DRAINAGE OBSTRUCTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 845, 28 May 1910, Page 3

DRAINAGE OBSTRUCTION.

AGAIN DISCUSSED BY MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

The old question of who is responsible for clearing obstructions from the Diagonal drain was again brought forward at last night’s meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board. It was brought up in the engineer’s report, in which he suggested that in order to enable the water to get away freely a high place in this drain be taken off and the willows near the bank be cut down.

The drain in question is a private drain and has not been taken over by the Board, but that body has erected floodgates at the mouth of the drain iu order to stop the river backing the water up and flooding the adjacent lands. In September of last year the question of clearing willows from the drain was responsible for a very heated argument at the Board meeting, the Chairman doing all in his power to prevent the work being done on what he said was really a private drain, and any work required on it should be carried out by the owners of the property through which it was cutHowever, he was over-ruled by the other members of the Board and the work was done.

At last night’s meeting when the engineer’s report was read Mr Easton said that there was at present a great quantity of water coming from the other drains for which the diagonal was the only outlet. In order to make this outlet as effective as possible the willows should be cut out at once, and a couple of high places in the drain also removed. The Chairman said that this brought up the old trouble as to whether the Board should spend money on the Diagonal—which was certainly a private drain.

Mr Carter asked that if the Board was going to take on the cleaning of private drains where would it end. He also had a number of drains he would like the Board to clean out for him. Mr Easton said it did not matter one lota to him whether the drain was cleaned out or not. Mr Carter said it was not a question of the cost. Dast year when the matter was brought up it was said that the drain would not need any further attention from the Board, but now it was again before them and he considered that it would be an annually recurring question. Mr Hammond pointed out the great benefit the drain was and expressed the opinion that it was well worth the few pounds suggested to be spent on it.

Mr Carter said the drain was undoubtedly a benefit, but the question was whether the Board was going to take it over or not.

Mr Easton said he would not favour spending any money at all on the Diagonal after the completion of the main drain, but at present it was necessary in order to get the water away. Mr Gower pointed out that the Board was formed and the loan raised for specific purposes. The only matter mentioned in regard to the Diagonal was the erection of floodgates, and he was of opinion that by doing anything further the Board was getting outside its jurisdiction. He had previously suggested taking this drain over. He said he certainly did not like the position, but having gone as far as they had he could see nothing else for it but to do the work. Mr Hammond said the Board was using the outlet and they should therefore maintain It. He moved that the high places be taken off and the willows on the bank along the Diagonal drain be cut down. The motion was seconded by Mr Robinson and carried. Mr Carter voting against it.