AREA FLOODING

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32404, 8 March 1944, Page 5

AREA FLOODING

PROBLEM AT MANGAITI POSITION OUTLINED MR J. THORN, M.P., INTERESTED Writing to Mr J. Thorn, M.P., the clerk to the Thames Valley Drainage Board (Mr H. Rowbotham) gave full details of 'the drainage position affecting the properties of Messrs 1 H. Strange and Andrews Brothers at Mangaiti, which had been inspected by the member during a recent visit to the district. The area still leased by the Thames Borough was also taken into account. “The main drain catchment area which discharges into the Waihou river through Strange’s property, comprises some '2500 acres and this system was laid out in 1917-19, working fairly satisfactorily until the Waihou river was stopbanked by the P.W.D.,” wrote Mr Rowbotham. Position Worsened “This had the effect of holding the water in the floodgate towards which the board found £2OO of the total cost of £6OO. This has not had the desired effect and the position is no doubt aggravated by the willow clearing on the upper reaches of the Waihou river up to the Gordon settlement (at a cost of £18,000) carried out by the P.W.D. as an unemployment relief scheme. Now the waters in the Waihou reach the floodgates before the drain can discharge its waters, which are ponded inside the stopbank and then flow down through the Thames Borough Endowment land and make their way to the Awaiti canal. The Endowment drain was not designed to take this overflow and it is suggested that it should be enlarged considerably and a branch drain constructed towards the bottom end of the main drain to take the overflow from the latter. “ The board has no funds for* this capital expenditure which would probably be a fairly costly matter, yet if the scheme could be satisfactorily carried out it would bring- a considerable area of unproductive land into use and also benefit a large area of land at present only partly developed.” Mr Thorn’s Reply Mr Thorn’s reply was that he proposed to take up the matter with the Minister of Works on the basis suggested by Messrs Strange and Andrews. This was: First that an engineering survey be made to determine whether there was enough fall for the drainage proposed, the cost to be met by the settlers concerned. Second: That if the project was practicable the work to be done by the Works (Department on a Government grant, the settlers to assist by carrying a - rate to be decided. As no reply had yet been received from the Minister, the board was unable to discuss the matter further.