PLAINS DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5451, 22 July 1929, Page 3

PLAINS DRAINAGE.

HAURAKI UNITED AREA.

MEETING OF BOARD. The Hauraki United Drainage Board held its monthly meeting at Turua on Friday, Mr H. H. Hicks presiding over the following : Messrs S. S. Murray, J. C. Miller, F. L. Hamilton, J. Hamilton, S. G. Williams, R. H. Heappey, and the clerk, Mr J. E. Green. Subsidies. Referring to a request for a subsidy of £lOOO, the Hon. G. Forbes, Minister for Lands, mentioned in a communication that subsidies approved for the board amounted to £8240 on loans amounting to £15,500, .which was

equivalent to a payment of slightly .over £1 for £2 on all works completed I or proposed to date. “I understand,” said the Miniver, /‘that the board still has some important works to complete, but my officers consider there is a tendency to propose works with a view to evening up

the loan expenditure in the various wards within the drainage district ' without sufficient regard to the value ..of the improvements. It would further appear .that the board frequently alters its proposals so that it is very difficult for the officers of my department to follow the details.” The 1 Minister requested the board to “take stock of its position” and submit the following information ; The completed works carried out with • loan moneys, and the expenditure on each work; the details of present commitments, showing expenditure to date and the estimated cost to com- , plete ; Rowing definitely what works were proposed out of loan money, and the estimated cost of such works. The chairman said the board had actually only been able to Jifta SU ' J ‘ sidy of 6s 8d in the £. The Minister appeared to be confusing grants with subsidies. . .1 ■ It' was resolved to ask for further details on this point. Mr Miller thought that the department should be thanked for its candour and asked to state in what manner the board had overstepped the mark in regard to the evening-up of loan expenditure. Other members agreed that the board had found it necessary to alter its plans, a procedure that was not unknown to Government departments. It was decided to reply to the Minister on the lines indicated by the dis- ' ' f cussion. Horahia Flooding. " The Hauraki Plains County Council requested remedial measures in connection with the flooding of the Horahia road by tidal waters overstopping the stop-bank. On the motion of the ehairman it was resolved to ask the council to prove the obligation of the board to keep tidal waters off county roads. McLarin’s Drain. Mr J. W. McLarin desired the board to replace a fence removed by its contractors from a; sub-divisional drain. The removal of spoil was also required. The latter request was agreed to, together, with an instruction to the contractors to carry out certain other’ works. Wairau Road Outlets. On the ground that the racecourse drain was not functioning satisfactorily, "H. K. Peterson requested the cutting .'of a-new. outlet drain from Wairau Road to the Mangonui drain. Mr Heappey detailed lengthy negotiations with the applicant,-who peared to think t’ e board should drain the four sides of his farm. , It was stated that the foreman had carried out the necessary work. Waihou Stop-banking. Five Huirau Road settlers petitioned for the erection of a stop-bank to prevent the Waihou River from flooding .their holdings. The chairman stated that the Hon. Ransom., Minister for Public Works, had visited the locality many months ago, and his reply was long overdue. He moved that a decision by the Minister to authorise a responsible official to again discuss this work with the settlers be requested. Thames Valley Area. < W. IL. J. Heasman requested the deepening of a stop-bank drain at the back of his holding. He claimed tha£ this work had been promised on the installation of a flood-gatg for the Thames Valley outlet drain. It was resolved to deepen the drain when the applicant installed a floodgate. ... • Government Subsidy. The Department of Lands and Survey intimated that proposed work for the Factory and Kopuarahi-Shelly Beach drains, for which a subsidy was apparertly wanted, did not figure in ,the schedule in which a subsidy was granted It appeared thac the time was opportune for the overhauling of the board’s programme of works, in order that subsidy balances might be definitely allocated. The department also desired to know if any schedlue of works was mentioned on the ballotpaper for the Hor inia loan. The clerk stated that the schedule of work" had not been mentioned on ‘ the ballot-paper for the Horahia loan proposals. The clerk was deputed to forward the required information to the department. By-laws. It wa .■ resolved to hold a special meeting on Monday, July 29, for the purpose of compiling by-laws. Valuation. The Valuer-General intimated that a. revaluation of the county was now being undertaken. The clerk was instructed to supply the required statistics. Stock in Drains. Objection to statements alleging that his stock had damaged. a drain was taken hy J. W. McLarin, who said that the allegations were contrary to ; fact. He invited members of the board to “come and see for themselves.”