CATTLE IN DRAINS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3256, 28 April 1943, Page 3

CATTLE IN DRAINS

FENCES NEED REPAIRING HAURAKI UNITED AREA REPORT FROM THE FOREMAN Cattle damaging drains, fences which need repairing, pampas grass which should be cut as well as details of work done in the drains were mentioned in the comprehensive report ’furnished to Thursday’s meeting of the Hauraki United Drainage Board by the foreman, Mr W. Johnson. The report read ass under:— “Te Kauri No. 2 drain has now been completed. The weeds have been cleaned from the bottom of the drain from the floodgate to Hauraki road.

“The outlet back of the Johnston internal drain floodgate has now been opened up. “ Johnston’s drain has been cleaned from the floodgate to KerepeehiKopuarahi road. There were two big pine tree tops in this same drain along Mr McKerchar’s boundary. I saw Mr McKerchar and asked him to cut his pine trees’ limbs along the Horahia roadside drain.

“Where one portion of the Horahia roadside drain had been damaged by catttle it has now been repaired, also the fence which was down along the same portion of the drain has been erected.

I “The outlet at the back of the flooddate on the Ngatea roadside drain, north side, has now been opened up. The toe has been taken off the slips at the bend about three chains up from the floodgate. “I inspected the Ansford-Bagnall drain and the Zig-Zag drain. I found a fair amount •of damage done to Ansford-Bagnall drain. This has been caused by cattle; there are also several artesian bores flowing into the board’s drain. These bores should be stopped. There is a fair portion of these two drains which has no fence at all on the north side. I interviewed Mr Fox and got him to go along and inspect these drains with me. “I inspected the Soldiers’ drain from Willow Extension to KerepeehiKopuarahi road and found the cattle had been along the bottom of the drain for about 80' chains which will make this drain more costly for cleaning as the weeds in the- bottom have been •badly trampled by cattle. While inspecting this drain I found that Mr Kernick had repaired the whole portion of his fence along his boundary and has made a really good job of it. He has also blocked his drains so that the cattle cannot get through into the board’s drains. There are also several drains on the south side of this drain which need blocking.

“I inspected Wheeler’s drain and found this drain badly damaged by cattle. The fence on the west side (Alwinger’s) is in a very bad state and the one on the east side (Kernick’s) needs repairing in several places. “I inspected the Kerepeehi-Kopua-rahi roadside drain on the west side in front of the Maori section where Mr Fawcett wants to put pipes in for a crossing. I interviewed Mr Fawcett and arranged with him to put iri 2ft. 6in. pipes with the pipes six inches below the bottom of the drain. I told Mr .Schultz the crossing which he wanted to put in the Orchard. Eaist roadside drain, north side, would have to be 3ft. pipes. “Mr McComb has asked me for permission to put in 4ft. pipes in . the Soldiers’ drain to replace his bridge as the stringers are just about done. I told him it would have to go before the board as there were no pipe crossings in • this drain at all and I would have to have the board’s advice on the size of the pipes.”

It was agreed that 4ft. pipes be used.

“There is an artesian bore on Mr McLoughlin’s section, about 50 chains up the Willow drain. The water from the bore is keeping the bottom of the drain very soft for a good many chains. This artesian bore is not now being used for watering stock and I think Mr McLoughlin should be asked to block the bore so as to stop it running into the board drain. “Willow drain has been cleaned from Hauraki road to Orchard East road.

“There is about 8 chains of pampas which needs cutting back on the south side of the Huirau road drain from Te Kauri to Hauraki road. I interviewed Mr J. Hamilton and arranged with him to have the pampas cut back. •

“I inspected Watene drain which runs from his cowshed to Lindsay s outlet. The cow manure used to come down this drain into the board’s drain. He has now cleaned all the cow manure out and put four stops in, so this ought to prevent any more trouble providing he keeps all manure out. Lindsay drain has also been cleaned and I inspected it on my journey.

“I inspected the Towers outlet from the floodgate to Hale’s boundary. About 18 chains from Hauraki road up this drain the drain is squeezed in

badly for about 21 ’chains. This is on the roadside and is causing the drain on the opposite side to undermine in several places. “I inspected the pipes which I gave Mr Peat permission to put in and I must say he has made a really good job of it. The board said they would like Mr Peat to put in 15ft. of pipes, which he has done.

“I am now working with the men on the Piako drain on the south side.

“I inspected the Hauraki roadside drain, south side in front of Tookey Estate and found cattle damaging the bottom—the fence is also in a bad state. I asked Mr Green to see Mr McElwood about this.

“There is an old slip one chain up from Hauraki road in the Wharepoa drain, south side, which needs removing so as to give the drain a 'better flow.”