Draining the Waitoa.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43385, 7 November 1908, Page 2

Draining the Waitoa.

At a representative meeting m the Waitoa School on Wednesday evening last the que tion of the draining .of the Waitoa Estate was thoroughly gone m to. \lr J. Walker wa. i 1 ihe chair, and Mr Gavin, chairman f the Piako County Council, was present he chairman pointed out the necessity of push'ng on with the drainage in anticipation of the winter.

a r Gavin explained the obstruction present dby want of funds. There had icen a certain amount of ambiguity about lie last clause in t’ e a no incut with the lank. This had led him (Mr GaVia) into tliinlnng that when the roads were dedicated the money would be avail--I,ble. This had proved not to be so. ifcill the Council had secured £I,OOO, and the work was begun. The last contract provided for Fastport Road, itid connected No. 2, and there was still £3,200 to their credit. Mr Henry corroborat d Mr Gavin’s remarks regarding the want of clearness a the wording of the agreement which, ,s ho pointed out, really secured nothing is it was so full of ambiguities, and was practically worthless. \The _ settlers had not been fairly dealt by, which was very regre'table. Mr Gilchrist showed them what had been done by the Piako County Council 1 a striving -to exp dite the I’aising of the loan. Mr Gavin said it would be worth the ,'ouncil’s consideration, to hand over the funds to a Drainage Board in ithe event of such a board being formed. Mr Gilchrist put a motion to the effect that in view of the speedy formation of a Drainage Board, which vill follow tho gazetting of the district his week, all arrangements be left to •hat Board. The motion was seconded bh Mr Magill, but Mr Henry moved an imendment protesting against the loss )f time in getting tenders called, and the waste of money on petty _ contacts ; and urging the Council to lommence opening the drains at once, ir else hand over the funds to the Drainage Board for the work. This imendment was seconded by Mr Mathieson and carried. A letter from the Railway Department was read by the Secretary asking tha to avoid confusion the name of Waitoa be altered to Flaeremai, as the present name too much resembled Waihou and Waihi. It was decided to hold over this matter until the next meeting. Mr Gilchrist’s action in making arrangements regarding the Drainage ’oard was approved of by a motion.