DAMAGE TO DRAIN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32305, 27 August 1943, Page 5

DAMAGE TO DRAIN

POSITION AT KOPUARAHI board takes action LETTER SENT TO SETTLER Further correspondence regarding damage to drains at Kopuarahi came before the Hauraki United Drainage Board at its monthly meeting recently. In response to complaints received, the board at its last meeting passed the following resolution: — “That Mr H. H. Chamberlin be written to giving notice that the board had been informed that three of his cattle had been seen in the board’s Taipari drain abounding his property, and had caused damage to the drain by tramping, and that in these circumstances the board asks that he will repair the damage done to the drain within seven days, failing which the board will carry out the work and charge him with the most thereof, and that .he be asked to put his. fence in proper order where the cattle have been getting into the drain.”

Replying to this, Mr Chamberlin stated that the statement that three of his cattle had been seen in the drain was incorrect. Going back several months to when I was first approached about the drain,” said Mr Chamberlin, “your foreman and Mr Hill took me to inspect the damage. My fence was down in one place and it was obvious that my cattle could have been in the drain. I explained that other cattle were coming and going into my property and that they, too, could have caused the damage, but that, seeing that my fence was down I would myself repair the damage This I did the following day, and noth- ' dng has been through since. Two of my heifers had mixed with Mr James’ cattle and were fenced out. I tried several times to drive them back around the roadway, but not separate them from Mr James’ stock and they remained there until the beginning of June. It was not until July 10 that Mr James himself returned them to me. The above facts can be verified by a surveyor, Mr Adams, Messrs Connors and Pye and others. I repaired the damage to the drain which your foreman considered my cattle had done.”

After discussion, it was decided that f.- the foreman be instructed to repair -. the damage on the Taipari drain and. that the cost be charged to the farmer owning the cattle or pigs causing the damage. .