HELP WANTED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 3982, 16 April 1948, Page 8

HELP WANTED

DRAIN CLEANING WORK

SUBSIDIES SOUGHT

WHAREPOA AND MATATOKI

Applications for drainage subsidies on work in the Wharepoa and Matatoki drainage areas were made by the Thames County Council to the last meeting of the Hauraki Catchment Board. Work on which the applications were made were:— Wharepoa area: Sixteen drains which required work every year. The total amount of the cost of cleaning the 16 drains plus the advertising, was £672 9s Bd, according to the letter. The maximum rate from the Wharepoa drainage area was £305. The only other revenue in the Wharepoa area’s account was £6O from the Main Highway account towards the Wharepoa drain and £25 from the riding towards the Omahu canal. Public Works Assistance “ During’ the preceding year the work was made possible by assistance from the Public Works JJepartment while capital works were In progress and this current year by utilising a credit balance in the account at April 1, 1947,” the letter stated.

“ The area is rated at 1 3-8 d in £1 on rateable value to provide interest and sinking fund on a drainage works loan. It is anticipated that a similar programme for 1948-49 will cost at least £7OO, leaving a deficiency of £3lO. No Funds In Sight “ When the loan work, stopbanking, was carried out an internal drain was formed for a distance of 255 chains. There are no funds in sight to clean this drain in 1948-49 and the cost is estimated at £1 a chain, a total of £255. “ The carrying capacity of these drains must be maintained as they are the outlet for floodwater from the hills. The land is highly productive, but it would be ruined if it were not for the drainage works. “ The length of drains in the Wharepoa area is 18 miles 27 chains. Difference at Matatoki Matatoki area: With regard to the Matatoki drainage area the position was far from being on parallel with other drainage areas in the catchment district.

The settlers at Matatoki had found substantial contributions (one man had paid £400) for stopbanking, the letter stated, whereas in some other districts the whole cost of stopburking had l>een fount] by the Government.

“ Further, this area pledged itself to a short dated loan to provide for drainage work and relief from flooding of hill waters brought down by the Wharehoe and Wainui streams. Classified Rate Struck

“ A rate has been struck on a classified basis to meet the cost of drain cleaning and interest and sinking fund, charges on this loan. Contributions of £75 are made each year from the rate revenue of the Totara and Puriri ridings and the total of the drainage rates and contributions amount to £394, while the maximum drainage rate that can be struck will produce £336. “The main waterways, with the exception of the Wainui drain could not be cleaned by hand and it has not been possible to attend to them from the proceeds of the drainage rates.”

The works on which subsidies were asked were:—

Matatoki canal, 175 chains, costing £437 19s; Wharehoe drain, 110 chains, £275 10s; Matatoki internal drain,

375 chains. £SG2 10s. Total cost £1275. - Entitled to a Subsidy ” The three drains mentioned were taking water from the hills to the river, stated Mr E. G. Clark. Because the people looked after the internal drains themselves, they were entitled to a subsidy on those administered by the local body, he said. Mr O G. Thornton said that ne Iculd be in favour of giving a subsidy to assist the local body to carry on with its maintenance. The settlers were paying off thendebt, said Mr Clark, but they were not coding with their maintenance. The county council had no jurisdiction over the internal drains other than those three. When the debt was paid off it was intended to continue with the rate in order to provide the money for maintenance. The meeting decided to recommend the payment of the subsidy on the work in the Wharepoa area, but the I matter of the three drains in the Matatoki area was deferred until ; the board received a report from the I Public Works Department on them.