NETHERTON DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5365, 17 December 1928, Page 2

NETHERTON DRAINAGE.

MO MEETING. The Netherton Drainage Board held its monthly meeting 041 Friday, Mr G. Buchanan presiding ever Messrs J. A. Reid, F. T. V. Johnstone, E A. Chester, b. Halligan, and the clerk (Mr J» E. Green). LANDS DEPARTMENT’S DRAINS. The lands drainage engineer, Kerepeehi, forwarded a schedule of drains maintained by the department prior to. handing over control to the board. The length of drains and approximate cost per chain of one annual cleaning was also given. A plan had already been supplied. MAINTENANCE SUBSIDY. The Minister qf Public Works wrote in reply to the boartfs request for as-< sistance by way of subsidy towards the annual maintenance of the drains taken over from the Public Works. The matter had been looked intq fully. The Netherton drainage diar trict was constituted to enable adequate maintenance to be provided fW in connection with the system of drains, and, further, the fonnation of the drainage (district had been laid, down as a condition attaching to the, Government carrying o.ut very subs stantial reconstruction work oh Drain H itself. So far, the district flted had not been called upon to make any contribution towards the cost of the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers improvement Works. Further* it did not appear that the coat of maintenance within the board’s district would be an unduly heavy charge against the district, and it was w gr.etted that it was impossible to agree to a subsidy towards the cost of maintenance. The district engineer had reported, however, that certain other drains within the district were not in good condition, and it was reasonable that these should! be put into suitable order by the department so as to give the board a clean start, and the carrying o.ut of the necessary recon- - ditioning work had been authorisedThe drains in question were: From Ngahina bridge to. Drain H; Handley’s boundary to Netherton Rioad!; along Netherton Old Road ; Chester’s drain ; Rangiora Rqad; from Johnson’s to. JYoung’s. In connection .with a similar request made to, the Lands Drainage Department, Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., forwarded a reply to his repnesenta-i tions to the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of .Lands. The Minister/ regretted that there was no fund out qf f which payment could be but if prought up again next session consideration would be given to the question of obtaining an appropriation qu the Consolidated Fund in order, to assist the board OUTLETS TO WAIHOU.

Mr Buchanan reported that the Public Works Department had te" stalled a culvert at Pukahu West Road and had graded the drain for a short distance. He recommended that an application be made to grad® the drain to the H drain. While in cqmmunication with the department he had mentioned the need for. providing outlets to the river for the area near the Netherton-Paeroa rqad. Ngararahi Stop-ibank Rqad corner, and the Rangiora Road area.

The secretary stated that the department had only provided qutlets through its stop-bank for the Rangis or.a settlers’ private drains. In the opinion of the department the board should act carefully before taking control qf the existing drains in that area.

Mr Buchanan mentioned, that some of the farms did not have effective drainage, as the erection of the stopbank had interfered with the natural drainage. The matter, was discussed at length, members pointing qut that when cer-; tain drains were cleaned an outlet could< be had to the H dmin.

It was decided to ask the Public, Works Department to instal culverts at Simm’s and at Epps’, similar to that at Death’s.

Mr. Buchanan also, advocated, the prqvision of a better outlet for Gillard’s land, and an outlet to the H drain for Benny and Bodie’s land, and it was decided to take up the matter with the department. The necessity of having sluicegates installed at all flood-gates was stressed by Mr. Reid, and it was decided to ask the Public Wop-ks Department to provide a sluice-gate at the Pukahu Road gateu PUKAHU CORNER CULVERT. The co.unty engineer wrote granting permission to cross Awaiti Road qn terms mentioned, conditional on the board assuming all responsibility for any damage |or accident that might , l>e caused during operations. Mr Johnsen reported that the work liad been completed, and a flrst-jc.lass jqb had been done at a reasonable price. GOVERNMENT RATES. The Minister, of Lands advised that in connection with the rate levied by the Lands Drainage Department over the board’s area for the current year, consideration was now being given to the question of remitting some portion of the rates, levied within the area. The collector of rates would advise in due course concerning the matter. CLASSIFICATION. The classifier, Mr. Gu Buchanan, reported that the classification of the area would be completed: in about a week. It was decided to hold a special meeting to receive the glassification list. , THE TERRACE DRAIN. Mr E. Taylor, lands drainage engineer, waited on the board) and ashowed a sample of the soil through which the suggested .new dizain to the Awaiti canal alqng the terrace on Wani’s land, if the drain was made to the preposed depth, a layer of sand would be entered for about a foqt. He was of the opinion that the drain would be satisfactory. Instead of a big floqd-gate near the canal he would recommend the installation of three small flaps in the drains at the end of the Awaiti road. It was decided to ask Mr Carter, of the Elstow Drainage Beard, to attend) the special meeting next evening to explain his board’s objection.