FLOODING OF FARM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 76, 29 May 1945, Page 5

FLOODING OF FARM

OWNER'S HEAVY LOSS REPRESENTATIONS TO COUNCIL Maintaining that he had a legitimate claim against the Council for flood damage to his property entailing the loss of substantial Mr H. S. Mexted waited on the Whakatane County Council at its meeting last Tuesday # and was promised a full investigation by the Works Committee. Mr Mexted said that he had already drawn the Council's attention to the state of his land during flood periods on three or four previous occasions but nothing had been done. He had lost a lot of money, and the present Hood had submerged a crop of carrots which he valued at no less than £500. The position was that the outlet to his farm had been reduced from a 45ft. span bridge to a 3ft. culvert, which had.been declared by the County Engineer sufficient to cope with the water. As a result the water was simply dammed up and retained and 150 acres of his property became waterlogged and covered for a depth varying from 6 inches to 2 feet. | Crs Leslie and Hunter who in-: •spected the property at the height J of the Hood bore out what Mr Mexted said, remarking that there was a head of water on his property a foot higher than on the other side of the culvert. Tlie chairman assured Mr Mexted that his representations would be fully explored and if the Council had been responsible for damming the water on his place, would see that relief was granted. The petitioner said he considered he had a definite claim on the Council but would be prepared to drop it if the Council agreed to construct a bridge over his outlet. He would not be satisfied with anything else as lie had suffered too heavily in the past. The Council agreed to invite the Lands Department officer to meet the Works Committee on the ground and come to a common decision regarding the in. the meantime the engineer will prepare a report on the position and the Council will do all in its power to assist.