IMPROVED DRAINAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1926, Page 10

IMPROVED DRAINAGE.

EFFECT ON HAURAKI PLAINS

ABSENCE •OF FLOODING.

(Prom Our Own Correspondent.)

PAEROA, Thursday

Although the amount of rain that has fallen on the Hauraki Plains during the present year is about the average for similar periods of the last few years there has not been any sign of flooding' and the amount of surface water has been negligible. Undoubtedly the dryness of the past summer has been a contributing factor, but an aspect that has escaped due consideration is the amount of improvement that has been effected in the drainage schemes and in the Piako River. In the lower reaches of the river floods have never exceeded high spring tide mark by very much, and the damage has been caused by the' internal drains being unable to discharge the storm-water owing to the length of time the water was high, or to the failure of stop-banks. On occasions during the present winter, the drains have been bank high on very wet days. but owing to the improvements that have been effected in the outlets and in the river the water has not been dammed up for any length of time, and the danger of an inundation has therefore escaped notice. Both the Horahia and Hauraki Drainage -Boards and the Lands Department have had the drains under their care well cleaned this season, and the drains are functioning well. The new work of the Horahia Board has been much commended by the settlers affected, avd while no one has blLought of publicly commending the Lands Drainage Department on its work, the absence of the numerous complaints that have been heard in previous winters ig a testimony of no mean nature.