HAURAKI PLAINS DRAINAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 14

HAURAKI PLAINS DRAINAGE

NETHERTON AND AWAITI.

PROPOSAL FOR NEW BOARD. [by TELEGRAPH. — OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] THAMES. Wednesday. After numerous private and public meetings a committee of Netherton settlers on the Hauraki Plains has decided to invite settlers from Waimarie, Awaiti and the northern and southern drainage areas to send delegates to a meeting for the purpose of forming a Drainage Board to control the drainage of the whole of the Netherton and Awaiti district. Mr. E. A. Chester, who presided at the last meeting of the committee, reported that Mr. 0. Thornton, resident engineer to the Public Works Department, had intimated that a revised scheme for the improvement of Drain H., providing for. the cutting out of the flaxmill area, had been investigated- It w-as proposed to erect a low stopbank from the Waihou River stopbank below the flaxmill culvert and carry it to the high ground of the Awaiti Ridge, a distance of approximately 30 chains. This division of the area would place 3000 acres in the Drain H. area and 1200 acres in the flaxmill area, requiring drains ranging from 103 chains in length and Bft. in depth to 80 chains in length and 4ft. deep. The proposals, if the drains were properly maintained, should give the utmost possible gravity drainage. It was decided to adopt the department's scheme as submitted, with the exception of that portion south of the proposed stopbank, it being considered thai the southern area settlers should have an opportunity of conferring with depart; mental officers. On the suggestion of the chairman it was decided that the northern, Waimarie, Awaiti and southerp areas be invited to send representatives to ;; meeting to be convened by the Drain E. committee to discuss the formation of Drainage Board over the whole area.