FUTURE OF DRAIN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32625, 24 September 1945, Page 4

FUTURE OF DRAIN

DEPUTATION TO BOARD AREA AT KEREPEEHI CONCERN OF THE SETTLERS A deputation comprising-Messrs L. E. and R. F. Tye, of Kerepeehi, waited upon the -September meeting of the Hauraki Vnited- Drainage Board to discuss the question of the cleaning and future maintenance of McLaren’s drain which bounded their property. The chairman, Mr C. K. Fox, explained that the board had decided not to clean McLaren’s outlet until Mr Thompson had attended to . his fence and cleared the blackberry. He pointed 1 out that when the area had flooded a year ago the settlers had asked the 'board to concentrate on Price’s drain. The board 1 had laid down a definite policy on this matter. Mr R. E. Tye in stating his care, stressed the importance of McLaren’s drain to their property. He outlined details of the rates paid by the property. There was a large area without an outlet other than McLaren’s drain between 'Price’s outlet and the Racecourse drain. •Referring to the future, Mr Tye stressed the possibility of some of the present native laid being settled. If the board did not clean the drain it would soon be tramped in and all the good work of the ipast would be lost. He was, he stated, prepared to cooperate with the board to the fullest. -Boundary Drain The chairman -pointed out that Mr Tye’s property had a good outlet in Price’s drain. They could maintain McLaren’s drain themselves as a boundary drain. Other settlers were looking after the boundary drains of their properties. Mr L. E. Tye said he had always considered McLaren’s drain more important than Priced drain. He had installed three floodgates in 'Price’s drain to stop the water flooding their land. If too much water was put in Price’s drain they would be flooded at the front of their property arid also at the back of their farm-. The chairman said that work would be done to Price’s drain and it was hoped this would stop the flooding of the front of Mr Tye’s property. Continuing, the chairman said, the abandoning of the cleaning of the drain was due to the fact that the drain needed fencing repairs. Mr C. W. Schultz said that the Messrs Tye had considerably improved their property during the last 10 years to the advantage of the board. The chainman said that it was expected that the improvement to Price’s drain would give the Tyes alT' the drainage they wanted. After lengthy discussion it was agreed to inspect the area on Wednesday next.