THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 10

THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.

Sir,—As a citizen of Duncdin lam waiting to see what action the Drainage Board intends to take as regards tho Cardcw report. To my mind there is only ono course open, and that is to reject it. Tho miscalculations and undor-assmnptions havo been exposed by the ex-chairman so specifically that there is no need to dwell thereon any longer. The recommendation system sou ink well, and looks well on paper, but it is used so little clsewhcro that there must be some deficiency in it or it would bo more universally adopted. If it bo so economical as regards other systems, why cannot tho owners tender onthe common ground of pounds shillings and pence, and not require special favour? I sincerely trust that Duncdin will not bo ma-do an experimental .station for the system for other towns to profit by. Because it passed in Johannesburg, an inland town, is.no argument for using it on tho Flat in Duncdin. What, arc tho working expenses of the system? Is it possible to get an unbiassed opinion from Johannesburg from tho people who aro responsible for its adoption? If they have made a misiake, will they admit so? In any caso the circumstances are entirely different in

Dunecliii from Johannesburg. I counsel tho board to follow the Scriptural injunction and "Hold fast to that which is good," and make no experiments. Let other people get the experience of newfangled ideas. Another inconsistency is this: Mr Cardcw tells us that everything is wrong with tho work done to date, yet ho recommends tho retention of tho existing officers, who in my opinion are responsible for such defect*. Ifc is absurd to lay tho blame entirely _on tho Into engineer.' Ho is responsible for tlio scheme as a whole, but in the detail workings, by the lines and levels and grades and materials, I tako it that his assistants are to blame for any faults, and yet theso men are retained, and, in fact, favoured and placed in positions of greater responsibility than before.—l am, etc., G. Bum. Maori Hill. '