WORSE THAN EVER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3278, 21 June 1943, Page 5

WORSE THAN EVER

PIGS IN PLAINS DRAINS BOARD TO TAKE ACTION MUCH DAMAGE DONE THIS YEAR “ The pig position this winter is worse than ever it has been and there are hundreds of pi' rl ' dering about everywhere,’ the chairman, Mr C. K. Tuesday’s meeting of the J iuit .i United Drainage Board when the question of damage to board’s drains by wanderig pigs was under discussion. The foreman, Mr W. Johnson, reported on pigs damaging drains as under:— “Portion of the Kerepeehi-Kopuarahi draing along Rodgers’ boundary has been damaged by pigs. I got the chairman, Mr Fox, and Mr Hill, to inspect the pig damage the day they went out with me to inspect the Kopuarahi stopbank. “Mr Chamberlain’s cattle had been down Taipari’s drain for about 15 chains as I reported last month when he was interviewed by the members and myself. He promiseed to clean up the damage done to the bottom of the drain for the fifteen chains. The men report he had only done about five. There is still two chains yet which he has to complete and I think he ought to be asked for a day’s, pay to make up the extra which had do be done by our wages men. “Ngatea roadside drain south side was being damaged by pigs. I interviewed Mr McDuff’s sharemilker and asked him to repair damage done by his pigs. This he did. Three or four days after I inspected this same drain and discovered the pigs had damaged about another nine chains of one side of the drain and had been up and down the bottom also. I rang MrTye, the area member and asked him to come along and inspect this pig damage with me, which he did. We then interviewed the sharemilker. I asked Mr Green to write to Mr McDuff. “I inspected Taipiri drain from pipes to Kopuarahi-Kerepeehi drain eastward and the cattle had been getting down into the drain from the north side along Mr James’ section and continuing along the bottom of the drain for a good many chains and had damaged a good many chains, Pigs had also done a fair amount of damage since I had inspected it with Mr Hill, the member, a few weeks back.

“Continuing on my journey I found Mr Williams’ pigs starting to damage the Kopuarahi roadside drain south side. I saw Mr Williams and took him along and showed him the pigs which he identified as his. He said he would see to the matter. “I then interviewed Mr Amos Fisher about his pigs which were damaging the drain in front of Mr Harewood’s and he told me they were not his pigs. » “Continuing on, I found the pigs were damaging another portion of this same drain fronting Mr Roy Green’s son’s section. Mr Roy Green said he would have the pig damage cleaned up. This drain is on the south side of the road. “I rang Mr Hill and made arrangements for him and the other area members to go out with me and inspect the damage done by pigs and cattle. I also rang Mr L. James and made arrangements with him to meet us at the time fixed, 11 o’clock, I also told him while talking to him on the phone that there was a sow with 4 or 5 young ones on Mr Chamberlain’s place which Mr Chamberlain said were not his. Mr James said the pigs were his. “The member'and myself went out next day and met Mr James at tne arranged time. J am leaving this matter in the member’s hands to explain to the board. “Mr Hill and I interviewed Mr Ryan who is on the Green Estate and explained about the damage done to the drain. On the south side of the road there is about five chains which he has promised to repair.” It was suggested that as "'•••icus settlers were denying owneisl.’o c£ pigs in the drain that the uOG.d should get permission from these people to shoot the pigs and the foreman could then go ahead. The clerk, Mr J. E. Green, pointed out that if the board could find out who owned the pigs they could sue the owners for the cost of repairing the damaged drains. The clerk was instructed to write to Mr L. James advising him that if he did not take steps within seven days to keep his cattle and pigs out of the drain the board would carry out the necessary work and claim the cost from him. It was also decided to prosecute Mr James if his cattle or pigs' were again seen .in the drain.

The clerk was also instructed to write to Mr L. James requesting him

to repair the damage done by his stock to the drains within seven days or the board will carry out the work and charge him with the cost. The foreman was instructed to see the sharemilker on Mr McDuffs place in an endeavour to have the fenc repaired so that it will keep the stock out of the drains.