766 



Land Drainage. 



[Nov., 



Having obtained, by the passing of the Ouse Drainage 

 Order into law, the establishment of so important a principle, 

 it would hardly be possible for the Ministry to stand still in 

 its task. The improvement of the Yorkshire Ouse and 

 Derwent, and the plains through which those rivers flow, is 

 an equally pressing work which is receiving the attention of 

 the Ministry. A measure creating a Drainage Board for that 

 purpose is already under discussion, and it is hoped that before 

 long all those who are interested in the improvement of 

 agricultural conditions in Yorkshire will have full opportuni- 

 ties of considering its provisions. It is also to be hoped that 

 those provisions will command such a measure of general 

 assent, in the light of the recent discussion of the Ouse Bill, 

 that no further reference to Parliament will be necessary. 



It must be plain to all who will consider the question 

 impartially that if farming in the low-lying districts of 

 England (which are also the most fertile) is to prosper as it 

 should, some active and immediate measures must be taken 

 to improve the condition of the rivers. No such measures are 

 possible without full co-operation, and a certain amount of 

 " give and take," between the various interests in the 

 drainage area of the whole river. 



The Powers and Conditions of Drainage Boards. — The 



powers of Drainage Boards cannot be better summarised than 

 in the words of the Land Drainage Act of 1861, which lays- 

 down that they extend to the following undertakings: — 



(1) "To cleansing, repairing or otherwise maintaining in 



" a state of efficiency any existing watercourse, out- 

 " fall, or defence against water;" 

 This is called technically " The maintenance of existing 

 works." 



(2) " To deepening, widening, straightening, or otherwise 



" improving any existing watercourse or outfall, 

 " removing weirs or other obstructions, or raising or 

 " altering any defence against water." 

 This is called technically " Improvement of existing 

 works." 



(3) "To making any new watercourse, outfall, or defence 



" against water, or erecting pumping or other 

 " machinery." 



This is called technically " the construction of new 

 works." 



