HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5377, 21 January 1929, Page 3

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

UNITED BOARD MEETING.

ROUTINE business.

The Hauraki United Drainage Board held its first- meeting oC the new year in the Turua Buildings on Friday evening-, Mr H. H. Hicks presided over Messrs F. L. Hamilton, James Hamilton, s. Ch Williams, R. H. Heappey, and J. C- Miller (trustees) and J. E. Green (clerk). tenders. Twq tenders were received for the installation of a single barrel floodgate and sluice-gate for the factory outlet at Kopuarahi, and that of A. Smith at £372 15s was accepted. SHELLY BEACH FLOODGATE. The chief drainage engineer, Mr RG. Maqmorran, wrote approving the board's proposals relative to the Shelly Beach floodgate. GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. The Public Works Department adP vised having paid £29118s 9d into the board’s account on account of the racecourse drain and tributary drains £145; Price’s drain ; and stop-bank, £l2BO Ils 3d ; and Orchard East Road drains £lB6 8s 6d and £73 18s 6d; making a total of £2775 13s 10d>, less £2483 15s previously paid. FLOODGATE DATA. Interesting and valuable information concerning the size, capacity, and invert of the floodgates in the board’s area was received from the Lands Department, Kerepeehi. Incidentally, it was stated that on the department’s data the levels at Tafaru Point gauge were as follows: Mean sea level, 92.5f.t; highest tide, 98.95f.t; lowest tide, 85.1 f t; average high-water, 96.9 ft. FOREMAN’S REPORT. The foreman, Mr J. A. Bennett, reported that during the month the Spencer,-Mc.Cormick outlet had been deepened and widened, the gate moved back, and the drain improved for about 18 chains inside the gate. Hand- 1 ley’s outlet had been improved and the fail taken up to th;e rdad. the road culvert could now be lowered 18 inches. The Willow drain had been cleaned outside the gate, leaving the gate dry at low tide. The level had been taken up to the r.oad, and it yas how being continued up to the Soldiers’ drain. The Ngatea roadside drains had been cleaned; from the bridge to the previous improvement at : Schultz’s, and the level was now being taken up. With the laying back of the sides a great improvement was being effected. Johnstone’s outlet had been cleaned and the level was being taken up. .The outlet from the gate to the river had been cleaned, and this had let the water, off the apron. The drain was wide and dirty, thus the work .was expensive. The Te Kauri No. 2 had received attention and.it would soon be possible to take up the bottom. It could be brought into a foot and a good job made. Bridges pn : Ansford’s outlet had been taken down and re-erected, and a fence erected to protect Ansford’s crops, The Greenaway-Loader. drain was being fenced. This drain and the Zig-zag near Shilton’s had been damaged by cattle and pigs-

Better hinges ihad been placed on the floodgate at Honiss’, and with a new casing the gate would be watertight. Little progress was possible on McLaren’s outlet owing to the hardiness of the ground. No work had been done on the Orongo-Kdpuarahi rpjad' drain. The contractors for Ansford’s outlet had not completed' the 40 chains below the road up fo specifications, as requested. This was causing much inconvenience, and a progress payment was therefore not authorised. The roadside drain on Hauraki .Road from Awa Street >to the Turua. Buildings had been improved, and the spoil had been removed from Daily’s outlet near the bridge.

After considerable discussion the board decided to instruct the foreman ,to give the contractor, for the Ansfard drain written notice, in accordance with the terms of the contract, to complete the work from peg C to peg 40 up to the signed specifications. On the completion of this a reasonable progress payment on this and on further work would be made on the foreman’s certificate. In the event of the work not being done in accordance with the notice the contract would be terminated!. If wag decided that the contractors for. the improvement of the OrongoXopuai'ahl roadside drain, south side, and for the Miller-Hamilton drain be given notice to proceed with the work. Concerning the drains damaged by stock and pigs, the board dlecidedi to give the settlers concerned) notice that .they would be held liable fptr the damage, that they would have to restore the drain to its former condition and fence the drain. JUBILEE OUTLET. It was decided to call tenders for the excavation of. a new drain outside the new Jubilee floodgate. . FLAP IN DRAIN. < An application by Mr J. A. Robertson for a flap in one of his drains to prevent water from the board’s drains entering his land was declined, as a precedent would be created, but permission was given to instal a flap at his own expense. LOAN MONEY. The clerk was authorised to take kteps to raise another £lOOO of loan tttoney. VISIT OF MINISTER. Messrs Hicks, Heappey, and F. L. Hamilton Were appointed a committee tb meet the Minister of Public Works flfl hiß Visit of. inspection to the Waihou River stop-bank. FINANCE. Accounts totalling 4s Bdl were passed for payment.