DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4845, 26 June 1925, Page 3

DRAINAGE.

THE ELSTOW BOARD. REGULAR MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Elstow Drainage Board was held on Friday last those attending being: Messrs W. J. Andrews (chairman), W. W. Dunn, W- D. Dale, P. A. Swney, M. A. Carter, and Davey. Leave of absence was granted to the engineer, Mr W. R. Johnson. The assistant clerk reported that cn March 31 the rates outstanding amounted to £17'51. Since then £lOB7 had been collected, leaving £664 outstanding. It was desirable that 10 per cent, be- added to outstanding rates.

On the motion of Mr Dunn the cleik was instructed to issue demands for rates and requesting payment within 30 days, otherwise the 10 per cent, penalty would be added. A letter to Mr E. C. Taylor from the engineer was read, in which it was stated that Mr Petersen’s tender of 4s per chain for fencing drains in the A.waiti area had been accepted. Mr Swney said he thought 3s would have been a fair price.

Mr W. H. Bayliss, Netherton, wrote stating that he was prepared to erect a fence on his own side of the drain

at contract price, or a price agreed upon, the board to pay half the cost.

. Mr Johnson had replied that he would be visiting the district, when he would confer with Mr Bayliss on the matter.

The chairman said that the board had agreed to a certain kind of fence, of which the department had approved. Mr Carter now wished that the settlers be permitted to erect fences out of materials growing on their own properties, a condition being that the settlers should keep the fences in repair. This might work all right with some, but with others there would be a lot of trouble.

Mr. Carter then moved that the minute relating to fencing the Awaiti drains, in iso far as it .affected private lands, be iescinded. He said that the board was to' erect the fences and. the settlers pay half. No option of putting up their half of the fence was given, as was usually done yvhen two parties, were concerned in a fence. The notice to be sent out requiting fences to be erected stipulated jarrah posts, wihch had to be obtained from Auckland. It was, in his opinion, immaterial to the board what kind of posts were .used, (seeing that the settlers would' have' to maintain the fences. With fences to be erected solely by the board it would be better to use only the best materials. Mr Swney: What is, good for the board-should be good for the settlers. Mr Carter: Some of the settlers have good matai bn their farms which would be quite suitable.-

Mr Swney: Suppose a man sold his farm?

Mr’Carter: The regard to repairs would apply to the pnrehaiser. The Chairman : Mr Gilchrist says

that is not so, unless so expressed tn the title deed.. They could not go against the legal advice. -Mr Dunn -said that any settler would have the right to demand a' legal fence. The Chairman : The fence we suggest is not a legal Eence, but we can notify settlers and., state the nature of the fence the board proposes. If any settler objects the matter can be determined by a magistrate. I will second Mr Carter’s motion pro forma, but prefer'to have the matter held over for next meeting.

Mr Carter: Unfortunately, I win be absent from next meeting.

The Chairman: We could alter the conditions so that either jarrah or •some other timber approved by the board can be used.

Mr Carter stated that all the board needed to define in the notices to the settlers was the number of posts and the number of wires. They had decided on a fence of four posts to the chain and three wires. In ordinaiy fencing law a man. could not be compelled to use jarrah, though hardwood could 1 be stipulated. Puriri 'was a: timber that wo'uld beat jarrah, and he was of the opinion that any court in New Zealand would uphold him in a fencnig dispute if he used puriri. Mr Swney moved that the matter be held over till the next meeting.

Mr Dunn was quite willing to do all that could be done to meet the He would second the amendment. . ' .

Mr Carter said he would be going to Auckland shortly; and would probably see Mr Wynyard. The chairman said they did not want the settlers to use any knid of material, nor. did they want .to have jarrah stipulated, provided some suitable timber could be agreed upon in a legal way. Mr Dunn said he was of. the opinion that the Board .would be within its rights in asking for something less than a legal fence. The amendment was carried. Mr Dunn moved that estimates on work to be done during the comng year be prepared for .the next meeting. The assistant clerk said that this would be done in any chse, but they would have to go into the question cl rating the Awaiti area. Mr Carter: We will have to get the •valuation and re-classification before we can strike a rate. The chairman said the Minister had promised to give-consideration to the question of striking rates cn an average basis. .The assistant said that nothing could be done before the rate was struck oni the Awaiti area. Mr Carter said it was possible that he would be able to see Mr-McLeod In Wellington shortly. . The chairman moved that Mr Carter discuss the matter with Mr Wynyard and communicate the result. *o the clerk. The assistant clerk said the first interest would be due in May. The motion was seconded by Mr Dale and carried.

Accounts totalling £671 9s 9(1 were passed for payment.