OHINEMURI DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5131, 27 May 1927, Page 2

OHINEMURI DRAINAGE.

COUNTY COUNCIL ACTION. COMMITTEE TO BE SET UP. The cleaning of roadside drains each year has always been a call on the various riding funds of the Ohinemuii County Council, and a number of requests for assistance are received each year from settlers. At Wednesday’s meeting of the council Cr. W. F. Johnstone drew attention to the state of the Old TeAroha Road-Rotokohu drain, and said that if the council would assist in having it cleaned out at a cost of about £6, the settlers concerned would contribute the balance of the cost. The drain was in a bad state, and was overgrown with blqckbe-rry. Ho moved that the engineer be authorised to proceed with the work, as soon as the settlers paid in their share of the cost. Seconded by Cr. C. E. Mace- and carried.

The passing of the resolution prompted the chairman (Cr. H. M. Corbett) to suggest that during the coining year a committee should be set up to dea.l with the cleaning of all roadside- drains, and also to decide the cost and basis of the county’s contribution. The cost appeared to be on the increase each year, and he was of the opinion that the matter of spending money on such work should be put on a. systematic footing. If a committee jvas set up the council would have knowledge of its full liability for drain cleaning and the settlers would know what was expected of them. The committee could make regular inspections, and report to the council. Cr. Johnstone agreed with the suggestion, and said that he would like to see the. council’s liability for cleaning drains cut out altogether. The ratepayers paid rates, and that money should be spent on rpading work. At the same time he contended tliat it was necessary to clean the Rotokohu drain in that area crossing the peat swamp, so as to safeguard and protect the road. He thought it was the duty of ratepayers to clean the drains rounding their properties. Cr. F. C. Hubbard agreed, and said that tltore was a growing tendency for the council to spend too much money on the cleaning of drains.