AWAITI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5518, 30 December 1929, Page 3

AWAITI DRAINAGE.

ELSTOW BOARD’S AGREEMENT. A MISUNDERSTANDING. Discussing the Awaiti agreement at the Elstow Drainage Board meeting on December 19 (says the Te Aroha News), Mr Carter said there had been a slight misundertanding. There were two rates on most of the land, but the Government rate was to be cut out on March 31, 1930, and the board was to take over then, or one year and 8 months from the signing of the agreement, whichever should be the later. The board could not take over the drains until they could see that they were in a proper condition. Most of the rate struck for this year by the department was spent last autumn. The department did its cleaning in anticipation of the rates, but the board did its work after the rates were struck. Mr Taylor wanted the board to define the conditions on which it would take over the drains. He would suggest that instead of taking over in February that they take over on March 31, and that it be a condition that the drains were in first-class order and were of the dimensions stipulated in the agreement. He intended when the main drain was taken over to move that provision be made for taking about 2ft off the top and nothing off the bottom, increasing the matter and making the cost of cleaning less. Mr Dunn said that if Mr Carter’s ideas were carried out a tremendous quantity of the spoil taken off the top would go into the bottom of the drain and would be carried along the drain. Mr Carter said he wanted to reduce the width of the drain at the bottom, and in doing this with the spoil taken off the top a safe batter could be given. Mr Dale said he had had some experience of the class of country through which the drain ran, and he approved of Mr Carter’s suggestion. Mr Carter said the sides of the drain in places were perpendicular and Bft high. When the ground cracked and the side of the drain came down it fell right across the drain, causing a blockage, instead of, as was expected, sliding down and giving a natural batter. It was the study he had made of the drain which caused him to express the views he had placed before the meeting. Mr Carter moved that the board write to the department stating that it considered that the board should take over the drains on March 31, the date on which the department’s rating ceased, and that the drains should be clean and in first-class order so that an engineer could see that they were up to specified dimensions. Mr Davey : We should call upon the department to put on batters. Mr Carter : There is no provision for that in the agreement. The motion was seconded by Mr Dunn and carried. It was suggested that in writing to the department it should be pointed out that the department’s rating was to March 31 next year. Mr Dunn : That is not necessary. All we want is that the drains be handed over in a clean condition. Mr Carter : The department wants to get out of the cleaning next autumn. Mr Dunn : According to the agreement we may (not shall) take over at the end of January, that being one year and eight months after the agreement was signed.