A DRAINAGE PROBLEM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 20, 19 June 1926, Page 5

A DRAINAGE PROBLEM.

HUIROA'S GRIEVANCE. That the position in regard to the Mohakau Road is a serious one, was the opinion expressed by Cr. T. T. Murray at the meeting of the County ■Council to-day. There were, he said, about five miles of swamp between Huiroa and Kiore, and the only outlet for water was through creeks and drains. Many of the drains ifyad silted up and in places the road had been washed out. The Council had done a fair amount of work in connection with cleaning out drains and "building concrete bridges, but the main trouble was that the creek problem had never been tackled. From the Makuri bridge down, there seemed to be a distinct fall, but on two properties the creek had been blocked up, and the water from the swamp could, not get away, much damage being caused thereby. The settlers in question had made no attempt to clean the drain. ! The Engineer pointed out that'tn*e bulk work in the past on that road had been done by the Council. Some time ago a meeting of settlers Had been called at Huiroa to deal with drainage matters, but only two had attended. ,

Cr. Murray: The settlers have wakened up now, and one of them has offered to donate £25 towards the cost of clearing out the drains. • Cr. Were said that the trouble seemed to be that a wider channel was necessary. Cr. Pitt thought the settlers undoubtedly had a grievance. The whole of the water of about 5000 acres of swamp went into drains, and When these'blocked up the road was ijplbw that it became a watercourse. The 'railway department had a big dr'afiiand should be asked to clean ihijpout. That necessary work had not been done for years. After much further discussion it wW 1 decided to serve the necessary hdftces to the settlers in question to clean drains, and the railway department will be requested to do likewise. • '.'"