ROADSIDE DRAINS .

Shannon News, 14 February 1928, Page 2

ROADSIDE DRAINS .

MUST NOT BE DUG WITHOUT AUTHORITY. As a result of a discussion at Saturday's meeting of the Horowhenua , County Council a resolution was passed prohibiting the digging of drains on the road side without permission of the Council, and ordering that one such drain recently constructed be filled in. Cr. Kilsby drew attention to a drain which the Council gave the Hon. E. Newman permission to dig on the roadside opposite his property some time ago. Ihe authority given had been exreeded and the drain bad been extended* i long way without the authority of the Council. He considered the drain should be filled in as it could just as well have been made inside the fence as on the side of the road. The Chairman: Is it a- menace to

traffic. v „,,,., The Acting-Engineer: Probably next year we -will be asked to clean it out. , ' Cr. Catley said this matter of drains being cut on the side of the road without permission was an' old one and it was time the Council took a stand, especially as it was now ruled that when authority was given to put a drain on the roadside it became a public drain. As long as the Council permitted people to put drains on the roadside there would be trouble for future Councils. In this case there was originally an old drain for surface water. The Council permitted it to be put on the roadside. Permission was also given by the Engineer for this to be deepened 18 incites, but the proper-ty-owner had extended this drain and dug another at right angles through his property so that it was now draining the property and not just for surface water. On the motion of Crs. Kilsby and Catley it was decided — "That the Hon. Mr Newman be written to in respect to the drain constructed on the main road further than what the Council had given authority for, and that he be notified to fill in same and that he can drain his property from the termination of the end of drain which he had authority to consf* met "Further, that no drain be constructed on the roadside without the authority of the Council in any part of the 1% County." ■ ,