RANGITIKEI COUNTY WILL REQUEST BOROUGH TO CLEAR WEEDS

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 November 1949, Page 4

RANGITIKEI COUNTY WILL REQUEST BOROUGH TO CLEAR WEEDS

MARTON, Last Night (S.R.).— Unless the Marlon Borough Council clears gorse and blackberry which is said to be spreading from its waterworks reserves at Upper Tutaenui to an adjoining farm property, action will be taken by the Rangitikei County Council. This was decided on at the monthly meeting in Marton today after Mrs. M. M. Coleman and Mr. L. S. Coleman had stated in a letter that practically the whole of the boundary between the waterworks reserve and their property consisted of dense gorse and blackberry. This was spreading to the farm and nothing had been done to check it, in spite of the Borough Council having been asked on several occasions to check it. The Borough Council had also fenced a creek feeding the reservoir, but the creek was overgrown with gorse, rubbish, etc., a nd caused flooding ol farm property. 4 “Th e bottom of this creek is so silted and filled up that it holds the water up on our flat and becomes very stagnant,’’ the letter added. “Perhaps it is the source of the stale water problem they cannot solve.” Cr. A. S. Coleman said that the gorse was growing to a heigfit of 12 feet. Last year a fire broke out and a plantation on the farm was burnt. Last year the Mayor s attention- had been drawn to the trouble, but nothing had been done. “I am determined, whether this is a local body or not, that they are going to shift some of that gorse from the boundary,’’ Cr. Coleman added. The noxious weeds inspector, Mr. J. Robinson (Hunterville) said that this question was discussed three years ago. The Marton Borough Council was then given notice to clear gorse and blackberry, but only flattened it with a bulldozer. He reported this to the council at the time and asked if he should take action against the Marton Borough Council, but some county councillors were against such a course and nothing had been done since. “The gorse is bad and the only thing to do is to take proceedings against them,” Mr. Robinson added. The chairman, Cr. K. W. Dalrymple: That means giving them another notice ? Mr. Robinson: Unless you are always on their tail nothing is done, “We don’t want to have a case against the Borough Council,” s£\d Cr. Coleman. “Many of tne councillors are my friends, but there is a duty to b e done.” On the motion of the chairman, the council decided to refer the matter to its noxious weeds inspector, with power to a ct. Mr. Robinson: If I put them under notice and they fail to clear the weeds, will the council support me if I take action? The chairman: The council has not yet come between you and any proceedings you have taken. Cr. J. R. L. Hammond: We will back you up. Th e motion was carried.