DRINACE

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 65781, 28 February 1925, Page 5

DRINACE

- 0 THE ELSTOW BOARD * The ordinary meeting of the Elstow Drainage Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs W. J. Andrews (chairman), W. T. Dale, P. A. Swney, A. Davey, M. H. Wynyard, Carter, and W. R. Johnson (engineer). jftjr H. Wynyard, in a written regp Port stated that he and Mr Carter had interviewed Mr Taylor, at Kerepeehi, with regard to fencing conditions. Mr Taylor had admitted that was necessary to the protection of drains, and generally approved of the suggestions made by the Board, but did not see any particular gain in having the posts leaning. With regard to the contribution by the Crown of half cost of the fencing in connection with the through drains bounding Crown lands, he stated that this was a matter of policy beyond his control, and had suggested that Mr Wynyard wait on the chief drainage engineer. This would be done later. The question of maintenance charged by the Department this •' discussed, and Mr Taylor stated that the maintenance rate was. a contribution towards the' works necessary for the improvement of the river outlets, the repairing and maintenance of roads and wharves and landings throughout the Hauraki Plains District. He said that the actual maintenance collected did not .. equal the amount charged by the De- > partment to maintenance account. He (Mr Wynyard) had pointed out that no rates were being collected by the Elstow Board on this area for the current year, but a request was being made by the Horohia Board to share the cost of cleaning and maintaining the racecourse drain at Kerepeehi. It was considered that as the Crown •C was collecting the maintenance rates ''for the current year this work should be done by it, as well as any other maintenance of drains which had previously been constructed and maintained by the Department. Mr Taylor stated that he was agreeable to this, at all events as far as the racecourse drain was concerned, and Mr Campbell had since agreed. Regarding Awaiti canal Mr Taylor stated Jt was intended to continue the canal the Awaiti West road in its original position until the completion of the soundings of the swamp area. This completion was expected very shortly, when he hoped to be able to supply particulars of the Department's proposals in time for the next •s%rd meeting. He mentioned that was prepared .to consult the wishes of private owners through whose lands'the ,canal passed so far as it would not conflict with the whole scheme. He intended carrying on the canal till it struch the Awaiti stream, when this stream would be diverted into the canal. Until this was done he could not close up the stop-bank at the Awaiti West road, which would be necessary to make the land north - of that road a watertight compartment. The small walking dipper dredge was now building a stop-bank along the Awaiti West road to high ground, while the big dipper dredge was now within 15 chains of the Awaiti West road and had been doing very good work recently. With regard to the joint loan for drainage Mr Taylor stated t that he did not know the position with regard >to the native block, of which they had notified their intention to purchase, and he coufff not do anything with regard to the contribution in respect to this and the adjoining block. In reply to a statement that the Boards would like to know that their contribution would not exceed £2500, Mr Taylor said that this was to be the portion. The Boards were to find £2500 and the Depart- . ment would do *the work. He also mentioned that he did not know whether the Government was going on with the purchase of the native block, but pointed out that when ultimately these lands were settled they would rate bearing. The chairman reported that the solicitor hoped to let them have copies of the by-laws in about a fortnight. Mr Gilchrist had said he was not sure % that it would be advisable to pass the by-laws by the Boards jointly, for that would mean a great deal of trouble if any amendment became necessary. " h The engineer said that when the Department had completed its work in the Waitoa river it would be necessary for the two Boards to deepen their own outlets. —>-4lr Wynyard suggested a joint meeting. The engineer thought it would be better for the Boards to deal with this matter separately. It would be necessary to discuss the position with * the ratepayers and obtain their sane-

tion for the scheme. It was decided, on the motion of the chairman, to call a meeting of the Otway settlers to consider the raising of a loan for the improvement of the Otway main outlet and the Sanderson outlet. The motion was seconded by Mr Dale. The date of the meeting was left open. Mr Dunn said there would be little use in holding a further meeting of the delegates from the three Drainage Boards to discuss by-daws until the members had copies of the bylaws and were given an opportunity to peruse them.

The Department of Internal Affairs acknowledged receipt of the Board’s communication relative to the question of rating the Awaiti special rating area on an acreage basis, and stating that the matter would receive consideration.

Mr Wynyard said that there was some doubt about whether they could rate on an acreage basis and the matter had better stand over in the meantime. „

It was resolved to raise £6OOO of the Awaiti loan of £30,000, but to take in the meantime only £2OOO. On the motion of Mr Wynyard, seconded by Mr Dale, it was decided to send out notices in respect to the fencing of drains.'

Mr Redshaw waited on the Board and asked that the drain at the. back of his"aft‘<3' Mr J. B. Johnson’s places be attended to. It was in a very bad state. It was full to the top of water, though last year at this time it was empty. The engineer said that they had money available for the work. Mr Carter said it was a big drain, about three miles, but the work could be done cheaply, for probably only dragging would be necessary.

It was left in the hands of Mr Dale and the engineer to have the work done. ,

The following drain cleaning contracts have been let: Holmes’ outlet 3/9, Otway outlet 6/-, main drain 4/9, Buckley’s outlet 3/7, Johnston's creek 4/ r , Donovon’s outlet 3/6, Clothier’s outlet 3/3, Gould’s road outlet 3/6, Sheat’s outlet 3/-, McCabe’s road 2/-. The Hungahunga Drainage Board wrote stating that it had under construction certain drainage improvement work within the Waiwero subdivision, which, on completion, would prevent an overflow of water down Johnson’s creek Outlet and would cope with the difliculty previously existing of preventing excess water from the Hungahunga area being discharged through one of the Elstow Board’s outlets.

On the motion of Mr Dunn it was decided to write to the Hungahunga Board thanking them and expressing a hope that the work would prove as satisfactory as was anticipated.

It was decided to write to the Piako County Council requesting that they carry out work for which they were responsible in the ManaWaru special rating area so as to give relief from water.

Mr A. E. Stockley wrote pointing out that his tender of 5/- per chain re Otway outlet was for cleaning out and not for improving. The engineer said he had let the work to another man (to include improving) at the same price that Mr Stockley had quoted for cleaning only. A statement was presented to the Board showing the lands calculated to receive benefit from the improvements to the Waitoa river, and now classified, together with outer lands outside the boundaries of the Otway estate sub-division as follows:

W. J. Andrews 112 acres, valuation £560, class A 12 acres, B 14 acres, C 30 acres; T. J. Andrew 103 acres, valuation £B2O, A 8 acres, B 8 acres, C 20 acres; R. D. Allen 242 acres, £2050, A 24 acres, B 27 acres, C 70 acres; R. D. Allen 30 acres, £l2O, A 8, B 8, C 5; B. Christoffhanson 112 acres, £9OO, A 30, B 20, C 20; F. Clark 104 acres, £650, A 15, B 15, C 36; F. V. Flowerday 80 acres, £575, A 10, B 15, C 20; Mrs L. George 78 acres, £BSO, A 10, B 10, C 5; Fj C. Priest 76 acres, £535, A 7, B 8, C 25; A. C. Ray 277 acres, £2216, A 100, B 100, C 77; T. Sanders 419 acres, £3820, A 52, B 52, C 96; Mrs R. Stockley 58 acres, £6OO, A 12, B 16, C 20; Mrs R. Stockley 2 acres, £3O, A 1, B 1, C nil; F. W. Wake 159 acres, £1550, A 31, B 42, C 3; Maori or Crown 120 acres, £4BO, A 100, B 20, C nil; less T. J. Andrews, A 8, B 8, C 20; total, A 433 acres, B 348 acres, C 435 aferes. The total area to be benefitted is 1216 acres, and including 62 acres of riverbank 1278 acres. Accounts totalling £IOB 13/3 (general account) and £2l 15/10,(Awaiti loan), were passed for payment.