DRAINAGE MATTERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2804, 23 November 1931, Page 5

DRAINAGE MATTERS.

HAURAKI UNITED BOARD. NEW BOARD ASSEMBLES. Newly elected members of the Hauraki United Drainage Board on Friday last assembled at Turua for their first meeting. The Board now comprises Messrs H. H. Hicks, S. G. Williams, S. S. Murray, F. L. Hamilton, D. J. Law, P. G. Pearce, and R. Baker. The clerk (Mr J. E. Green) and the foreman (Mr W. Herkt) were in attendance. Chairmanship. It was proposed by Mr S. Murray, seconded by Mr S. G. Williams, that Mi’ H. H Hicks take the chair for a further term. This was carried unanimously. Mr Hicks, in taking the chair, thanked the Board for its continued confidence, and welcomed the new members. Messrs Law, Baker and Pearce. He felt sure the new board would serve the requirements of the area. ' On the motion of Mr Hamilton, it was decided to place on record the valuable services rendered to the district by the three late members, Messrs J. C. Miller, R. H. Heappey and J. Hamilton.

Kopuarahi Factory. With reference to the extension of the whey pipes ■ from the Kopuarahi factory, the Dairy Company advised that it had the matter well in hand. According to a report from the company’s engineer, it appeared that the best method was to extend the pipes directly into the Piako River. Permission Would necessarily be obtained from owners of private property over which the pipe line would have to pass. The assistance of the board’s foreman would be required in laying the’ pipes. The matter, however, would have to be placed before the directors before any definite steps were taken. Challis* Drain. Mr Challis wrote requesting assistance in improving his drainage. Mr Hamilton said that to give this settler proper drainage the roadside drain would have to be deepened by the removal of at least one spit. It could not be undertaken? however, until Price’s drain was completed. The foreman was instructed to investigate the position and report to the Board. Shelley Beach Bank. The receipt of a proposal for the reconstruction of the {portion of stop bank at Shelley Beach, received from the drainage engineer (Mr R. G, Macmorran) excited a little discussion. He suggested the establishment of an unemployment camp on the site of the work, and outlined a scheme whereby men would be employed for alternate weeks. Cooking utensils, and tools and all preliminary expenses connected with the estabishment of a camp would have to be borne by the Board. As an alternative, a single men’s camp could be established along similar lines. The Drainage Department was welling to supervise the work.

The chairman said that if the board decided to carry on with the proposal, a survey would have to be obtained, and notification given to the council of intention to deviate a road. Then the board had to consider overhead expenses, which appealed to be rather heavy. Mr Hamilton suggested, giving the work into the hands of the Drainage Department to carry out. A committee comprising the and area members could be set up to arrange terms. The big question was how the board was going to finance the work. It would be a matter for the committee to discuss. The clerk reported that there were portions of unexpended subsidies that could he employed fcr wo’k on such projects as the Orongo and Te Kauri fluming and Price’s drain. An unexpended subsidy, £1 for £3, could be used for the Shelley Beach banking. Mr Murray said it was river protection work and should be done out of loan money. The chairman considered that the South Area was entitled to some loan money, and the Central North Area, too. The stop banking had never been done satisfactorily. It was urgent work, however, and would have to go ahead. Mr Pearce wondered if a bigger subsidy would be possible. The chairman said it was clear enough that the board would have to provide preliminary expenses. Mr Williams thought the biggest expense would be the buying of the necessary land. It was moved by Mr Hamilton, seconded by Mr Baker, that the chairman, Mr Murray, and Mr Low (area members) and the clerk be a committee to deal with formalities and preliminaries connected with the rcconsiiaction of the Shelley Beach stop

bank, as in the proposel from the Drainage Department, and that the committee discuss the matter with the district drainage engineer (Mr E. Taylor). Foreman’s Report. The board foreman (Mr W. Herkt) reported on the month’s activities as follows: — “I have inspected drains where I suspected breach of board’s by-laws, and spoke to settlers about damage done to drains by drainage from sheds and pig-stys. Should these breaches continue there will be no other alternative than to block the drainage. The cattle are again getting into the drains for drinking -water. Pigs in several instances have been permitted to damage drain banks. “'Routinle Works.—The pipe -and flap have been set in the GreenawayLoader extension and the Williams- - rd bridge laid. The slips in Mc-L-;icn ! s drain have been removed at an early part of the month. Weeding drains has been discontinued owing ♦o dry weather. As the two settlers along the Kauri drains are doing their ’ to combat the fescue menace I ’ - hrd all fescue cut along the batters of these drains and intend to burn when dry. “’■’•■ice’s Drain.—lmprovement work along this drain, is now in progress. The small Bay City excavator is making a good job of the two to one batter required and is delivering the spoil well clear of the bank. As most of the old bank has to be removed and placed for a roadway it will' be necessary to work the machine long hours in order to :?e able to return it in the specified time. “Monganui Drain.—l have inspected this drain with the member of that area, so that improved drainage could be effected. . To do this the floodgate will have to be lowered, the drain graded and given more batter, and if possible extended to the Wairau roadside drain. This drain is slipping badly and the fences need repairing and erecting, .to prevent cattle walking along the edges. “Kopuarahi Floodgate. — A first class job has been made of this gate, all leaks and break’s along the barrel having been repaired. A wooden apron has been built on to the end to prevent scouring. The bolts still are unable to keep clear of the gate, and I stress the importance of protection with piles. “Horahia Gate. —I inspected thisgate to report as instructed. It is leaking badly owing to the concrete face being in very bad order. To re-face it, it will be necessary to build a temporary dam as the gate is below the tide level. Repairs are estimated nt about £5. “Shelley Beach Gates.—To repair these gates would cost from £3 to £5 each. These gates should be attended to during the summer months. I would like to advise the board to block the old gate alongside the Hud-son-Christie, as it is leaking badly and is of no use. By-laws. It was suggested that ratepayers, offending as reported by the foreman, be warned and given a final chance to attend to repairing of fences, and breaches of by-laws generally. If offences continued the foreman was instructed to report them to the board. . Kopuarahi Wharf. With reference, to the floodgate at the Kopuarahi wharf, which was being continually bumped by the steamer, as reported by the foreman, it was decided to write to the County Council to 'discover when a pile driver would be in use at the wharf, and to .request tljat its use be allowed for ♦he driving of three piles to nr< tec', the gate. Repairs to Gate. The foreman was instructed to repair the Horahia gate. It was decided to close the gate ’u>xt to the Hudson-Christie, and that all gates along the clay road at Kopu- - ’ i be cleaned. T - was also decided that the gate cn the Mill Creek drain be repaired sufficiently io keep ent 11 - tide, and that, if necessary, ii be fitted with a wenden door.