HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5368, 24 December 1928, Page 2

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

MEETING OF UNITED BOuUEDI The Hauraki United Drainage Board met at Turua on Friday, Mr H. H. Hicks presiding over Messrs J. Hamilton, S. G. Williams, Si S. Murray, J. C. Miller, F. L. Hamilton, R. H. Heappey, and the clerk (Mr J. E. Green). THE CLERKSHIP. The board went into Committee to receive a report from the chairman concerning the dismissal of .the late clerk, and on standing orders being resumed the board confirmed the action of Mr Hicks in having the books audited by the Government auditor right up to date as a protection to the board and the incoming clerk. Seventeen applications were i.eceiv.p ed for the clerkship, and were discussed in committee. Mr J. E. Green, of Turua, was appointed. It was. decided to ask the insurance company to transfer, the board’s fidelity guarantee from the previous clerk to Mr Green. As Mr Green has his own office and telephone, the boar.d decided to give up its office and telephone and contribute £3 a year towards Mr Green’s telephone and allow him 2s 6d a week, office allowance. COMPLAINT OF CLASSIFICATION. Mr R- Bake:, Huirau Road, wrote drawing attention to the bad drainage of his property. Part of one of. the board’s drains through his land, was only 3ft 6in deep, and. most of the time it contained. 2ft of water. As the board’s drain did not tap the low part of. the farm, 100 acres had to be drained directed to the river through a private flood-gate. The writer contended that to collect a rate on this 100 acr.es was collecting money on false pretences, and he was of bpinion that the board should do something to help him, particularly ajs he had to maintain 50 chains of stop-bank. He protested! against the land being c.lassedi “A.” Mr F. L. Hamilton said that while some relief would be given by deepening the BakerrMadgwick drain it would not solve t,he difficulty. The chairman agreed that the position was difficult, and the only solution he could see was for the board to take over part of the maintenance of the stop-,bank. Mr Heappey said that it was a c,ase where the classification appeal was affected by the statements made to the magistrate by the Public Wor,ks Department’s official. The matter should be taken up with the department, as it had interfered with this man’s drainage. The chairman said that Mr Baker was entitle l to some consideration, and it might be desirable .to construct a ne.w drain from the Baker-Madg-wick drain to the private flood-gate. Mr Baker’s general rate was £36 10sThe chairman and the two area members were instructed to inspect the land, and were given power to expend up to £2O. CUTTING OF TREES. Mr, P. W. J. Tetley, on behalf of J. W. Tetley, wrote drawing attention to the fact that the board’s workmen had cut six straining posts and eight stays from his growing, trees to be used id a fence which was being erected. He claimed £2 in payment. After receiving an explanation the board decided to pay the compensation. OUTLET WANTED. Mr J. E. Smith, Kerepeehi, wrote asking for, an outlet . for his laiidi along the Kerepeehi-Wharepoa road. The matter was referred to Mr Heappey for a report. DAMAGE BY FLOODING. Mr J. A. Robertson, Turua, wrote urging that the board inspect the effect on his land of flooding caused by the construction of Taylor’s drain and its connection to the Huirau Road drain, which was of inadequate size to take the water. He also pointed out that one of his drains had been blocked by the Te Kauri No. 1 drain Contractors and three acres of grass had been destroyed by flooding. He also complained that certain posts in his fence had not been replaced when the fence was re-erected. Mr J. Hamilton reported that the position in regard to the flooding was as stated by Mr, Robertson. Congestion occurred at the Huirau Road corner and the water spread over, the land. Mr F. Hamilton urged the installation of a. flap in the Netherton roadside drain, and he moved 1 that the area members inspect the property and report to the next meeting. GUMTOWN FLOOD-GATE. Mr. J. Newman, Gumitown Road, Turua, wrote on behalf of the settlers benefiting by the roadside drain and asked that the flood-gate be lowered. The previous board had promised! this as part of ,the loan work. The clerk explained that the work had been promised by the old Hauraki Board, but funds had not been avail- 1 , able. Mr J. Hamilton said that the lower ‘ ing of the gate was necessary. Mr, F. Hamilton thought that the expenditure might benefit a very wide area and enable the Dally outlet to be abandoned or benefit to be given to Mr R. Baker. Mr Heappey urged the tabling of a statement of past expenditure throughout the district and the sums now available for each subdivision, and that until this was available the request be deferred. A motion to this effect was carried. REPAIRS DESIRED. ■Mr A- J- Heaseman, Turua, wrote asking for the completion of the Waihou River stop-bank ’on his section and for repairs to the mouth of the boundary drain between Tetley’s land and hjg section.—Granted!. TOWNSHIP OUTLET. Dr. T. Miller, Turua, wrote urging the deepening of the Hauraki Road drain from Awa Street to the Turua Buildings, with the purpose of permitting him to secure drainage for his section. —Referred to the chairman and Mr Williams, with power Ito act. FOREMAN’S REPORT. The foreman, Mr J. A- Bennett, atd tended and reported on the principal

works that had' been undertaken during the month. It was decided that all available fall be taken in Johnstone’s drain, the work to be done by day labour. FACTORY FLOOD-GATE.

Mr J. C. Miller reported that the lands drainage engineer had submitted the plains and specifications for the shelly ’Beach factory flood-gate, and tenders would be called as soon as the approval was received. SPENCER-McCORMICK OUTLET. Mr Williams reported on an inspection of the Spencer-McCormick outlet and recommended that £he gate be shifted back about a chain, and the drain improved for 2% chains. The recommendation wag adopted. HOLIDAYS. It was decided that the board’s office would be closed from December 24, 1928, until January 7, 1929. HANDLEY’S OUTLET. On tire motion of Mr Heappey it was decided to lower the pipes in Handley’s outlet under, the TuruaNetherton road when the drain deepening was completedFINANCE. The action of the chairman in authorising payment of accounts totalling £B6 10s was approved. Accounts on the general fund totalling £26 16s 8d and on the loan accounts totalling £338 15s were passed for payment. The clerk was instructed to prepare a statement showing the expenditure out of the £15.500 loan and its subsidies.