Pipiwhakao Drain To Take Rakaukaka Water : Joint Action

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23211, 24 March 1950, Page 4

Pipiwhakao Drain To Take Rakaukaka Water : Joint Action

Realisation of the fact that the direction of water from the Rakaukaka farm settlement into the Tansley Itoad drain would cause a serious bottleneck in the Piphvhakao drain was reached at a meeting of the Cook County Council yesterday and, as a result, it was decided that the engineer, Mr. F. K. Jones, and the engineer to the P.B. Catchment Board, Mr. A. D. Todd, should confer on the matter. A letter was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Gisborne, advising that his department intended to construct drains on the Rakauknka settlement to connect with the Tansley Road drain.

Correspondence was received from Mr. G. H. Cooper, on behalf of Pipiwhakao settlers, expressing concern regarding the consequences. He asked also whether maintenance of the lower reaches was the responsibility of the council or the catchment board.

Mr. J. R. Hair also expressed concern over the position being created, but said lie had been pleased to learn that the Crown was prepared to assist. Pipiwhakao was a natural ponding area, taking water from Waerenga-o-kuri and Patutahi. All that water converged on the Pipiwhakao drain. Rakauknka also was a ponding area and if fed into the Pipiwhakao drain it would create a serious bottleneck. Increased Flow

It would be necessary, he considered, to regrade the Pipiwhakao drain and create a greater capacity to handle the increased flow. The drain was now vested in the council, he explained, but its development would require a joint effort and a reasonable subsidy to get it in order.

Mr. liair said it was pleasing to learn that the Commissioner of Crown Lands was prepared to meet interested parties and be a party to an agreement. Tlie Crown, he understood, was anxious to continue with'the drainage scheme and the general development of the area. The chairman, Mr. Roland Graham, said the Tansley Road drain had been put in during the depression, and had been dug at the expense of the ratepayers who secured the benefit of the drain. It was about Oft. deep and had only a 12in. culvert at the bottom. Further correspondence from the Commissioner stated his department would contribute £250 towards the cost of improving the Whntatuna drain, which would take some of the water from the Rnkaukaka settlement.