HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume VL, Issue 3132, 9 February 1934, Page 7

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

THE WEST AREA. MEETING OF BOARD. The Hauraki Plains West Drainage Board held 1 its monthly meeting at Ngatea on Wednesday, Mr A. H. McClean presiding, in the absence of Mr C. W. Parfitt, over Messrs A. Douglas, J. Donaghy and T. A. McClean. Leave of absence was granted Mr C. W. Parfitt, who was on a trip to Waitangi, and Mr J. D. Fagan. The clerk, Mr F. E. Hammond, was in attendance. Pouarua Road Canal. In reply to the Board’s enquiry the Chief Drainage Engineer, Mr R. G. Macmorran, wrote stating that no objection would be raised to settlers connecting drains to the Pouarua Road canal provided the pipes were flapped and the culverts covered to the level of the original stopbank. Spoil in Drain. In reply to the Board’s communication the Hauraki Plains County Council wrote advising that the matter of the removal of spoil from the bank of the Pipiroa-Waitakaruru road drain for road haunching had been referred to the riding member for his attention. Members commented that the Board’s request had been complied with, but the relief workers were spilling great quantities of spoil into the Board’s drain. It was decided to ask the County Council to rectify the damage. Circulars. A very big pile of circular letters were received from Government departments relative to relief works, conversion of loans and Government publications. Amendment to Act. Arising out of a recent decision of the Court of Appeal the Te Rapa Drainage Board took steps to secure an amendment to the Lands Drainage Act. This amendment (as already published in this paper) was passed by Parliament last session, and the Te Rapa Drainage Board wrote appealing to the Board to contribute towards the costs it had incurred in bringing about this strengthening of the position of all drainage boards. It was decided to donate one guinea. Finance. A financial statement presented by the clerk showed that the expenditure from April 1, 1933, to January 31, 1934, had been £936 18s lid. There was a debit balance at the beginning of the financial year of £37 2s lOd. Receipts for the period totalled £670 14s 6d, so the debit balance at January 31 was £3OB 7s 3d, against which there was an advance to relief wages amounting to £8 Os 7d due. Of the rates outstanding at March 31, 1933, amounting to £993 15s 4d, the sum of £sl'6 14s lOd had been collected, leaving £477 Os 6d outstanding. The payment of accounts totalling £49 13s lid was confirmed, and accounts totalling £77 9s 7d were passed for payment. Rates Levied. No objections having been received to the proposal to levy rates on the advertised basis in the Waitakaruru subdivision the Board levied these at lid in the £ on all land classed A, Id in the £ on B class land, and id in the £ on C class land. The general rate levied in the rest of the area was lid in the £ on all land. Low Stopbanks.

Mr A. H. McClean reported that following the exceptionally high tide

just prior to Christmas he had inspected the stopbank near Waitakaruru and had found that there were two small sections where the sea had come over. The job was not a big one, for suitable material for raising the bank was handy. Mr Donaghy pointed out that at one of these points the bank was being broken down by cattle crossing to a grazing area outside. He had inspected the Pipiroa end of the stopbank and had found very long areas that had been tramped down by cattle. The bank was very low and the tide had come over but the job was such a big one that he did not know what could be done.

Mr T. A. McClean expressed the opinion that vegetation on and outside the stopbanks should be protected as it protected the bank and caused the land to be built up. This was endorsed by other members, who pointed out that the whole stopbank should be patrolled regularly. Many jobs would be very small if attended to in the early stages.

Mr A. Douglas suggested that it be left to the chairman, Mr C. W. Parfitt, to approach the Lands Drainage Engineer relative to using the relief workers in the Waitakaruru camp to repair the bank. Mr A. H. McClean was of opinion one job was too urgent to warrant such a delay as might be entailed. The foreman and such men as could be obtained should be put on as soon as possible. If the gang of relief workers could be obtained the whole bank should be overhauled.

It was decided to make application for permission to employ relief workers on the urgent works, to notify the particular settlers whose stock was doing damage and to send the foreman to attend to the worst places with one or two men.