NETHERTON DRAINAGE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5429, 27 May 1929, Page 4

NETHERTON DRAINAGE

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD. The Netherton Drainage Board held its monthly meeting at the Netherton Hall on Friday last, Mr G. Buchanan presiding over Messrs F. T. V. Johnson, B. Halligan, J. A. Reid, E. A. Chester, and J. E. Green (secretary). Transfer from Elstow. The chairman reported that he had been advised that the Elstow Drainage Board had agreed to the transfer of part of Fisher brothers’ land from its jurisdiction to that of the Netherton Board. The conditions were that the land would continue to bear special rates, and that a blockage be placed in certain drains on the dividing line. Under these circumstances the chairman said he had authorised the continuation of the drain cleaning work to R. Fisher’s boundary. This was approved, and the clerk was instructed to communicate with the Elstow Drainage Board and get the matter finalised as quickly as possible. On Mr Halligan’s representations the transfer of part of Mr J. Munro’s land was similarly agreed to. Hauraki Boundary Drain. In reply to the board’s letter to the Hauraki United Drainage Board relative to the drainage of G. Sarjant’s land, the clerk reported that the decision was to recommend the Netherton Board to urge the Public Works Department to reinstate the floodgate it had removed. It was decided to inspect the area. Location of Flood-gate. Considerable discussion took place on the question of the location of a flood-gate—whether' it should be at Ngahina bridge, as the board had agreed on the representations of a deputation of settlers, or whether it should be some 30 chains southward, as some of the settlers had since represented to the Public Works Department. The resident engineer had written giving the board the opportunity of amending its request if it so desired. , As no representations from the settlers had been received by the board it confirmed its previous request to have the gate installed near the bridge. Pukahu Road Culvert. It was decided to have the culvert under Pukahu Road on Mr W. Simpson’s frontage lowered as much as possible. Finance. The clerk produced a balance-sheet showing the board’s dealings up to March 31, as prepared for audit, and a supplementary report showing the position to date. The receipts for the period to March 31 amounted to £B3 19s 4d from rates, and the payments were £123 Ils 4d, being printing, stationery, and advertising £29 13s 9d, election expenses £l6 5s 6d, works £lO 10s 4d, rent, postage, and bureau fees £2 7s 9d, insurance £2 ss, salaries £5O, returning officer’s fees £8 15s 6d, travelling expenses 13s 6d, and bank charges ss. The debit balance was thus £39 12s. For the period from March 31 to May 24 the rates collected amounted to £396 17s lid, while payments comprised works £l6O 15s lid, printing, advertising and stationery £5 16s 6d, salaries £8 6s Bd, stamps and bureaux 4s lOd ; leaving a credit balance of £lB2 2s. The rates outstanding totalled £lB2 4s 2d. The total expenditure since the formation of the board on draincleaning was £326 19s 3d, and on culverts, etc., £3B 15s. In the various subdivisions this expenditure was divided as follows : Awaiti area, £206 8s 9d ; H. Drain area, £l3O 8s ; and Northern area, £2B 17s 6d. System of Rating. Rating on an acreage basis was advocated by Mr J. A. Reid, who moved that representations be made to the Internal Affairs Department pointing out that the board was strongly of opinion that it was in the interests of ratepayers in all drainage districts that they should be rated on an acreage basis for general rates, instead of the present system on valuation, but that the alteration should not affect the system of classification. Meetings. It was agreed that in future meetings be held at 1.30 p.m., instead of 10.30 a.m. Rates. The question of rate estimates will be considered at the next meeting, Mr Reid having advocated striking the rates early in the year. Control of Flood-gates. It was decided to again ask the Public Works Department to hand the control of flood-gates over to the board. Fencing. Mr Johnson reported that considerable damage had been done by cattle to the School Road drain since it had been cleaned. The settler had promised to fence this drain some months ago. The clerk was instructed to write to. Mr C. Potter calling on him to fence the drain, otherwise the board would do it at his expense and would also charge him with the cost of repairing the drain.