New Type of Fence Designed by Hawkes Bay Farmer

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 81, Issue 5, 15 November 1950, Page 457

New Type of Fence Designed by Hawkes Bay Farmer

AT a time when fencing materials are very costly and good fencing timber has almost disappeared in most parts of New Zealand, the type of fence being erected by Mr. C. Hunter on Huiarau Station, Waione, southern Hawkes Bay, should be of special interest to farmers. This fence, which has already attracted a great deal of interest in the Wellington Province, is described in this article by F. J. S. Holden, Fields Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Dannevirke.

A RECENT survey of Akitio County, in which Mr. Hunter’s property lies, reveals this very serious position regarding fencing posts: Of some 750,000 fencing posts in the county, about 500,000 have been in the ground for at least 30 years and half of these have stood for over 40 years. It is estimated that in the next 10 to 12

years the county will require 500,000 fencing posts compared with 58,000 actually used in the last 10 years. This will . give an indication also of the number of battens required. There is no doubt that many other hilly counties, particularly in the North Island, are in a similar plight, and it is obvious that the supplies of durable timbers will be inadequate. Concrete posts can be used, but these are even more expensive than good wooden posts, and many battens will have to be cut from inferior timbers. In many districts suitable materials for fencing are difficult to obtain. Realising the need for a cheaper and more durable type of fencing, particularly on hill country, Mr. Hunter set out to find a means of erection using the minimum of material while maintaining the efficiency of the fence in holding all classes of stock. The result of his efforts is a trial length of fencing on his farm which has several novel features and which is proving quite satisfactory. Many farmers have inspected the fence and have shown their approval of it by adopting the method of construction. The New System > The Hunter fence differs from the orthodox method of construction in the following respects: The normal average of 5 posts per chain is reduced to 2 or 3 according to the nature of the ground." ' . ■ In low places or on a convex line posts are replaced by 9- or 10-gauge galvanised chain anchored by a noncorrosive wire, such as stainless steel, to a wooden or concrete block sunk a suitable distance into the ground. Wooden battens are replaced by lengths of light galvanised 12-gauge chain clipped on with a special wire

clip. Batten chains are prevented from running along the fence by clipping them to the barbed wires at the bottom and second from the top. If barbed wire is not desired, chain is bound tightly to the top and bottom wires. .. . The inventor is justified in claiming the following advantages for this type of fence: — Reduction in cost of materials: The light 12-gauge ' chain battens cost approximately £2 16s. 6d. per 100, compared with £4 per 100 for wooden battens, often of inferior quality. There is a further saving of 2 or 3 posts per chain, and where posts are replaced by 9-gauge dip chains and stainless steel anchors the cost is about 2s. compared with 7s. 6d. for a concrete post. On an average the. total saving should be more than £lOO per mile. This is a conservative figure. Greatly reduced cost for haulage of materials by road and on . the farm: Less than half the number of posts is required and light chain replaces battens. Thirty chain battens weigh 91b.; the same number of wooden battens would weigh over lewt., as well as being bulky and awkward to handle. Greater durability: The galvanised chain battens can be expected to last, as long as . the fencing wire and certainly much longer than any wooden battens or timber posts. The method of fixing the wires to the chain battens reduces the damage and wear on the wires which results from stapling wires to battens. Lower maintenance costs: Maintenance costs are likely to be reduced, because the new fence can be strained more easily and quickly. With no stapled battens and the wires running freely through the wire clips used to

fasten the chains, straining is a simple operation. It is claimed that one man could strain a mile day. Since the chains have a . long life and are securely fixed to the wires, much less work will be required to keep them in order than is the case with wooden battens, particularly where inferior timber has to be used for battens. The elasticity of the fence and wider spacing of posts tend to absorb shocks and the wire is not so subject to bending and fracture. The fence is easier to repair on country liable to slips, as there are fewer posts and no battens to be dug out and the wire can be pulled through the chains. Wires are not as likely to rust as when some types of wooden battens are used, and the chains offer much less resistance to strong winds, reducing the wear on the wires and posts and allowing for a much wider . spacing of posts. Resistance to Stock The ability of this Type of fence to hold all kinds of stock has been well tested on Mr. Hunter’s farm. An animal cannot get through the fence or under it if it is properly erected, and should it charge the structure between the posts, the effect is similar to hitting a wire mattress. The fence first gives, then springs back into position, and there is less- likelihood of breaking a post, because the shock is absorbed. Cattle which jump the fence do less damage, as there are fewer posts to break. An . important point made by Mr. Hunter is that the fence should be kept strained fairly tight to prevent sagging and loss of height between

posts. To simplify straining he suggests the use of a 2ft. or 2ft. 6in. length of chain let into each fence wire at the middle of the strain. One cut end of the wire is fastened to one end of the chain, a loop is made in the other end of the wire, and the chain passed through it. The chain is used for straining and a piece of No. 8 wire is passed through the chain when, it is tight. The wire is bent in a circle, as a straight piece may cut stock (see Fig. 3). Reduced Cost The following are average costs which farmers can check and apply to their own districts. An orthodox 8-wire post-and-batten fence with 5 posts per chain and wooden battens 3ft. apart would cost approximately £490 per mile on the line at Mr. Hunter’s farm, 35 miles from rail, calculated as follows:

The difference in favour of the Hunter fence is £ll6 per mile, though the saving would probably be greater because depreciation and maintenance are . less. The cost of erection on another length of this fence erected elsewhere was 22 per cent, less than with the conventional-type fence. Hints on Erection Do not strain the fence too much immediately . after erection. Overstrain will reduce the strength of the

wire, and footed posts will be much firmer the next time the fence is

iixiiiei me next nine u strained, as the ground will have consolidated. Fig. 4 demonstrates the method of clipping on the chains using a patent clip. No pliers are required. It is suggested that the gauge of the fence should be worked out to synchronise with the links in the chain. Mr. Hunter prefers an 8-wire fence and uses the following spacings from the bottom wire, which is sin. from the ground: 4Jin., 4|in., 4£in., 4|in., 6in., 6in., 7iin., a total of 3ft. 6Jin. It is advisable to carry a gauge which can be hooked on to the fence such as the one shown in Fig. 5. When fastening the batten chains it is a good plan to reduce the gauge slightly so that when the clips are fastened the chain between the wires is pulled tight. Should difficulty be experienced with the . gauge of concrete posts, it is always possible to affix a 9-gauge chain to the post and clip the wires on in the ordinary way. Barbed wire should not be used on the top, as this wire

must have sufficient strength to hold the strain and maintain a straight top line without sag. The chain batten will not hold the top wire up or bottom wire down, but with the top wire appearance is the main thing. It is only lambs under 2 months which will try to go through under the bottom wire. However, sufficient battens can be anchored to the ground to stop this if necessary. As the life of the anchor chains used in dips and on the flat in place of posts depends on the wire from the chain to the foot, the durability of the material used for this wire is important. Stainless steel or copper wire appears to be best for this purpose. Both should be insulated from the galvanised chain with a small section of rubber., or plastic tubing to prevent corrosion between the copper or stainless steel and the galvanised chain. The fence devised by Mr. -Hunter has certain definite advantages, which can be listed briefly as follows: — 1. The batten materials used are more durable than those in the conventional post-and-wire fence. 2. The materials are likely to be more easily obtained than wooden droppers. 3. The ability to anchor portions of the fence results in a reduction in posts required and therefore in cost of materials and cost of erection. 4. The method of construction reduces wear and therefore maintenance, at the same time maintaining or even improving upon the stock-holding capacity of standard fencing.

ERECTION OF NEW-TYPE FENCE

400 totara posts at 9s. £ 180 s. d. 0 0 1360 totara battens at £5 per 100 (conservative) 68 0 0 6 wires No. 8 plain and 2 barbed ... 94 0 0 8 anchors or stays at £1 . . 8 0 0 4 gates at. £5 .. 20 0 0 Erecting at 30s. per chain .. 120 0 0 £490 0 0 The cost of the Hunter fence, based on the cost of the length erected, would be:— £ s. d. Totara posts at 2 per chain 72 0 0 Chains, dips, and clips 60 0 0 6 wires No. 8 plain and 2 barbed 94 0 0 8 anchors and stays at £1 . . 8 0 0 4 gates at £5 . . 20 0 0 Erecting at 30s. per chain . . 120 0 0 £374 0 0