DRAIN CLEANING

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 59, Issue 4251, 6 March 1950, Page 8

DRAIN CLEANING

USE OF NEW METHOD

MACHINERY NEEDED DEMONSTRATION TO BE GIVEN **l think that the day of hand cleaning of drains is rapidly vanishing and the acquiring of machinery for this purpose will be a step in the right direction, said Mr H. M. Corbett, chairman of the Hauraki Catchment Board, at its March meeting. Mr Corbett stated, “ As instructed by the board, I looked into this matter and ascertained there is a total length of 465 miles of drains in this district, too small for dragline cleaning and which must be cleaned by hand. In discussing this at the executive meeting I was informed that the North Canterbury Catchment Board has a varied range of machines which they have had specially designed for cleaning small drains, and Mr Machin stated his chief engineer would be pleased to demonstrate them. I would recommend that a committee consisting of the chief engineer, Mr Thorp and myself spend a day in Christchurch on our way to the conference, investigating the possibilities of this machinery, and report to the June meeting of the board.” Mr J. E. Davidson supported the idea of the engineer and delegates attending the demonstration in Canterbury. The chairman stated that he intended to be present at the demonstration which he hoped would be given on the day prior to the conference. Money Well Spent Mr D. G. McMillan expressed the opinion that it was of great importance for members to be present at any demonstration. It would be money well spent. As many members as possible should be present to see all types of machines. Board members would, however, have to pay their own expenses in excess of the railway fare. Mr W. A. Rushton stated that he understood that county council representatives were now entitled to the expenses of travelling by plane.

Mr McMillan stressed the urgent need of learning about the new mechanical methods of drain cleaning.

Mr H. R. Thorp enquired what was being done in the way of experimenting with machines for cleaning of drains. Machines should be s&le to be adapted to the work necessary ia smaller drains.

Mr 0* G. Thornton, district engineer, Hamilton, stated that the Lands and Survey Department used machines but there wag a difference between the machines used in clay lands and those used in peat lands. Mr J. F. Mayn pointed ont that the machines in use by the department were fairly old. •

Tfie chairman thought that discus-' sion should be adjourned until after the visit to Canterbury, when members would have more facts in A*ont of them.