TE RAPA DRAINAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15024, 22 August 1922, Page 5

TE RAPA DRAINAGE

DEPUTATION TO WAIPA. MATTERS FOR ADJUSTMENT. A deputation from the To Rapa Drainage Board waited upon the Waipa Council yesterday with the object of having certain adjustments made and an understanding arrived at between the Council and Board which v#)uld work towards the .benefit of both bodies. ' . Mr N. Gribble, clerk to the board, stated that the hoard- had written to the Council in June, September and October of last year, and again # in May last, but no reply had been received. The following roads in the Waipa County were benefited by the board’s drains: —Norton road, 100 chains; road to Te Rapa station from Norton road) 105 chain's; Grand Vue and Dominion roads, 160 chains; Thomas’ Swamp road, 40 chains; Breckon Avenue, 30 chains; Soper’s Swamp road, 30 chains; Sunshine Avenue 30 chains; main Ham-ilton-Whatavvhata road, 160 chains. When the roads in the Racing Club property came in the total would be approximately 655 chains. Matters particularly requiring arrangement were the deepening’of Edgecuinbe’s outlet to benefit Soper’s Swamp road; the lowering of pipes by Holmes’ property on the Grand Vue road; drain along Grand Vue road to take water from Madili’s; arrangement with Watkins Bros, in their scheme of subdivision for drainage to lake water from Norton road. The fixing of subsidies from the county to the board and co-operation in regard to the valuation rolls were other points referred lo by Mr Gribbie. The clerk said that he had handed the letter to the engineer. The chairman said that it was unfortunate that they had not been replied to. Some misunderstanding had occurred, but he could assure the board that there was no intention on the part of the Council to be discourteous.

Crs. Peacocke and Ellicott remarked that the letters should have been replied to. Mr Gribble said that after ttie letter of May 6 the board had received a short memo in acknowledgment. The deputation to the Council was decided on at that time.

The engineer remarked that .lie thought he had replied in regard to the drainage at Ilotokauri to the effect that Cr. Livingstone and the speaker wei’e deputed to look into the matter. Cr. Livingstone remarked ■that the engineer, the chairman and himself had investigated the matter, but could see nothing the board were concerned in at the northern end at,any rale. Cr. Alexander said that it was most regrettable that the letters had not been replied to. So far as the actual position was concerned the matter was one which required very careful consideration, and a committee should be sat up to confer with the board. He moved that the chairman and Crs. Ellicott, Peacocke, Livingstonp and the engineer act. This was seconded and carried.

In dealing with the wisdom of coopei’ation between the county and the board in regard to the valuation rolls, Mr Gribble pointed out that there were properties in the areas which were not shown at all, and both were losing revenue through this course. His board had pointed out the need for the establishment of a valuation office in Hamilton as the best means of giving satisfaction. The chairman pointed out that the county had also supported the matter.

This is also a subject which will be given consideration when the committee and /.lie hoard assemble. Mr Gribble referred to a pewspaper report in which Gr. Ellicott bad stated that the hoard was filling water-tables. The paper was quite entitled to report as it had, but he wished to know where tlie locality was that such had taken place, as the hoard wished to do everything to assist the county. Cr. Ellicott said that he had made the statement on information received from Cr. Livingstone, The locality was Norton’s road, where sand had been placed in the watertable at certain points. Mr Gribble said that the board was only following out a policy laid down by the late engineer in placing Lhe material on lhe roads, and reiterated that it was always the desire of the hoard to help the county. The chairman remarked that the matter was not a serious one anyway. The deputation thanked the Council for its consideration, and at this stage withdrew l’or the committee and Hie boardffio come together later lo consider atid adjust matters. The Council fixed the meeting for 10 a.m. on September 4 at the Franklon saieyards offices.