PLAINS DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5414, 22 April 1929, Page 4

PLAINS DRAINAGE.

HAURAKI UNITED AREA. MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD. The Hauraki United Drainage Board held its monthly meeting at Tura on Friday, Mr H. H. Hicks presiding over Messrs J. Hamilton, F. L. Hamilton, S. G. Williams, R. H. Heappey, J. C. Miller, and J. E. Green (clerk). A Member’s Request. Mr S. S. Murray, a member of the board, wrote explaining that urgent business would prevent him from being present at the meeting. In view of his absence, and that of Mr J. Hamilton through illness, he asked the board to postpone the committal of further expenditure of loan money until the financial statement of loans and subsidies had been thoroughly gone into by the whole board. Under all the circumstances this seemed a reasonable request, in view of the fact that the balance of loan money remaining to be spent was getting very small, and also in view of the resolution passed by the board in August last as to the division of the expenditure of the loan. The financial statement now due would enable this to be done fairly, in accordance with that resolution, and the loan expenditure could then be allocated both as spent and unspent, so that all ratepayers would be paying their loan rate on their valuation in accordance with the division of the loan expenditure on the valuation basis also. Orchard Road Difficulty. Mr W. G. Hayward, representing the settlers of the Orchard East Road area, waited on the board with reference to the drainage of the south side of the road. He pointed out that several suggestions had been made which had not been acceptable, but it was thought that relief could be given by placing a partial blockage in the culvert at Parry’s corner to regulate the flow into the Orchard Road drains, and by closing a gap at the outlet of the Louch-McDuff drain to prevent water from flowing round the stopbank drain to the Orchard Road drain. He thought the suggestion of diverting water to Kneebone’s outlet was a good one. Members were surprised to learn that the Louch-McDuff and Orchard Road drains were conected. Mr Hayward spoke of the advisability of making his district a new subdivision. It had nothing in common with the rest of the present subdivision, and the defining of a new ward would be a definite step in the direction of getting a pumping area. He was of opinion that the boundary could very well be the Opou rating area line, and could comprise the whole of the western end of the two central wards. He thought the area should be made a watertight compartment by damming the existing drains, but recognised that this was a matter for the board. Mr Hicks said he had inspected the area and had been surprised to see that the Orchard East Road area was taking the whole of the water from the Louch-McDuff drain, as the floodgate in that drain would not operate and there was a direct connection by the stop-bank drain with the Orchard East road drain. He moved that the foreman procure an 18in pipe floodgate to be installed in the stop-bank drain at the junction with the LouchMcDuff drain, and to fill up the stopbank drain to the level of the Louch-, McDuff drain bank. Seconded by Mr Williams and carried. Mr Hicks also suggested restricting the flow at McDuff’s corner to the Orchard Road drain for a short period as a trial under working conditions. This was agreed to. The area members concerned were instructed to inquire into the cost of opening up Johnstone’s central drain and report to the board. Jubilee Outlet. Mr Williams reported that additional fluming was necessary in the new Jubilee cut. It was decided that the area members, be empowered to have an additional chain , of fluming done inside the floodgate as soon as possible. Wairau Road. Mr H. K. Peterson, Kerepeehi, wrote aking for improved outlets for that part of his farm south of the Wairau road. Up to the present nothing had been done to the cXitlet other than what he had done himself. He asked that the board pay him for this, and inspect the drain with a view to having attention given the matter as quickly as possible. The matter was, referred) to Mi’ Heappey and the foreman with power to act. Damage By Pigs. Correspondence between the Board and Mr D. Shilton, Kerepeehi, was road relative to damage done to drain by pigs, and! it was decided that the drain, be cleaned at Mr Shilton’s expense, the collection of the cost, when ascertained, being put in the hands of the Board’s solicitor. It was, also decided! that notice be sent to the following settlers relative to pigs being allowed to damage drains; W. McDuff, C. W- Schultz, J. M. Thompson, J. Handley, and the occupier of J. MUelli’s farm with respect to cattle. Louch-McDuff Outlet. The Lands Drainage Engineer, Kerepee'hi, advised that the outlet be-, tween the Louch-.Mc.Duff floodgate and* the river had been cleaned out by a dredge at the end of February. .. The clerk mentioned that the request had been made, as. slipping had occurred since the dredging was done. Loans For Pumping. The secretary Pf the Loe,al Government Loans Board forwarded' forms of application for sanction to raise a loan for pumping, together with a booklet containing information regarding the requirements of the Loans Board. Foreman’s Report. The foreman, Mr J. Bennett, reported that the principal work done during April had b.een the cleaning of outlet drains. Most of them were finished and good work had beep done

in mbst eases. The two-foot culvert at Harwood’s had been replaced with three-foot pipes, and the 2-ft. pipes were put in at Clevely’s. The culvert at Handley’s had been lowered 18 inches and a good outlet was now proprovided. On the completion of the factory outlet floodgate men were employed to clear a channel outside the gate, but trouble With slipping had been experienced. Contractors were working on the Jubilee and the factoiy outlets. New hinges had been fitted to Horahia floodgate, but it was found necessary to order a new gate. The wall required facing. The trouble about fencing continued, and a dead cow had to be removed from Johnstone’s outlet. This drain was. being seriously damaged by stock and would either have to be fenced or abandoned. Turua Culvert. S. W. Mer.cer was granted permission to culvert a drain on his frontage. Contracts. It was decided to call tenders for the completion of Bagnall’s outlet. The work will bq let in three sections. Seven tenders were received for the work of improving the MillerHamilton drain for 73 chains, and that of Tony Radich at £220» was accepted It was decided to call tenders for the cleaning of the balance of the drains in the Board's area Porritt’s Outlet. On the motion of Mr Heappey it was decided) to write to the Minister of Public Works, asking for an early, reply to the matters brought before him oin his recent visit concerning tr.e Carter Corner area, Pekapeka Road. Mr Heappey also had the Board agree to ask the Public. Works Department, Paeroa, to have the Pekapeka Road drains put into good order as promised. Water from Netherton. Advocating some finality in connection with tli® water from the Netherton Board’s district, which reached the Pekapeka road per, medium of a drain put in by the Public Works Department, Mr Heappey moved, anil it was carried, that the Netherton Drainage Beard be approached on the matter. Finance. The financial statement for the year to March 31 was presented to members, and it was| agreed to discuss it at a special meeting pin May 3. Accounts totalling £1135 10s were passed for payment.