Draining the Waitoa.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43377, 24 September 1908, Page 3

Draining the Waitoa.

A COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME.

ADOPTED BY PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL,

At the Piako County Council meeting on Monday the following comprehensive scheme, drawn up by Mr W. R. Johnson, County Supervisor was adopted : “As instructed I have prepared and compiled a scheme of roading the Waitoa Block, which I ipresent as follows:—In compiling this report I have gone most fully into the matter of drainage first and foremost, as this was the first item to be decided upon before any satisfactory system of roading could be considered, and in presenting to you this report, I attach a scheduled list of the cost of constructing each road. In dealing with the draining of the large volume of water that will accumulate at the lower end of No. 1 Hoad I have worked on St. Hill and Thompsons’ levels as far as I deemed was practicable, and after very careful examination of such, combined with the natural fall of the country I have come to the conclusion that to efficiently drain the roads in this vicinity, it will be necessary to depart from the scheme as laid down by them. The most objectionable part of their scheme is the accumulation of all the water on the block to the west side of No. 1 Road at a point (in the Ohinemuri County) where No. 9 road intersects No. 1 Road, and if this were done I consider it would be a huge mistake. Between No. 4 Road and Wisemans’ Road there is about 130 chains of very low lying road, and abaut midway between the points mentioned it is very nearly as low as it is at the point where it? was proposed to concentrate the water as aforestated, consequently this low portion of road would be in great danger of being flooded for the greater part of each winter, and the cost of maintaining it would be considerable.

The No. 1 Road drainage would be blocked by the large body of water that would be coming down the No. 9 road drain, which would cause this 130 chains to be, at most periods, standing full of water that would be dead, and the possibility would be that the property on the west side of the road would be flooded. Then, again, there are other most objectionable features attached to their proposed scheme. In carrying the No. 7 road water down the No. 9 Road drain, there is a sand bank to contend with, which would have to be timber flumed to ensure its being kept open, and this drain would have to be made to a considerable size to carry all the water that would come here.

By carrying the water along the No. 7 Road to the No. 9 Road drain there is about three miles of heavy draining to be done, which in my opinion is not necessary to construct this portion of that road, as it traverses for the most part gqod soundrbottomed country, consequently the cost of construction could be considerably lessened by dealing with this I road water in another way. Then again on this road between No. 2 sqad and Irvenes’ gate there is another sandbank to be cut through to a length pf about 30 chains, which would also haye to be timber flumed to keep it open. The dr-iin here would be Bft Gin in depth. The point where it is proposed to concentrate all the water, as before mentioned on No 1 Road, is in the Ohinetruri County, and we have no guarantee from that body that they will make adequate provision for dealing with all this water. On the other hand this County has already made arrangements with the Ohinemuri County whereby they will contribute half the cost of improving that portion of Ohine Creek, in the Ohinemuri County, between the Waitoa Biver and our boundary line, and I think the wisest policy for us to adopt would be to take advantage of that arrangement as far as it is deemed necessary by the graining of the roads into this creek. scheme which I propose in the goading and draining of the 1 lock is one that will deal most effectively with the prater, as I proppse to keep tp tljat part j}f the block Where the most uniform fall gqq be procured, and by go doing the j?oadß should at all times bo clear of water.

I propose to deal with the No. 1 .Road water in the following manner:—By making and improving two main drains to the Ohine Creek, one at the lowest portion of the road at about 20 chains to the South side of No. 5 drain, and through Mr Grleesons’ property, a distance of about 120 chains, and a bottom width of five feet, also a greater depth at the road of three feet. This will draw all water from the north side of the outlet to Wisemans Boad, also from No. 4 Road intersection. There is at present a fairly good drain down this proposed line, consequently the cost of construction should not be very great. . -The other drain I propose to construct |s down the No. 4 I}rain line, also to the sanje creek. 'This drain I cqng jdpr should pe ipacje tp aii git bottom width, the length is about 75 chains and touches the greek at abqut 6 chains high er U P« The ptljer outlej; as already mentioned is about 1 Qft to the sputlj'of the boundary

fine. I haye tried tlie levels in both these drains and ir> the firgt mentioned there is 8- J2ft fall and in the other there is a 14ft fall, go it will be readily seen that "with this amount of fall the roads should be kept T*ery free from water, and it will get away in quick time, which is the main factor obtaining in road making. To obtain the same amount of fall by keeping along the roads about double the distance would have to be traversed. This No. 4 Drain will be required to deal with a large volume of water, hence the provision made by instituting such a large bottom width. It will also be necessary to deepen this drain at the road to a greater of 3ft. The water this drain will have to deal with Constitutes all water oh the No. 1 Road to the No. 2 Road intersection, also all water that is brought to the No. 1 Road per medium of the No. 3 Drain. This No. 3 Drain deals with the Nq. 7 Road Water from the windmill to a point opposite Mr Irvines’ gate, also all that Water o.n the No. 2 Road west of No. 7 Rqad to the West Road. It will be

necessary to increase the sectional area of the No. 1 Road from the No. 4 outlet to a [point about 40 chains south of the ftl.4 wqolghed site, sq as to clear that low pjepe of road between there and the old qutlet known as the Pqkeko drain. Both of these outlets are in very good positions to deal with the drainage of the blqok, and should be a great acquisition towards draining the adjoining lands, and in the event of a Drainage Board being inaugurated, the Council should be able to recouperate some of the present outlay by way of compensation for drains taken over by such a body. The balance of the No. 1 Road water from the No. 2 Road to "near Farrows’ Mill, together with that water that comes out of this road per medium of the No. 7 outlet drain could be taken along the No. 1 Road Drain to its intersection with theJNo. 2 Road and here divided

and half taken down to the No. 2 Road drain, the other half could go down the No. 1 Road drain to the No. 4 outlet drain. The No. 7 outlet drain deals with the water from the No. 7 Road for about 6o chains.

It may be deemed necessary to increase the sectional area of this drain, but I do not consider it will be necessary for road purposes, although I have provided for such being done in the estimates.

It will be found necessary to clean up a portion of the main drain to carry the water clear of the No. 2 Road. This completes the drainage of these roads in

a most systematic manner. The drainage of the West Road to the north of the No. 3 drain intersection and of the No. 4 Road, to the west of a high ridge beyond the No. 7 Road, I do not attempt to give an estimate of, as it is at present an inaccessable swamp, and to drain them would mean a very large outlay.

This would be more a matter for the Drainage Board to deal with than for a County Council, as a large area of fertile 1 country would be involved, andl a settlement at present does not warrant j the large outlay necessary to construct theroads. 1

The balance of the No. 7 Road water, j from the Windmill to the No. 9 road, I ! prppose to let go as at present, as the f roads in this vicinity are in very fair ' order and the amount of traffic at present does not warrant any large outlay. It will be found that when this country is taken in hand and outlet drains put in

the fall is away to the Piako River, and the imore drains we cut here the more water we draw out of its natural fall. The Ohine Creek is in a bad state of repair, but it would not be good policy to attempt to do anything with it at the present juncture, as the Waitoa River is the source of the trouble, which should be remedied iwhen the Government proceed to snag the river. In dealing with the No. 2 -Road water

1 have provided in the estimates for two j three by three Totara culverts to go ■ across this road at where there is always ' a large accumulation of flood water, at about 25 chains to the west of the main drain. These culverts will outfall into a large spoil drain on the north side of the road, and ultimately the main drain. I considered'this was a necessary adjunct to the construction of this portion of this road. In dealing with the roads con- ! struction I may state that to keep within the limits of the amount available to spend, I have based my estimates on a . uniform width of roadway of 24 feet top width, which I ask the Council to con- , Arm. j The material that will be required to ; build up the roads will be procured by the use of spoil drains where required, and by grading off hills, also by utilising spoil that is obtained by increasing the sectional area of the road side drains, and when calculating the cost of grading and also removing the spoil from the side drains, I have allowed for a sufficient width in such drains to ensure wheel scoqps being utilised in them, which should lessen the cost of shifting the material, i At all cross road intersections I hp,ve provided for Totara culverts being put in and although the cost will be mqre th*W ' it would otherwise be by sill bridging, I there is no question as to the comparision between the two methods of making the most satisfactory job, j I have prepared a detailed account of the cost of construction of each of th® roads, together with the cost of cutting the outfalls in connection with each road, excepting those roads which I have already reported on in dealing with the drainage scheme heretofore. These roads cannot be taken in hand at the present time, as the drainage of such would be beyond our resources. The portion of the West Road between No. 2 Road and Mr Milikkens’ boundary line could be repaired very cheaply, as there is a very good bottom to work qn, and would only require three sets of lijin pipes and some fascines to cover them. The bridge at thg intersection qf the No. 2 Road has been dpstrpyed by fire

will require to bp renewed tq giye access to the No. 2 road. Tlie total pqst qf th e above works wqiild prqbqbly take about £7O 10s. Tp proceed with the work of preparing contracts fqr these roads will take a lot of time as the engineers have not left any sign of the necessary level pegs to work on. There are chainage pegs, but these would not be found of much account when dealing with the

levelling of the various sections prior to preparing plans and specifications necessary for calling for contracts. In dealing with this scheme of rolling the block I would humbly ffte Council’s attention to' l thp facp that in carrying out the drainage of these roods >ye are unavoidably compelled to enter on to the Settlers’ lands and construct and improve the necessary outlets which are required to drain the roads, and consequently, we are also to a certain patent, draining their farms, if tty sq doing, and thereby spending public money, the Council are going to make themselves at all future times liable fqr the maintenance of" thesp draiqs, are great reason's for toeing very caqtioqs and making dqubly sqre qf their pqsitiqn

before committing thpmsplveg. I estimate the total cost of pqudhig the block as per scheduled lj§t at tjie sum of £4,951 6s. Thig includes all draining coptrapts recently let qp the Eastport Rqad and also the contracts Jet on the No. \ Foad ftt the Waitoa Creamery, !! building culvert and oarth- ‘ works,” Cr. MoQlwin said the scheme laid down, if carried out, would prove the salvation of the Waitoa Estate. The report was indeed a credit to Supervisor Johnson. —Cr. McCaw said that he knew the estate pretty well, and considered the proposed drains would simply > make the place. He considered the western side should be run straight down through Mrs property to Piako. Until this "was done they would never have a complete system. It was the key to the drainage of the western side, —The Chairman said he was always of the opinion that a schptup of the sort mentioned should he carried out. - Cr.

McCaw considered the proposed Drainage Board should take over the drains after the work had been done.—Cr. Main said if it was left till before the settlers were appr ached, he did not think they would then take the drains > over. They should be seen first.—The j expressed the opinion that j fenders be called for the drainage work, j and that settlers be approached before the work wag proceeded with with a view to taking the drains over, the Drainage Board be allowed portton of settlers’ rates for up-keep of same. —Cr. Keeley moved to this offect, and Cr. McCaw seoonded and it was carried. The report was adopted on the motion of Cr. Keely seconded by Cr. Manuel. A deputation consisting of Messrs Henry, Mclndoe, McGill, Gleeson,

Farrow, and Matheson waited on the Council relative to the Waitoa Estate drainage question.—Mr Henry said he hoped the Government would be asked to contribute towards draining the 6,000 odd acres of Crown Land in this locality. The settlers considered the Government should subsidise that drain The deputation cansidered that if the water waa

carried across country the holding capacity of the Obine Creek would have to be increased enormously.—Mr Mclndoe and Mr Gletson also spoke in a similar strain I —The Chairman explained that the Council had not lest sight of ths points brought forward. The ment would be asked to contribute, and the main outfalls would receive careful attention. —The deputation thanked the Council and withdrew.