HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5502, 18 November 1929, Page 4

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

MEETING OF UNITED BOARD. The Hauraki United Drainage Board held its monthly meeting at Turua on Mr H. H. Hicks presiding over Messrs J. C. Miller, F. L. Hamilton, R. H. Heappey, J. Hamilton, S. G. Williams, S. S. Murray, the clerk (Mr J. E. Green), and the foreman (Mr J. A. Bennett). Kerepeehi Showground. Messrs Miller and Son and Poulgrain, Thames, wrote inquiring the amount of rates owing on the freehold property known as the Showground, Kerepeehi, and owned by the Hauraki Plains A. and P. Association. The clerk reported that the amounts were : 1926-27, £6 17s 6d ; 1927-28, £3 8s 9d and £1 14s 4d ; and 1928-29, £3 8s 9d and £1 14s sd, making a total of £l7 3s 9d, of which £6 17s 6d was statute barred. In a later letter the solicitors acknowledged receipt of this information and advised that there was a good prospect of this property being sold to a satisfactory purchaser, in which case it was reasonable to assume that all future rates would be paid. It was understood that any indulgence granted by the board in the past in the matter of rates on this property had been for the assistance of the association, and had not in any way benefited the As the amount of cash passing on the sale would be small, and not nearly sufficient to cover all outgoings, the board was respectfully urged to write off all arrears owing. In this connection it was mentioned that the Hauraki Plains Copnty Council had seen fit to forego all arrears of rates owing to the council. The clerk explained that the board was legally empowered to remit rates on land owned by A. and P. associations. It was decided that if £9 was paid the balance would be remitted. Huirau Point. The assistant engineer of the Public Works Department, Paeroa, advised that the flood-gate at the outlet of Baker’s drain, Huiyau .Road, appeared to be collapsing. Under the circumstances the stop-bank that was being put. up by the department would not be joined up to the flood-gate until it had been put in order. The clerk reported that Mr Barclay, of the Public Works Department, had called upon him with reference to the work in the Huirau Point area. A catchwater drain was being made inside the floodgate, and it would be graded to all of the existing floodgates, but there would be blockages in the drain midway between each two gates. The banks were being made 20ft. wide and 3ft. high. In the case of the Baker drain it was possible to get a depth of sft, but the drain would be made to whatever depth was desired by the board. It would be folly to make the bank over the gate in its existing state. The department was expending a great deal of money in this area, and it was unlikely that money would be granted for repairs to the flood-gate, though the department would undoubtedly undertake the actual work if desired by the board. In view of the permanent nature of the stop-bank the gate should be made to meet future requirements. It could either have a short culvert and wingwalls or a culvert for/the full width of the stop-bank. I It was decided to ask that the drain be made sft deep, and that nine feet of 3ft culvert, walls, and flood-gate be installed, the department to be asked to quote a price for doing the job to a committee of the board. Defective Flood-gate. Mr C. W. Schultz, Ngatea, wrote drawing attention to the fact that the flood-gate at the end of Johnstone’s internal drain was defective, with the result that the tides flowed up the “drain. The board was asked to have repairs effected. It was decided to advise the writer that the gate was not at present under the board’s jurisdiction, but as it was not the intention of the Lands Drainage Department to fill it in he might be able to get assistance from that department. Wairau Road. Mr H. K. Petersen, Kerepeehi, wrote drawing attention to the fact that up to the present the board’s representatives had not inspected the drainage of his property, Wairau Road, as promised. Mr Heappey, the area member, stated that the matter had not been lost sight of, and would be attended to in due course. Foreman’s Report. The foreman, Mr J. A. Bennett, reported that the past month had been a very slack one, as drains had required very little maintenance. The bottom had been taken up from the Jubilee outlet from the old gate to Hauraki Road. The Zig-zag improvement had been finished unsatisfactorily, and sufficient money was being held to complete the work. The fencing and bridges on Bagnall’s had been finished above the road, but below the road the fencing required attention. The concrete flood-gate on Bagnall’s drain which had been broken had been replaced with a wooden gate made from old bridge timber. The damage to Taylor’s flood-gate had been inspected. Repairs could be done so that no further damage would happen. The drain required fencing. It would be necessary to prepare for fluming the factory outlet at Shelly Beach as soon as the dry weather set in. There was a thick growth of thistles on the new outlets, and it would be far easier and cheaper to remove it now than to wait for the usual drain-cleaning time. Further fluming was required on the intake end of the present fluming in the Jubilee outlet. In discussing the report the foreman detailed the damage done to Bagnall’s drain by A. Ansford’s cattle, and it was decided to ask Mr Ansford to erect a fence immediately, otherwise , the work would be done by the board at his expense. The foreman was instructed to give attention to the flood-gate at Taylor’s outlet.

In connection with the flumftig of the Shelly Beach outlet, it was agreed to have plans and specifications prepared and submitted to the chief drainage engineer for approval, so that a subsidy could be lifted. The two area members w ere instructed to inspect the fluming on the Jubilee outlet and report to the next meeting. The cutting of green thistles on new outlet drains was left to the foreman. Erection of Bridge. J. C. Miller, junr., wrote asking for permission to erect a bridge across the Willow Extension drain.—Granted. Board’s Property. In connection with the board’s section at the corner of Piako and Kere-peehi-Kopuarahi road, the clerk reported that the lessee had reported to him that he had been unable to make any use of the land on account of the lack of bridging and water, and while prepared to pay rent up to March 31 last, he would not pay from that date. The chairman mentioned that there was a good chance of selling the hay from the area if the surface was harrowed down and improved and the road fences improved. The area members were deputed to deal with the matter to the best advantage. Porritt’s Outlet. As no reply had been received to the representations made to the Minister Minister of Public Works on his visit it was decided to write for a reply to the request for an extension of Porritt’s outlet. Grants and Subsidies. The chief drainage 'engineer, Mr R. G. Macmorran, advised that the following items appeared on this year’s Ecstimates : Hauraki United Drainage Board, £220 £1 for £2, and £795, £1 for £3 ; Horahia Drainage Board, £225, £1 for £3, and £2434 grant for Te Kauri outlet. The clerk reported at length on matters in connection with grants and subsidies, and was accorded a vote of thanks for having cleared up a very doubtful position.