DRAINAGE MATTERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2766, 24 August 1931, Page 2

DRAINAGE MATTERS.

■ « HAURAKI UNITED BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING.' IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED. The Chairman (Mr H. H. on Friday last at Turua presided over Messrs R. H. Heappey, F. L. Hamilton, S. G. Williams, J. C. Miller, S. S’. Murray, and the clerk (Mr J. E. Green) at the August meeting of the Hauraki United Drainage Board. Drainage Bill Dropped. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hqn. P. A. de la Perelle) acknowledged the Board’s letter, forwarding a resolution suggesting additional provisions in the Land Drainage and River Protection Bill, but stated that the Bill had been submitted to Cabinet and jvould not be proceeded with during the present session. Loader-Greenaway Drain. Mr Frank Loader notified the Board that the fence on the Loader-Green-away drain was in bad repair. Twenty posts were needed and the wires were slack. The damage had been caused through slips in the sides of the drain. Mr Williams said that Mr Leader was, he' thought, willing to provide half the posts and do half the work. The offer was accepted, the foreman being deputed to inspect the position. Drain Cleaning Requested. Mr G. Clevely notified the Board that the drain on the Ngatipua East Road required cleaning. It was more than half full and his drains were in the same state. ' A plan of the locality was produced by the clerk and the meeting discussed the matter fully. After a £reat deal of argument between Trustees Murray and Miller, no definite decision could be reached, so the meeting resolved to inspect the position before taking action. f Rate Declared. The Chairman moved, in accordance with his notice of motion at last meeting, that the rates, as advertised, be struck and levied. Shelly Beach Stopbank. In accordance with his promises, expressed to last meeting of the Board, the Chief Land Drainage Engineer (Mr R. C. Macmorran) visited the Board’s district, and together with trustees and the resident engineer (Mr E'. Taylor) inspected the stopbanks on the Waihou River* at Shelly Beach. On an inspection of the bank both engineers were of' the opinion that a section would have to be rebuilt further inland, and linked at either end with the existing “ bank. This method was considered safe, and more economical in the long run, than 1 attempting to patch up the present bank. The new section of bank vzould be about 12 chains long. The total cost of the work would he about £5OO, made up of £3OO labour and £2OO compensation. It would be necessary to have continuity of work and about . ten or twelve men would have to be employed. Mr Macmorran stated that the Department would be willing to control the work, provided that the Board paid all incidental expenses and that all labour was provided, either by the Drainage Board or the Unemployment Board. On the strength of Mr Macmprran’s

report, it was decided to apply to the Unemployment Board to supply the necessary labour for the scheme, at the same time pointing out that work would necessarily be continuous. Foreman’s Report. The Foreman (Mr W. A. Herkt) presented the following report to the Board:— “Owing to the heavy rainfall during the early part of the month a good deal of -time had to be given to flood gate cleaning. The low land at Price’s outlet was flooded. The grid outside the gate kept getting blocked with rubbish, and had to be removed. ■ “Drains. —Numerous slips occurred during the month, those on the Willow, Greenaway-Loader, Peka Peka, Price’s, and Scott-Urquhart being the worst. The block near the factory gate was washed away and had to be raised. “The Te Kauri No. I.—lmprovement job is being completed to-day, and the Williams-Ansford job should be finished in a few days. “Drain Cleaning.—The contractors have not started the Racecourse drain, the price being too low. Mr J. Thrupp has asked if the Board would pay half of his roadside drain cleaning along the main road. I recommend the Board to give this consideration as it would prevent another 1 drain running into Te Kauri No. 1. In addition, Mr Thrupp has no outlet through the section adjoining. , “Weeds in Drain.—lt has been necessary to drag several drains. Others will be done in the near future.' “Price’s Drain Improvement. — To make this an efficient drain it will be necessary to excavate 132 yards per chain for, a distance, of 50 chains, bringing it to not less than Is to 1 batter. To do the job hn excavator will be required. To remove the fence will cost about £5. “Culvert.—-The Kopuarahi School culver!; has been lowered to the depth required. A start has been made in setting in the culverts for the M ain Highways-County job; This, ■ including the necessary .drainage work, should be completed in about a fortnight. , “Fences.—Mr McKee has shifted the fence along Te Kauri, as arranged some time ago. A start has been made with McLaren’s and Clarke’s fence. “Floodgates.—Honiss’ gate has been refaced and fitted with rubber strips, and seems to have made a good job. “kopuarahi Wharf Gate.—The end has been broken and needs repairing. To repair fence and hang a new gate would cost £l2. It would be money wasted unless it was prptected. Protection would cost about £2O. “I recommend the gate be shortened further inland and a new gate built and joined to the fluming. Under favourable conditions a gate would cost £4%. “Protecting Floodgates. — Orongo boundary 1A and Te Kauri 1 require to be protected with fluming for sheathing. For the two first named fluming would cost £45 per foot and Te Kauri gate £1 10s per foot. “General.—There seems to be a good deal of dissatisfaction among ratepayers as regards the Board’s bylaws, and I would like to see them amended, especially those referring to trees.” The Board discussed the rep n’t at length. ’ - Racecourse Drain. The only course left open in connection with the cleaning of the .Race-

course drain seemed to be to call fresh tenders. The treuble had been caused by the Elstow Board, which was Hable for half the cost of the drain, stipulating that the lowest tender must be accepted. The tenderer who put in the lowest price discovered that he could not carry on with the work, sc the Board was obliged to call for fresh tenders. It was left with the Chairman. Mr Heappey, and the foreman, with power to act, to go fully into the position and, if necessary, to confer with the Elstow Board. Price’s Drain. In connection with the report on Price’s drain, Mr Hamilton said that some 6,600 yards of spoil .would have to be removed from the drain, and this would be a very extensive matter. The many slips eoming down into this drain had rendered re-battening necessary. .. The Chairman said it was a matter of money, and the dredge, as advocated by the foreman, seemed; the only course if it could be financed. Mr Herkt said that if the drain was to be deepened the culvert, at preesnt being put in at Price’s corner in connection with the Main Highways Board work should be lowered to the level to which the bottom of the new drain will be sunk. , It .cost £3 per day to hire the dredge, according to the clerk, and the dredge could do a great deal in one way and was economical if the yard- ; age was available. , The clerk was instructed to write to the Department and verify the cost of hiring the dredge, Mr Hamilton ■saying that next month would probably be very suitable for the .work., Kopuarahi Wharf ■ Gate. | Discussing the position of the gate at the Kopuarahi wharf the foreman j said* that! the damage was, being caused-by bumping with the steamer. Protection could be afforded the gate by driving three piles in front of the gate, which would have to be repaired.' To rebuild the gate was a summer job. The tide could' be excluded by a l block and the drainage water taken round through Abbot's for the mean- >. time. Mr Murray moved that the gate be patched up for the meantime to make it safe and watertight, further work, to be done at a more convenient (opportunity. On the recommendation of the foreman, the Board decided to attend to the fluming in the Te Kauri No. 1 drain in November, and to attend im-. mediately to.the Orongo boundary and ! 1A drains. • Thrupp’s Outlet. , In connection with Mr Thrupp’s request, it was decided to clean 10 chain's of his centre drain. The foreman ,was authorised to < clean and.. drag main outlet, . drains where required. ’ Fences Down.' Mr Williams reported that the fences along drchard East Road on both sides, from Parry’s corner to the Ngatea bridge were down, and the banks were being damaged in places. The Chairman said that the Board would have to pay half the cost of fences and erection. ; River Protection. J , The Chairman reported that he had 1 attended on invitation from Mr W. Marshal] (Mayor of Paeroa) the conference held to consider the ' River Control Bill. The meeting 1 briefly considered the resolutions passed by the conference.