DRAINAGE MATTERS.

Shannon News, 4 June 1926, Page 3

DRAINAGE MATTERS.

(To the Editor)

Sir —I was very mu.cn amused at a criticism from "An Older Resident than Gr. Hook," in your issue of even date Your correspondent states thai I am sputtering from a delusion in i stating that there is and always has been a natural watercourse under the ( railway line almost directly opposite | Stout Street (west end). If your correspondent is, as he i states, an Aider resident than myself, I he will no doubt remember that when the M'anawatu Company built- their I railway line they placed a culvert at * this point to take the water that was then going across there into what is now Gardner's, property. , It may also interest your correspondent to know that until cultivation practically eliminated it, there was a ditch through this property which took the water from this culvert. This was years before the present drain through Gardner's was dug. Any REALLY old resident of the town will bear out this statement. . Your correspondent also states that I want Gardner's to pay half cost of taking this deluge (for so he makes i it out to be) down Plimmer Terrace. Now Mr Editor, that statement is absolutely contrary to fact, I Have never made such a statement and in justice to myself must emphatically contradist it and request that in future before rushing into print "An Older Resident than Cr. Hiook" will make himself conversant with the facts.

I might also point out that less wa,ter goes across at this point than formerly Water has been turned from Stout Street at Clapham, Vogel and Grand 'Streets. Consequently this water now finds its way across the railway line opposite Stout Street. I regret that your correspondent is not conversant enough with the facts of the case to come into the open and publish his name. If he would I should esteem it a favour to

introduce him to a number of the really ibid residents of the town who will bear out my statements re a natural watercourse at this point. As for our local Council being lucky to escape a claim for damages, 1 contend that Gardners are very lucky indeed that the Council (is endeavouring to get the water away from a natural watercourse instead of forcing the owners of this property to re-open it.—l am, etc.,

G. E. HOOK