, and on| the motion of Mr J. A. Reid, seconded by Mr Halligan, Mr J. E. Green was unanimously, appointed. Mr Green wag for. eleven years clerk to the Hauraki Drainage Board. DRAIN TO AWAITL Mr Green reported that in reply to thp board’s request for information concerning a proposal to make a drain from near Mr H. Hill’s farm to the Awaiti c.aiial, Mr E. Taylor, lafidp drainage engineer, had ajdvised hi m tha, there wa£ a sum of money available frcpi an old grant, and the sugr gestion wasi to make a drain which would serve a;s an outlet to both the Piako ankl W®,ihou rivers:, whichever Was not in flood. The matter had been the subject o/. much discussion; with the Public Works Department and the Elstow Drainage Board. Mr Reid argued- that the benefit was problematical. He pointed out that an agreement had been entered into with the Public. Works Department whereby it was to provide an adequate step-bank to prevent the drainage from the area reaching the board’s district. Mr Green said said the laixds, drainage engineer had ;st.a»ted that nothing would be dene contrary to the wishes of the board. It was desirable that all parties interested .should go ; into the matter and inspect the area. Such a conference might be the meant of evolving an alternative scheme. The money available was to, be spent for. the benefit, cd the Netherton Drainage District. The- chairman expressed the opinion that the members of the board shquld meet the engineers of. the Public. Works and Lands Drainage flapartments on the spot as; soon as possible. The) clerk was intructed to arrangethe meeting. A deputation comprising Messrs' H. E. Hill, L. Jamieson, J. Crosby, a,nd L. Sanderson waited on the bO;a,rd in connection with the same area. Mr Hill related the negotiations which had taken place prior to the formation of the board relative to the drainage of the area routh of Wilson’s Road. Since the undertaking was reached the engineer of the Public. Works Department and the Lands Drainage Department had evolved as an) alternative the scheme for an outlet to the ’A w «iti. Tllie settlers desired the board to investigate this proposal, as they realised that the job wa.si unfinished. It appeared that the culvert at Roach’s corner should be lowered, apd the drain on the eastern, side qf the Awaiti road from Wilson’s Road corner to Crosby’s should be enlarged to twice its present size. The had given the matter, careful consideration, and, incidentally, had found that it would take eight days for a pump which would shift 350,000 gallons an hour tq remove one inch of rainfall. It was desirable to get stormwater off the farm land before the ohinemuri flood came do>wn. Mr Crosby spoke of the necessity of improving the Awaiti Road eastside drain, ,a f s it was conti.n(ua.lly slipping and would prove, costly to maintain. In reply to the deputation the chairman explained that the board proposed to inspect the area with the two Government engineers. PLANS. Several large-scale plans of the board’s- area., showing section! boundaries and drains, were . received through the Lands Drainage Department. They required bringing up-to-date. FINANCE. The clerk suggested that authority be given to apply for. permission to obain a bank overdraft. As, a baste for calculation he would Suggest that the rate to be levied as security be l'%d in, the £ on the whole of the board’s area.

The chairman moved that the area area be divided into three ridiiigs, Northern, Awaiti, and H Drain subdivisions, at a later meeting, and tha,t separate accounts be kept for each ridipg. Seconded by Mr Halligan ami carried. On the motion of the chairman the clerk was instructed to make application to. the Minister of Internal Affairs for permission to raise an overdraft on the security of a rate of 1% in the £ in each of the three ridings. Mr Reid raised the question of hqw this rate) would be collected in the event of classification being completed. The clerk explained that, the rate mentioned was merely a formal matter. to enable the- department to fix a limit for the overdraft. He doubted whether the department was concern- 1 Cd with the manner of collection of the rate provided the sum was sufficient to cover, the overdraft. The limit of rate was l%d, and the overdraft would not exceed 75 per cent, of the total. As the board’s borrowing pqwers in future years were determined by the preceding year’s rates it was desirable tq strike a big rate in the first year. SUBSIDY FOR MAINTENANCE. Mr Halligan sugggegted that, an; effort be made to secure a subsidy on thg. money spent qn maintenance, as was flone by the Hauraki Plains WestDrainage Board, and a motion! to. that effect was carried.