FENCES FOR STREAMS AND GULLIES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1682, 25 May 1904, Page 66

FENCES FOR STREAMS AND GULLIES

In a situation where a line of f ence crosses a stream or a gulldy liable to be flooded, it is necessary to -make special provision for it. A fence extending • down near the surface and sufficiently rigid to withstand the current would arrest the 'drift wood and other objects floated down on the flood, and soon became a dam. The right kind of a fence must therefore yield to the force of the flood., and renew its position, or be easily replaced after it has subsided, Figure 1 is a very effectual flood-gate for a running stream. The posts, B, B, are firmly set on the bank, and a,stick of timber A, mortised on the top of --them. The three uprights, 0. 0. C, are hinged to the cross-timber, and the boards, F, fastened in place by tenpenny steel nails. The • -gate swings with the ' current, I>. Figure 2 shows a lighter fence made of poles or rails, held by ,

interlinking Staples to the posts on the side -of the stream. As the flooids come down, the rails are washed from the oentre, and float freely at either side of the stream. They can be (laid up in place again when the water subsides. The flood-gate, Figure 3, is designed to prevent small stock from, passing from, one field to' another through a watercourse under a fence where there is low water, while in time of ‘high water the gate will visa sufficiently to allow the floating trash to pass through, but not higher, as it is ' self-fastening. The invention consists of a gatp constructed of perpendicular slats hinged above,, and moving. This hangs across a stream or ditch. On the down-stream side -of the gate a swing paddle is fixed, which hangs in the water. This, marked a in the illustration, is attached to

an -angular bar, b, -which is moved when the flow of water pa-esses with force against the paddlle. Two notched pieces, o c. attached to the 'gate, rest upon the angular bar, b, at low water; When both the paddle and the gate hang at rest, perpendicularly, these notched pieces, cc, hold 'tile gate firmly shut; when,, h'otwev 2T, tY water rises 'and the paddle is moved sufficiently to' disengage- the notches, the gate wiiiil be. moved by the farce of the water, and if sticks or rubbish of any kind float down against it they will be swept under it by the water. When the water subsides, the paddle swings back, the pieces c c, catch and keep the gate, closed at any height

it -may fall to. Let the cross-piece, d, that is halved into the poets, be about lft above the banks of the ditch. The pieces, f f f ■£, represent the fence above the ditch, -the small posts, g g, with the pieces nailed to them, axe to- prevent the stock from passing when the gate is partly 'Closed, at the same time bracing the posts, ee; the holes at h are to raise and lower the paddle a; if small, a cleat -on one of the arms upon Which the piece B is hung, prevents the padule from swinging towards the gate. A guluy is sometimes difficult, to fence but by hanging a frame over

it, as is seen in figure 4, the object may be quickly, accomplished. The frame can be spiked together’ in a short time, or framed together if a more elaborate

one ig desired. To make it serve its purpose completely, the rails must be closer together near the bottom than at the top of the frame, in order to prevent small animals from going through it., A modification of this last named device seen at Fgure l 5, gives greater space for the passage of brush wood or other large objects, which may be swept down on the flood. The -width,. strength and size of the bases supporting the side posts, -and of the braces, will depend

upon the width and depth of the channel. The base pieces can be firmly anchored by stakes driven slanting over the ends •and outsides, or by stones piled on. For wide, shallow streams, three or even more braced uprights can be anchored Bft or 10ft apart in the bed with heavy stones, with two or more swinging sections. If smaOjl trees® or long timbers are likely to float down, the swinging gate may be 12ft or 15ft wide. For smaller streams, with string high banks, sft or Oft will! suffice.