HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19626, 3 May 1927, Page 12

HAURAKI DRAINAGE.

THE LIMITED BOARD MiEETS. STAFF AND RATING QUESTIONS. [BY TELEGRAI'H. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 THAMES, Monday. The first meeting of the newly-elected Hauraki United Di'ainage Board has been held and Mr. S. S. Murray has been elected chairman. Mr. W. E. G. Willy was deputed to attend to the classification of lands in the board's area for rating purposes, and Mr. E. L. .Walton was appointed as the board's legal advisor. On the motion of Mr. Miller, it was decided to subdivide the area into wards, the number and other details to be adjusted later. A discussion on the appointment of a foreman ended with a motion from Mr. Miller that the position be advertised for at a wage of £6 weekly, the successful applicant to provide a motor conveyance and pay running expenses. It was resolved that the services of the clerks of the Horahia and Hauraki Boards be retained pro tern. Prior to dissolution, the Horahia Drainage Board advised having forwarded to the Minister of Lands an expression of its high appreciation of the valuable services to the district by Mr. E. Taylor, drainage engineer, Hauraki Plains. In the course of reply, the Minister said it- was always a pleasure to him to receive complimentary references, especially from the local bodies, regarding the work of his officers. ELECTRICAL .'PUMPING SCHEMES. SUBSIDY NOT AVAILABLE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.) THAMES, Monday. The attitude of the Government toward the subsidising of electrical pumping schemes was defined in a letter from the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, to the newly-elected Hauraki United Drainage Beard. On behalf of the Horahia Board, Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P., had requested the subsidising of a £I4OO loan to instal an electrical pumping plant. The Minister, in reply, indicated that his advisory officers did not consider that a subsidy" should be granted for such work. In the first place, machinery was not a permaneEit asset and would be of no value unless the necessary power and finance were available to keep it in operation. The proposition was also largely of an experimental nature, and from the information availabls did not appear to meet the full requirements of an efficient scheme. The chief drainage engineer did not agree with a statement that the efficiency of the Piako River as a drainage outlet had been, lessened. He considered the river improvement works were depressing the low water level and quickly discharging the: flood waters. Under the circumstances, the Minister regretted the iVmiest for a subsidy ccaid not Lc favours blv received-