ALEXANDER CANAL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4308, 24 July 1950, Page 7

ALEXANDER CANAL

A DRAINAGE PROBLEM

WILL FLOODING OCCUR ?

CONFLICTING OPINIONS

There was a consensus of opinion that the drainage through the Alexander canal did not require relief, wrote the senior engineer, Mr V. C. Bosselman, Ministry of Works, Paeroa, to the July meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council. Mr Bosselman discussed in his letter the suggestion which had been made of constructing a new drain and floodgate near Waimarie mend to relieve the canal in heavy flood. He had consulted all office records and though a newcomer to Paeroa, it appeared there was no record of any officer of the department having made such a suggestion. He had made enquiries from his staff and there was still no evidence of any departmental officer having made such a suggestion. The senior engineer went on to state that he would have to proceed from his own observations therefore so as to gain a full knowledge of the problem. He had waited to see if heavy flooding would occur this winter but fortunately flooding had not occurred and his study of the conditions had still to be made. In the meantime he suggested that any proposals for drainage improvements in the Komata North area be taken up with the Hauraki Catchment Board, which action did not preclude the Ministry of Works from assisting in every way possible} concluded Mr Bosselman.

“It looks as if the council can get no further with the proposal, ’ said the chairman, Mr T. A. Barrett. The department’s engineers were watching the position closely, said the council’s engineer, Mr L. E. Shaw. The water did not, even in normal conditions, get through the canal, said Cr H. R. Morrison, who thought little progress was being made, though he could appreciate the need for the engineers to make certain of the position before incurring expenditure which would be heavy. As far as he could see at the present time the drainage outlet provided necessitated the water to flow up hill in order to escape and it did not of course do that. Major drainage operations in the area had blocked the natural drainage, added Cr Morrison.

The meeting resolved that the engineer and Cr. Morrison confer with the senior engineer, Mr Bosselman, of the Ministry of Works, Paeroa.