PLAINS DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5427, 22 May 1929, Page 3

PLAINS DRAINAGE.

HAURAKI UNITED AREA. MEETING OF BOARD. The Hauraki United Drainage Board held its monthly meeting at Turua on Friday last, Mr H. H. Hicks presiding over Messrs S. S. Murray, S. G. Williams, J. Hamilton, R. H. Heappey, F. Hamilton, F. L. Hamilton, and J. E. Green (clerk). Huirau Road Gate. Mr A. H. Sutton wrote drawing attention to the damaged state of the Huirau Road flood-gate. On the motion of the chairman the foreman was instructed to have repairs effected. Parry’s Corner Blockage. Messrs S. O. Philps, G. Parry, R. Hutchinson, G. Beck, and H. A. McCollum wrote objecting to the board placing a block of any description in the culvert at Parry’s Corner, as it would prevent the water from their land from getting away as freely as usual. Louch-McDuff Drain. Mr H. F. Louch acknowledged receipt of the board’s letter concerning the bad condition of his boundary fence on the lower portion of the Louch-McDuff drain. The fence was down for about three chains. He would repair it and see that it was kept in repair. Members pointed out that Mr Louch had not commented on the damage done to the drain by his cattle, and it was decided to take steps to recover the cost of repairs from him. A Nether ton Drain. The Netherton Drainage Board advised that the board’s request concerning the drain made by the Public Works Department at the back of G. Sarjant’s, junr., had been considered, and it had been decided to ask what subsidy or contribution the board would ask in consideration of the water from the above drain being allowed to go into the Pekapeka Road drain as at present, or, alternatively, the Netherton Board would have no objection whatever to the Turua Board taking into its area the whole of Sarjant’s property and' amending the boundaries accordingly. Mr Heappey said he did not think it right for the board to take over the drain, whereas any contribution by the Netherton Board would only be in respect of the short section from the flood-gate. A better proposition would be a direct outlet to the river. Subsidies. The clerk reported that since the last meeting he had visited the Lands Drainage Department in respect to subsidies. As a result the department had written giving a great deal of information on the subject. Ngatea Area. Messrs F. H. Speedy, C. Dale, R. Rowling, E. W. Martin, C. W. Schultz, E. Flavell, and T. Wheeler wrote submitting a proposition for the improvement of the drainage of their district by means of Johnstone’s drain. Consideration was deferred until the board ascertained its financial position. Foreman’s Report. The foreman, Mr J. A. Bennett, reported having made a new gate for the Horahia outlet with planks which the board had on hand. There was always water on the apron. The Jubilee contract was practically finished, but could not be finally completed until the old gate was removed to allow of the proper depths being reached. The Towers outlet below the road had been fenced. Trouble with slipping outside the Shelly Beach flood-gate had been experienced. It was necessary to keep it clear to enable the contractors to get the depth inside. Afterwards it could be kept clean by sluice-gate action. On the road corner at the Kopuarahi school all the old concrete had been removed and seven 2ft pipes removed and replaced with fifteen 4ft pipes eighteen inches deeper. Work had commenced on the Miller Hamilton drain, and the two contracts for the Ansford extension drain had been signed. Other work during the month had been general cleaning and improving.