TAIERI DRAINAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14595, 6 August 1909, Page 3

TAIERI DRAINAGE.

THE COMMISSIONER'S KEPORT. ' EXISTING CLASSIFICATION TOO SEVERE. , SOME VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS. Following is the text of the report submitted to tho Government by Messrs 11. Lundius and W. B. BttcUmrst, who wero appointed to submit a new classification of all the lands included in the Taieri drainage district, together with a report on the present classification and causes of discontent :— The existing classification is, in our opinion, too revere on those hinds which form tho fringe of the district. Some of those lands are already naturally drained; some will only receive a modicum of benelit in comparison to those situated at a lower levei, requiring extensive and expensive systems of drninago to permit of them being utilsctl to their full economic value; other portions, consisting of islands at tho mouth of the, Waipori River and lands on the eastern bank of the Taieri River south of Atlanton township, which cannot, from their position, receive much benefit from drainage works, have been placed in class A. These last, in our opinion, should bo placed in the "D"' class until such time as a possible scheme from which they would receive benefit is formulated. This severity of classification, together with the uncertainty of the extent of liability the cost of necessary extensive works will involve them, ami the indefinite amount of taxation which under existing law may be levied on all classes except the "D" class me Iho primary reasons for so many ratepayers' agitation for an alteration in the area and the classification. There are two other lesser reasons which have contributed to tho unrest—viz., the non-recognition, of a petition sent to Parliament by those owners who objected to their lands being included within the then proposed drainage district, and the boundaries of some of the subdivisions being made apparently without sufficient consideration of the community of interests. We nrp cognisant that, without the aid of complete contour plans, showing natural watercourses, levels, and undulations, and the absence of any knowledge of. the proposed scheme of drainage, any attempt at classification must be open to an amount of error and criticism; still, it is possible to arrivo at an approximate just classification sufficient for the preliminary work of the Drainage Board, carefully avoiding reasons for friction between the ratepayers and tho board during its inchoate state—the board having the power at any time under section 8 to order a reclassification, and to remedy any error of judgment or omission on the part of the classifiers. The classification which we have made has been arrived at after careful inspection of tho whole area, and with the help of a plan drawn by Mr A. Johnson in 1870, showing tho highest Hood level (n rough tracing of this.plan is attached), and on the following basis:—Those lands which in our opinion are most affected by floods and accumulation of water from higher lands and—must therefore receive the greatest bonejit from drainage, and become of more vnluo as tho drainage work proceeds—wo have placed in the " A" class. Those lands which are only partially subject to Hood v-ator, and will be in part relieved by drains and other works constructed by and undor the control of the board, we have placed in tho "B" class. Those lauds which receive an " indirect benefit" (a term of wide and difficult interpretation)—i.e., lands which drain into alroady.constriicted channels (not including original streams), the said channels requiring occasional labour and attention from tiro board to m'o cent erosion of the sides and removal of accumulations of detritus and vegetable ■ matter, which, in the absence of such control, would lead to litigation between the owners of the land contiguous to each other—we have placed in the l 'C" class. The lands which in our opinion cannot be affected or improved by any feasible schemes, and those which, owing to their position and contour, cannot, receive any . benefit from drainage works, we have placed in class " D." No doubt some of these lands became included in the drainage dislriot through the adoption, of straight lines of roads as the boundaries. With regard to this last-mentioned class, that, in order to protect the board from unreasonable demands, we suggest, a new section be added to the Taieri Drainago Act providing that, so long as any lmiils within the drainage district are classed in the " D" class, the owners of these lands shall have no claim whatever °» the Drainage Board for uuy drainage or other work which may be required, or thought Io be rmjuircd, in connection with the said lands. A considerable amount of evidence was voluntarily tendered jo us dealing with the past and present conditions of drainage of the plains. Wo also made ourselves acquainted Willi as much written evidence as was available. We received in 11 conversational form from Mr Elliot, ongineer to the board, an idea' as to the probable directum anil form \\ w drainage schemes contemplated would take; and after due consideration of all the points of dispute raised we respectfully make the following suggestions, taking them in tho order already slated :— 1. Unceitainty of amount of liabilitv for taxation under pre>ent law: At present land in the "B" and '•(:" classes can, at the option of die board, be taxed within a fraction of the maximum amount of " A " class, and the rate can he made and levied for a year, or any period less than a year (vide "Tho Rating Aet, 1903"). This deviation from the common rule governing taxation can, we think, be remedied by an amendment to section 8 of the Tuien Drainage Act as follows, in Hon «f the present section:—" The board may, fur the purposes of this act, levy on all the lands within tho district a general rate. The maximum general rate that may be made and levied in any year shall be 4s per acre on lands classed in the ' A' class, 2s per acre on lands classed in the ' B' class, ami 8(1 per,acre'.on lands classed in the

'C class; and when any general rote of less amount than tho maximum shall be made to accord with this ratio. When special rates are made for the purpose of paying interest on loans and establishing sinlcinjr funds for repayment of the loans, lliey shall be levied in the manner provided ill tho making and levying a general rale." 2. As to tho want of community of inlevest between portions of the subdivisions and the objections of certain ratepayers in the Silverslream and Owhiro subdivisions to their hinds being included in the drainage area: On the east hank of the Taion River there is a strip of land between and including the townships of Allanlon and Wuiholu which is cut into three pieces by being included in the boundaries of the lakes, I.ce Crock, and 1 Moinona subdivisions. The ratepayers whose lands comprise this .strip have no interests in common with the ratepayers owning the bull; of the hinds of I lie 'aforesaid subdivisions (which are on the west side of the Taieri Diver), and are piactically enisled; and the boundary line between the Silverslream and Owhiro subdivisions should (to allow common interests to work together) have been exactly at a right angle to its present direction—viz., east and west, instead of north and south, the Silverslream being the chief drain in one subdivision j.nd tiro Owhiro Crook in the other, as it is now all the low-lying land is in the Owhiro subdivision, whilst the land in Iho Silverstream is already drained and requires very Jiltle work or expenditure.

Throe, ideas for improving the present, Unsatisfactory pc-sition have occurred lo us. The first was suggesting the. alteration of Iho boundary of ihe Sifverstroam and Owhiro subdivisions from its present, position lo a line running cast and west along (h© road called Centre road, so that all lands drained by tho Silvers!ream and ils tributaries should form one subdivision, and all lands drained by the Owhiro, together with the lands on Iho east of the Taieri River between Allanlon and HenIcy should form the Owhiro subdivision, and confining the proportion of loans raised for works and the cost of maintenance of such works solely for the benefit of each proposed new subdivision to themselves, the cost, io be paid for out of rates levied on the 1,-uds of these new subdivisions in (he same manner as is ;:el forth in section 16 of Ihe Taieri Drainage Act. respecting East, anil i West Taieri. (Lithograph coloured, lowing this suggested alteration of bpiiuJary attached.) The .second was to recommend ibr.f. the Silversticam subdivision be, excluded from Ihe Taieri Drainage District-. The third, that all lands lying east of tho Taieri River now included within tho district be severed from same.

After giving the question every consideration, we dcjidcd to suggest thai, thl Hon. the Minister for Lands lx> advised to recommend io hits Excellency the Governor the, exclusion of all lands east of the Taieri River from the drainage district, for the following reasons--

(a) By far the larger portion of tho Last Taieri will receive little or no benefit from tho proposed or contemplated drainage works.

(b) Many of the ratepayers whose lands are situated in the lower portions next to tho river are doubtful of receiving any benefits, and have expressed themselves as desirous of having their lands excluded from the district, and oven some of those whom it is thought would receive the greatest benefit, from a drainage scheme have stated that if the dry lands are excluded they would like to lie excluded also.

(c) The cost of tho proposed work on the eastern, side and other works contemplated, together with the maintenance of the same, will' be more the Area of land to w.hicli drainage is necessary can reasonr.bly afford 'without contributions from tho owners of lands already provided with drainage, and it appears to us unfair io expect owners of.the drained lands to consent to be taxed for |.he benefit, of owners of land requiring drainage.

(d)..\Ye See no indication of any such drainage schemes a? proposed by Messrs Bell, H.igginson, and Blair in leport K. 6, 1880. Mr Carruthers. D.S.R., 1871, or Mr .T. T. Thompson, I. 2 «., 1877. licing adopted.

(e) L-ntil something is done Io meet the .signatories to the petition for exclusion of

"LINSKIODCOJJPOUND," The "Stockport Remedy" for Coughs and Colds. Of 40 years' rroven efficacy.

their lands from the drainage area dis-sati-faction ami agitation for severance will continue, ami it if. in our opinion, thai, it is best to deal with the question at as early a date as possible, so (hat finality can lw secured before any further loans or expenses are incurred liv the hoard.

IF the exelusion of ilip Kast Taieri lands front the district is' decided upon, their share of the lwbililiiv; and expend already incurred by the preseut Drainage Board can lie adjusted, as provided- bv suh'ecliou ?, of section 16 of "Ths Taieri Diainaw, Act."

Wo an to oonlino the power of levying rates to those most interested ill the'expenditure of the same, we suggest that in compiling the ratepayers' roll no person's name shall appear on the list, of ratepayer:-, whose right of occupation of any land consists of a tenancy, the term of which is less than three years. We are induced to make this suggc.lion because main- of ihe leaseholders have only eliort-ierni leases, and possibly circumstance:! mu.v arise by which the owners of lands may become liable without their wishes being consulted or their interests considered.

Dissatisfaction was evident amongst Ihe ratepayers at the constitution, of Ihe Court of Appeal to hear objections to tho classifications; this we think may Ite avoided in the future by the appointment by the Government of two assessors to fit with and assist the magistrate when hearing appeals Jrom ratepayers against their classification.

Summarising our suggestions they are:— (1) Adoption by the Drainage Board of the new classification.

(2) Amendments to Taieri Drainage Act. (a) To provide protection to the Drainage Board from claim by any owner of land in class "'])"; (b) To provide for and limit the maximum abound of ralrs in each class liable to be taxed.; (e) To provide for two assessors to 1 (sit with the magistrate in Appeal Court, (d) To safeguard owners of land from liability to. taxation without their consent.

(3) The severance of the whole of thoes lands east of tho Taieri River (now ineluded) from the Taieri Drainage District.

In concluding, we wish to express our thanks to the officers of the Ltnu'ii and .Survey Officii. Diuicdiii, for plans supplied; lo Mr M. Elliot, the onginoor lo the board, for information given us; lo Mr M'Lcan, clerk to the beard, and Sir Logan, clork lo the Titieri County Council, for their readiness at all limes to afford ns information, and to all for their kind courteousness.