REMOVAL OF SLIPS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32302, 20 August 1943, Page 5

REMOVAL OF SLIPS

FARMER’S OBJECTIONS SPOIL COVERING GRASS DRAINAGE BOARD PROBLEM The refusal of a Hauraki Plains farmer, Mr T. Piacun, to allow the drainage board foreman and his staff to remove slips from the ChallisPiacun boundary drain was a subject discussed at Thursday’s meeting of the Hauraki United Drainage Board. The clerk, Mr J. E- Green, reported that he had written to Mr Piacun as under: —

“ I have been requested by the board’s chairman, Mr C. K. Fox, to ask you to attend the board’s meeting to be held on Thursday next, August 19, with reference to the intention of the board to remove the'slips in the Challis-Piacun boundary drain. “The board’s foreman and his workmen went to remove these slips from the drain and in doing so were compelled to put a certain amount of the spoil on your side of the drain and you then went to the foreman and said you would not allow any of the spoil to be placed on your side of the drain.

The foreman then withdrew and reported: the matter to the chairman. As a result of this the chairman and Mr Tye went to inspect the drain and interview you on the matter last week when you were absent in Auckland. “In these circumstances the board asks you to be good enough to come along to its meeting to discuss the matter and to endeavour to settle the matter amicably.” The chairman, Mr C. K Fox, stated that the board had had trouble with this settler before and he thought steps should be taken to settle the matter once and for all. The slips, added the chairman had fallen in on Piacqn’s side and the workmen could not be expected to put the spoil out on the other side of the drain. It also would not be fair to Mr Challis to put all the spoil on his side. The fence would, also have to be strengthened. The foreman, Mr W. Johnson, in reporting the above trouble, stated that Mr Piacun objected to the spoil being put out on his side, contending that it would cover too much grass. Later in the meeting Mr Piacun waited on the board and explained the reason for his objections and lengthy argument with the board ensued. Eventually Mr Piacun agreed that the board should go ahead although he objected to the steps being taken. He stipulated "hat some of the spoil should be thrown on the other side of the drain.

It was also decided to inspect the drainage of the low country belonging to Mi’ Piacun to see if anything could be done to assist him.