KOMATA DRAINS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 56, Issue 32897, 18 August 1947, Page 5

KOMATA DRAINS

TWO PETITIONS RECEIVED

OHINEMURI COUNCIL

P.W.D. TO BE ASKED TO ASSIST

A petition from residents of the Kaimanawa area requesting the Ohinemuri County Council to do all that was possible to obtain a dredge to widen and deepen Alexandra’s outlet was received by the August meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council. The petition also asked that additional floodgates be put in at the dead low water level in conjunction with the present gates. There were over 20 signatures on the

petition. An accompanying letter read as follows :—

“We wish to point out the very serious effect to drainage, from flooding, being caused by the unsatisfactory condition of the Alexandra outlet. There are some 1500 acres of first class dairying land affected. Unless a more satisfactory drainage can be provided there will be a serious fall in production in the near future. State of Outlet “We would also.like to draw your attention to the general state of this cutlet. As regards damage by stock one particular settler has not a water supply for his stock other than the canal at one end of his farm and the river at the other. Another settler has a holding paddock joining the canal and has no satisfactory water supply. His stock have to obtain water from the canal. “ In consequence the banks are being forced into the outlet to a considerable extent. There are also blackberries encroaching in the channel causing a blockage to the flow of water. “ Could your council bring pressure on these property owners to have the stock and weeds kept clear of the water course?” Second Petition A second petition received by the meeting from the same district read as follows: — “ The monotonous regularly with which a vast portion of our best dairy pasture land is being flooded, due to the silting up and thick weed growth in the K-urere stream is causing us grave concern and we respectfully make an urgent appeal to the council to please view the matter seriously and make strenuous efforts to have the canal cleaned out at the earliest possible moment. Loss in Production “ The inundation of such a large area of first class dairying pasture amounting to about 800 acres, causes a heavy drain on supplementary fodder and a consequent loss in early production. “ The number of dairy cows affected by the flood waters in this area totals 580.

There were seven signatures on the petition. The position in the area concerned, said the chairman, Mr T. A. Barrett, was becoming very serious. There ■had been more water lying there over the past season than there had been for a long while. No Drain Cleaners

The drains had been cleared each year by hand, said Mr L. E. Shaw, the engineer, but it had not been possible to get anyone to do them this year. In any case there were some drains that could not be cleared by hand. They were silting up and becoming full of weeds. If the drains were opened and kept open the water would drop. At present they were definitely beyond being able to be done by hand labour. The settlers there would be in a bad way if something were not done soon, added the engineer.

Cr. R. W. Lowry stated that he had seen the areas concerned and it seemed that something had to be done for the people. Dredge Required

Cr. A. F. Thorp said that he was of the opinion that the council would have to get a dredge to do the cleaning.

The chairman stated that the council did not have a machine to do the work but he suggested that the petitions be sent to the Public Works Department and to request it to assist in getting a dredge. Cr. E. L. Yearbury suggested that the council should notify the farmers who were allowing their stock to get into the drains that they had to prevent them damaging the drains, and to inform them that action would be taken against them if it continued. The engineer, Mr Shaw, stated that the council should inform all the -taimens that the stock had to be kept out of the drains.

It was decided by the meeting to send the petitions to the Public Works Department with a view to getting a dredge and to notify the farmers of the necessity to keep the cattle out of the drains.