PLAINS DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5485, 9 October 1929, Page 1

PLAINS DRAINAGE.

HAURAKI WEST AREA. MEETING OF BOARD. The Hauraki Plains West Drainage Board held its final meeting prior to the election on Saturday morning, Mr C. W. Parfitt presiding over Messrs. A. H. McClean, J. Motion and T. A. McClean. The clerk, Mr E. L. Walton, was in attendance. Mr A. Douglas was granted leave of absence.. Dual Drains. The chief drainage engineer, Auckland, drew attention to the fact that two drains on the board’s boundary benefited the Government land as well as the area under the board’s control. He suggested that the cost of last season’s cleaning and necessary improvements be divided equally between the board and the department. Phillips’ road drain had been cleaned and improved by the board at a cost of £B2 14s, whilst the department expended £24 17s on the other drain referred to—that on the southern boundaries or sections 8 to 12, block X., Wharekawa S.D.. If the suggestion of dual control was agreeable the department would pay the Board the sum of £2B 18s 6d. and the subsidy would be paid on £53 1555 6d for these drains. Replies to Deputations. Replies to the representations made by the board on the visit to Ngatea were received from the Minister of Lands, the Hon. G. W. Forbes. The question of re-voting the sum of £l5O for work on Puhanga Island would be considered with the Public Works Fund Estimates of the current year. The chief drainage engineer having reported that the 2-foot culvert on the Pipiroa-Ngatea Road for the PaulLeonard drain was of inadequate size, the Public Works Department had be requested to provide a grant of £l5O on this year’s estimates to enable it to be replaced by a 4-foot culvert. The construction of a stop-bank to prevent the overflow of water from the Crown area at the back of Pouarua Road at a cost of £4OO could not be approved, as the only material available was peat; thus a satisfactory bank could not be constructed. By the winter of 1930 the road drain will have been enlarged and a bank constructed alongside. Concerning subsidies the Minister advised that the arrangement entered into by his predecessor would be continued, and the portion relating to annual maintenance would be -made to conform with the drain-cleaning year. Free Grant. The chief drainage engineer, Auckland,, forwarded a voucher for £ll3 12s 9d, being a free grant for the construction of a drain near the stopbank near Baxter’s on the Puhanga Island block. Pouarua Road Drain. ’ Mr H. A. Torr w'rote asking the board to bear half the cost of cleaning the drain on the western side of Pouarua Road. The sum involved was £6 6s. This was • agreed to, with the proviso that it was without prejudice in regard to the future. A Stop-Bank Drain. Alleging that the board had refused to clean the drain along the stopbank opposite Mr T. Leonard’s land, with the result that the drainage from their client’s land was affected, a firm of lawyers wrote asking for the board’s comments. This was considered in committee. On standing orders being resumed the following recommendation was adopted : “That the reply be that the board was maintaining drains on two sides of the section, and also provides an outlet to the north-east corner of the section ; that it considers these sufficient to enable him to drain his land efficiently ; that the board has not maintained the stop-bank drain in question, and does not consider the same necessary, and in this view it is supported by the Lands Drainage Department.” Finance. The treasurer reported that the bank overdraft was £928 Bs, against which £36 2s 6d had been collected. Subsidy amounting to £599 10s 4d was due to be collected, and outstandrates amounted to £225 2s Bd. Rates. In accordance with notice given the chairman moved that a general rate of lid in the £ on the unimproved valuation of all land be levied. Rawerawe Drainage. Mr Coath, representing Mr P. H. Sutton and Mr Miles, waited upon the board in support of correspondence during the past two months relative to flooding pf their lands by water from Davidson’s outlet. The installation of flaps and dams in certain drains had been suggested as palliatives. After a long discussion the board agreed to instal a flap at the northwest corner of Mr Miles’ section, provided the settlers contribute 50 per cent, of the cost of the completed job.