NETHERTON DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5146, 1 July 1927, Page 4

NETHERTON DRAINAGE.

PETITIONS ’FOR TWO BOARDS. H DRAIN AREA VIEWS. In accordance with a resolution adopted at the meeting of Netherton and Awaiti settlers last Friday evening, a meeting of settlers of the H drain area was held in the Netherton Hall on Tuesday evening, Mr T. Vowles presiding over an attendance of 19 settlers. Mr E. L. Walton, solicitor, of Ngatea, was in attendance, COMMITTEE’S WORKS. Opening the meeting, Mr Vowles explained that settlers, present knew what attitude had been adopted by the Crown settlers, and it was therefore apparent that a of strength would result.

The following minutes of a meeting of the committee appointed to define boundaries and prepare the petition for the constitution of a drainage district were received from Mr JE. Green and read :—

“At the outset of the meeting considerable discussion took place as to whether the committee was empowered to define the boundaries of the proposed wards in addition to the proposed boundary of the drainage district. The minutes of the public meeting electing the committee were not available. Very lengthy discussion continued on this matter, and Mr Jamieson firmly contended that the committee’s powers were limited to defining the boundaries of the board, and that there should be no wards .prior to the formation of the board. The others present took the opposite view, and asserted that this was the basis of the arrangement of the board being formed over the whole district.

5 “Considerable discussion then took place as tq what the boundaries should be, and with Mr, E. Taylor s assistance boundaries, were pencilled on a plan which would more or less conform to the drainage of each respective ward as near as possible.

“Moved by Mr Hill that - one ward, called the Northern Ward, be formed from Sarjant’s and Young’s to floodgate below store, wtih one representative ; one ward from the .flood-gate to southern end of Awaiti Settlement, with three representatives; another ward from Drain H area and Waimaric Bend with three representatives. Seconded by Sir Johnson.

“Mr Jamieson moved as an amendment that there, be six representatives for three wards.

“The amendment laptoed for want of a seconder.

“The motion was carried, Mr Jamieson voting against and. Mr Vowles not voting.

“Resolved that Mr Taylor arrange with Mr Carter to interview Awaiti West Road settlers with Mr Green to see whether they would go into Elstow Board or join- the proposed new board so that definite boundary could be defined.” “INDIGNATION MEETING.” Mr H. Mills reported having discussed affairs with ’Mr J. E’. Green. Mr Green had given ,an emphatic denial to the statement alleged by Mr Hill to have been mad e by Mr EL Taylor, lands drainage engineer, concerning the attitude of the H Drain settlers. THE TWO PETITIONS.

Regarding the petitions, Mr Green had written explaining: his actions. He had explained the difficulties which had arisen at the Committee meeting, as outlined ip.* the -minutes, and had stated that, together with Mr Taylor, of the Lands Department, and Mr Carter of the Elstow Drainage Board, he had interviewed those settlers on Awaiti West Road as. to whether they would go into the Efetow drainage district. All their drainage wept that way, and all the settlers had agreed; to go to the Elstow. Board if it would take themThis enabled the .boundary, of the proposed new boaird to be definitely defined on the western side.

On the following- day Mr Green was communicated with by Mr Wakeham, and was asked to prepare a petition over the Awaiti urea only, plus the freehold country From. Mr G. iSarjant’s northern boundary to Fisher’s Road, and to take in Mir Ba rnett’s and Mr Morrison’s sections an d then follow the eastern boundary of the Awaiti settlement. Mr Wakel'iam had said that the Crown settle rs were most anxious to comply wit h the Lands Department’s request in e order to get. the work on the Await i Road drain proceeded with at once, and that as the Drain H area could 1 lot at present see eye to eye with thei n they would in the meantime go on <S aly with their own area, solely with the view of getting their work put ; in hand at once, and if later the dil Terences with the H Drain area could be overcome another petition could be circulated over the whjole area and i the first one dispensed with. Mr Ga een complied and prepared'the petitt on. Concerning the petiil ;ion over the whole area, Mr Green t stated that it was not possible for hfj n to take any other view than that I taken by the voting of the commits* Je set up by the public meeting, an d it seemed plain to him that the B 1 Orpin area would ’not agree to sfgi i a petition over t! ae whole area- It was also obvious to him that had Ihe prepared the p etition over the who de area, he had no instructions so to ' do either froir i the committee or fro. m a represent ,ative body of H Drain settlers.; and , .furthermore, had he c l°pe so it would have apparently wit been acce .ptahle to a single Awanit i settler. V fr Taylor had suggested tc 1 Wr Green f tnd Mr Hill that two petifto® ls should ’be prepared and circulated, t> e ’ n S olie for the Awaiti area only- and » me over the whole district but Mr Green could not see the force ctf this at the time, as there were two srnch A istinct factions.

Continuing, Mr Green empij't tsised that he ‘was of: opinion th? it the' n ’hole area should be formed int p one bo aI A and Mr Taylor held the same v. ’ ew and had freely expressed i!t. Both i Taylor and Mr Green had gray doubts as to ■whether Rhe Govern ment would ever agree to the constitution of a board othcjr than over the whole district. This did not alter | the fact that if the A'wait! settlers I signed a petition unanifmously for a»

drainage board over their own particular area they would have apparently done what the Minister had asked them to do in order to get their work carried out. As far as was understood, if this was done the work would be proceeded with. It might have appeared that there would have been an attempt on the part of Mr Green and Mr Taylor to let the H Drain settlers down, but an assurance was given by the writer that this was not so.

Mr Mills pointed out that it might be desirable for the discussion to be taken in committee. Settlers would feel freer to speak, and it was the usual procedure ot discuss the legal aspect in camera.

The motion was seconded by Mt JA. Reid and adopted, and a long discussion followed. . The following motions were adopted:—

“That this meeting of settlers served by Drain H are emphatically in favour of the formation of a drainage area in the Netherton district of the lands not already included in other drainage districts or not advisable to be included, the district to be called the Netherton Drainage District.

“That a committee comprising Messrs E. A- Chester, J. A. Reid, H. Mills, E. Jamieson, 'and W. Simpson be appointed to confer with Mr E. L. Walton and take all the necessary steps to have the drainage board formed.”