DRAINAGE BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4518, 22 January 1923, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

I MONTHLY MEETING. A meeting of the Haurjaki Drainage Board was held at Turua on Friday. Present: Messrs G. Gray (chairman), J. Mules. D. G. McMillan, R. Baker, and the Clerk (Mr J. E. Green). FENCING DRAINS. As a large number of farmers Have not erected fences along the Board’s drains, as required by .the Government, and the notices to that effect from the Drainage Board have been ignored, it was suggested that, as the maintenance on unfenced drains was •so high, it would pay the Board bettor to share the cost of fencing with the farmer. Accordingly, it was decided, on the motion of Mr D. G. McMillan, seconded by Mr, J. Mules, that the Board offer to provide 6in barbed wire and staples to fence drains if the land holders- provide the posts and labour to erect same, specifications of such work to be submitted to .the Board, and each case to be decided on its- merits. On the motion of Mr D. G. McMillan, it was decided that each member af the Board should supply a list of unfenced drains in his area, and that the clerk should write to the (holders of the land informing them ot the Board’s offer. STRAYING CATTLE. A deputation from the Turjia Town Board, consisting of Messrs F. Olsen, A. G. Gardiner, and J- T. Davies, waited upon the Drainage Board to seek their co-operation in abating the nuisance caused by straying cattle. Mr Davies pointed out that, besides being a source of annoyance and a menace to the safety o,t townsfolk, the cattle were breaking down the sides Gf drains'by walking along the banks, and occasionally causing serious damage by falling in and blocking the drains. The Town Board had recently gone to considerable expense to 'have a cow removed from a drain, and unless they had done so the beast would probably have died and become a menace to .the health of the community. He pointed out tlhat it would pay the Drainage Board better to cooperate with the Town Board in keeping the cattle from straying on the roads than to repair the damage they caused, to the drains. Mr lilcMillan expressed an opinion that neither local body had power <o prevent cattle straying on the roads, and that only a ranger or a poundkeeper could impound such cattle. The chairman suggested that the Town Board should ask the County, Council to appoint a ranger for the Turua district, and said he thought that the Council would readily assent if a suitable, man was nominated. The Town Board could depend upon the support of the Drainage Board in this matter.

On the motion of Mr McMillan, seconded by Mr Mules, the chairman’s suggestion was adopted. Consideration of a question as to wfho should pay an account for the cost of removing a c6w from one of the drains was deferred. REPAIRING FLOOD-GATES. The clerk was instructed to communicate with Mr McConnell and ascertain what had been done in regard to the repairing of flood-gates; SUBDIVISION OF LAND. Numerous holdings Ihiave recently been subdivided into small sections, and it was stated that the extension or construction of drains might no necessary in order effectively to drain them. It was decided to' ascertain the legal polistion, and then adopt a. definite policy in regard to cutiting-up propositions. Land, it was suggested, should be set aside for drains' in the same manner as for roads. CLASSIFICATION OF LAND. The classification of land was referred to. but as this needs a great deal of investigation, it was decided to. consider the question at a special meeting in three weeks’ time, and tlhat in the meantime each membel' would ascertain the position in his area. GUMTOWN ROADS. Mr R. Baker staled that when the Gumtown roads were graded by the County Council a 2ft bank had been left between the djrain and .the road. In places tlbis bank had fallen in and completely blocked the drains. It was decided, on the motion of Mr J. Mules, that t,he members of ths Turua riding qf the County Council and the county engineer should, be invited to meet .the Board and inspect Newman’s and Tower’s Roads and go into the question of the damage caused to the roads and drains by the grading operations. Accounts totalling £22 17s 9d were passed for payment.