DRAINAGE AREA.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 293, 20 June 1929, Page 4

DRAINAGE AREA.

ASSIST AN CE SOUGHT. Town Beard Unsympathetic. At the May meeting of the Putaruru Town Board a deputation waited on the board seeking assistance in the matter of a special drainage area just outside the town boundary. After hearing the deputation, the board advised them to Lay concrete proposals before the board and they would then be considered.

At the meeting of the board on Monday these proposals were submitted by Messrs. Hewitt and Reid on •behalf of the ratepayers of the Matamata county concerned. The letter stated that the land proposed to be included in the area is adjacent to the southern boundary j of the town district. The owners have been in touch with the County j Council, whose officers are co-operat- | ing with them. A comprehensive survey of the routes of the proposed drain has been made. It is submitted on behalf of the owners that whilst there has always been a large natural flow of water into the area to be served by the drain from the town district, this flow has been materially increased by the road and other works of the Town Board. As the town district is further settled this flow tends to increase and the installation of the water scheme in the town district will greatly aid the flow. The owners cannot bear the burden of maintenance themselves in these circumstances and the co-operation and assistance of the board is sought in a proportion commensurate with the increased flow of water. It is suggested that the board contribute 10 per cent of the annual cost of maintenance with a proviso that in the event of there being either an increase or diminution of the flow of water from the town district either side may require a revision of the percentage to be made by arrangement or by arbitration. The annual cost of maintenance is estimated at £24. -Any agreement would be between the Matamata County Council and the Putaruru Town Board. To adopt the course laid down by sections 64 and 65 of “ the Land Drainage Act, 1908,” would involve a good deal of expense. An amicable arrangement would be in the best interests of both sides. Mr. A. E. Barr Brown was the first speaker and he asked why did not the owners sten in and do their own work. It was not necessary to burden the ratepayers, for if the farmers put in a good drain it would dry up. It was most unfair to expect the ratepayers to pay for the drainage of this area.

Mr. Yandle was of the opinion that it was the native owners that were blocking the drainage of this portion of the country. A statement agreed to by Mr. Tomalin. Mr. Barr Brown said that he had been approached by the farmers on the subject, and he had asked them if they had apn-oached the natives, but the former had stated that it would be useless to do so, but he (Mr. Barr Brown) believed that if aonroached properly they would drain.

The chairman (Mr. McDermott) said that at the last meeting of the hoard when the deputation waited on them no encouragement beyond moral sunport was given. The chairman of the board (Mr. Griffiths) then said that he would get into touch with the Matamata county engineer on the subject, and he (Mr. McDermott) suggested that they should leave the matter over until Mr. Griffiths was present. Mr. Barr Brown again stated that the farmers should put their shoulders to the wheel and do the work, for they were asking the board to burden the ratepayers for the next 20 to 40 years. It was decided to leave the matter over until Mr. Griffiths was present.