HAURAKI WEST DRAINAGE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5335, 5 October 1928, Page 3

HAURAKI WEST DRAINAGE

meeting of BOARD. The Hauraki Plains West Drainage Board met. at Ngatea yesterday, Mi C. W. Parfitt presiding over Messrs A. H. McClean, J. Motion, T. A. McA. Douglas, and the clerk, Mr E. L. Walton. GOVERNMENT RATES. The clerk mentioned that as the ' ooanl had tajien over, control of. the Jfrurea from the Government, which had r levied its drainage rates, there wasi a less amqunt due to the Government. _ As it was unlikely that the Governt.W- luellt would make refunds, ratepayers s’ ’ would! be well advised to defer paying their Government drainiage rate£ until the, amount was amended, even though the 5 per cent rebate for prompt payment, was lost. M maintenance subsidy. The Undersecretary, Department of Lands', wrote, advising, that the Min lfcr ter of Lands had approved of an appropriation being taken; fqr a, subsidy of £6OO (10s, for £1), and the matter would l rec.eive consideration when the current year’s; 'estimates weie being dealt with. The clerk reported that the sum had been voted. FAULTY FLOOD-GATE. Mr R. B. Paul, Ngatea, wrote drawing attention to the fact that the flood-gate near Paul's wharf, appeared J to havfc been almost wrenched off, '■ with the result that water was •inundating his farm every high tide. The chairman said* that the matter required Iqoking into. The hinges were probably bent or the gate 4 broken. . . V Messrs T. McClean arid A. Douglas, wejre deputed to inspect this! gate and ' the Ngatea gate, with power to have repairs effected. All members were requested to inspect the gates' in their respective areas and report to. the next meeting. SCREENS FOR FLOOD-GATES. Mr J. E. Reid, Ngatea, wrote sub- ; mitting quotations for screens for '"M, flood-gates, as suggested! by the Mr A. McClean .mentioned' that if. screens were installed, almost daily cleaning would be nectary. HOPAI DRAIN. Mr Motion’s ac.tion in employing a man to remove slips from .the Hopai Road drain was approved and payment authorised. A COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME. Mr Parfitt raised the question of obtaining expert advice on means of improving the drainage of the area. ’ 1 Mr Dojiiglas asked what would hie, effect of the work now being unk, dertaken by the Government. Jr iMr Parfitt said that, the Govern--1 ’ ment work wo.uld plot be completed for several years, and something would have tej be done in the meantime. Anything, dope, would not be lost. He took it W the people desired the formation of .the board! as a * means of getting greater drainage " rather than the reductiop of the maintenance; ratel A comprehensive scheme should be desig.ii(ed', so tli at any improvement work would be done in accordance with a definite purpose. Then there wa.s a grejat. deal of discussion on pumping, but it would 1 be realised that much pupiping. could not be afforded, and as much drainage by gravity as possible should! be secured. All this showed the, need for competent advicq on a comprehensive scheme. The board’s revenue would hot allow many pumps, but. if neees- ‘ - sayy the board could Subsidise pri-vately-owned pumps- In his opinion 'the present, drains would be sufficient for the drainage of the area when i thety were improved by widehing, and v deepening in certain placesMr A. McClean did not see the need for an elaborate scheme. When the existing drains were thoroughly improved it would probably be demonstrated that very little more would be desirable. It was deciled to make an inspection of the whoje area and then confer with Mr E. Taylor before going fur.i ' ther.