THE DRAINAGE OF JONES' FLAT.

West Coast Times, Issue 916, 29 August 1868, Page 3

THE DRAINAGE OF JONES' FLAT.

(fbom the leadeb.)

Referring once more to the project of draining Jones' Flat, we find that those who originated the movement are exerting themselves in a praiseworthy manner to bring it to a successful issue. At a public meeting-, held at Ross ou the 21st instant, the Committee appointed at a former meeting gave in their report, which contains several suggestions of great interest to the workers of deep ground in all parts of Westland. The present Government regulations, with regard to obtaining compensation for drainage services rendered, are very unsatisfactory. The fir^t of those regulations simply affirms, that when any person shall drain any ground' by any means • whatever, such per- J sons shall b.j entitled to receive compensation from the holders of all claims benefited by such drainage. The second regulation provides that when application for compensation is made, the matter shall be dealt with by the Warden, or the Warden and assessors, and that they are to fix the amount of compensation (if any), ant! are also to order in what manner the payment is to be made. Either party may elect to have the case tried by arbitration in the usual way and tlie award is to be enforced in the same manner as a judgment of the Warden or Wai den and assessors. It must be obviovs at once that these provisions ure almost worthless where an extended system of drainage is required for wet and deep ground. No man in hid senses would invest capital in machinery, and in sinking a shaft for the drainage of surrounding claims on the chance of getting a fair award from the Warden and assessors. What seems to be wanted is a system by which claims on a. wet lead may be rated for drainage services by a board, composed partly of the claim-holders themselves,- and partly by the persons who supply the machinery and do the work. It is by no means an easy subject to handle, but it is on some such basis as the above that the Jones' Flat Drainage Committee propose to meet their difficulty. They recommend that an address' lie presented to the Government, " requesting them to guarantee to a ' Jones' "Flat Drainage Company,' i with a capital of five thousand pounds,

either by a special Act, or otherwise, ! power to levy rates sufficient to defray working expenses, interest on outlay, and repay the capital in three years. That the management and supervision of striking the rates and levying the same be intrusted to v board of seven members, three to be chosen by the drainage ratepayers, three by the company, and the chairman of the Board to Le appointed by the Government." Of course the Jones' Flat people have thought only of themselves. We do not say so invidiously ; it was natural that they should confine their attention to their own case ; but in the event of the Government moving in the matter, we should suggest* the propriety of endeavouring to frame an Act for general application. Very probably other places besides Jones's Flat will require expensive drainage works before mining can be oarried on effectually, and it would be impossible to be running every day to the General Assenfbly to obtain the necessary powers and protection. We cannot here demonstrate the feasibility of this proposal. To do so we should have to draft the Act; but it certainly seems to us that a great many of the necessary clauses might be of general application, and that the Act might provide for modifications to meet the necessities of each separate case.