DRAINAGE AEFAIRS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 2765, 31 March 1927, Page 5

DRAINAGE AEFAIRS

AT PUKERORO. BOARD TOO COSTLY. ' There was ah attendance of eighteen interested settlers at a meeting held in the Hautapu school last evening to consider the question of forming a drainage board in tlio Pukbroro area. ' Mr AV. Cart'null was voted to the cliair,; and -briefly, stated. the purpose>,of the meeting. The subject matter and the lengthy discussion at the meeting centred round the old PukorOro Drainage Board’s drain formed 28 years ago. Subsequently the board was abolished, it beingagreed that the drain be privately maintained with the exception of 3.1 chains which passed through what is now Mr Charlton’s property, which was subsequently ordered to be maintained by the Cambridge Road Board. Of late years the maintenance of the drains has not been all that could be desired and' in flood period Mr Charlton’s property - particularly suffers. In earlier years the drain had a natural outlet in Mr T. AV. 'Diseombe’s property but during tho course of time the outlet has lost iris value. Of recent periods the drain has been the subject of much (liscussion, culminating in the meeting last evening. The Pukeforo drain has its rise in Messrs G. M. .Watt’s and Rush’s properties and takes formation shape on .Mr Hargreaves’ farm and then passes through- the properties of Messrs Russell, Miller and Dunning. From the last-named settler’s property the drain traverses the Cambridge Road Board’s road by means of a .culvert, thence through Mr Charlton’s property and into Air. DiseoVnbe’s. Mr J. Russell said he had been over the whole of the drain recently and the portions , most urgently in need of attention wore in Messrs T. AV. Discombe’s and Charlton’s properties.

It was stated that the original natural outlet on Mr Disconibc’s, in tho form of a swampy depression, had been trodden down in the. course of time by stock until its value as an outlet had been lost. The portion of the drain in Mr Charlton’s property badly needed attention.

At this- stage a general discussion ensued, it being contended that in order to effect the desired improvements the outlet on Mr Diseombe’s should be rc-opened and fenced in.

Speakers’ also gave it as their opinion that there was insufficient full in Mr Charlton’s property and that this portion of the drain should be deepened.

It was stated that as' tin* result of an earlier Magistrate’s decision the Cambridge Road Board ■had been made responsible for- the maintenance of 51 chains of the drain’ from tlie board's road and through Mr Charlton’s property.

Mr Charlton stated that in flood periods last, winter ,seven acres of his property, had been under water. Messrs Dunning and Charlton were of opinion that* the.-Road find a proper outlet for all drainage flowing in its own drains, and failing that should be responsible for any damage caused by the. flood waters from such draius.

Mr G. M. Watt, chairman of the Cam-’ bridge ,Boatl Board, Raid the board was only responsible for coping with water irqra-. the board ’spreads and could call upon ratepayers whose properties discharged drainage on to the road drains to pay for the privilege of so doing. The actual cause of the trouble was the volume of drainage discharged from adjoining ldml» into their drains. While the board were prepared to clean and maintain the 31 chains referred to they did not hold themselves responsible and were not under any obligation to deepen their portion of the drain. The board , would be glad to contribute to the cost'of cleaning, the drain.

At this Stage,. Mr F., Veale and Mr F. Kingsford, who was present by invitation, gave useful information regarding the procedure and cost of forming a drainage board.

Considerable discussion centred round the formation of a board, but it was the consensus of opinion that this method of coping with tho settlers’ diliicnlties would bo too costly. •' r'

In view of the, fact that the rainy period of tho year. was approaching it was thought that somo other provision should bo made. to facilitate an early start with the necessary improvements to the drain. With the number of formalities associated with a drainage board much time "would, lie lost before tho work of cleaning the drain could be undertaken..

Finally it was ..decided that a committee, comprising Messrs G. M. Watt, J. Dunning, C, Charlton, John Russell and W. D. Wallace, be set up to inspect tho whole of the drain and the adjoining properties and report to a subscqont meeting as to the cost of improving and cleaning the drain; also that an assessor be appointed to assess the benefit of the. drain to adjoining properties and the owners’ share of the

cost of improvements and future main tenancc of the drain.

It was decided that a further meeting be held at the school on Wednesday next, when the committee will report on their inspection.

Although Pukororo drainage has been the subject of much discussion and considerable difference of opinion as to the responsibility of parties interested, the tone of last night’s meeting was a most conciliatory one, and indicating that the necessary improvements will be brought about as the result of an amicable agreement.