HUNGAHUNGA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 65, 17 January 1918, Page 1

HUNGAHUNGA DRAINAGE BOARD.

January Meeting. The monthly meeting of the Hungahunga Drainage board was held on Saturday, Messrs J. A. Clothier (chairman), J. Pohlen (Matamata), J. Orr (Gordon), F. Hughes (Manawaru), and W. Crawshaw (Ngarua), being present. SYMPATHY. Votes of sympathy were passed to Messrs W. T. W. and F. Hughes in connection with the death of their wife and mother. A CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. H. A. S. Leonardo, Hungahunga, complained that at four different periods of last year his property had been flooded; and Thomas’ drain, through his property, was in a shocking state. Re his other property of 200 acres, 185 acres are classed A. He claimed that he was not even deriving B benefit from the part classed A. The writer further commented on the drain through Mather’s property, which he stated was also in a neglected state. The letter concluded “ As I have suffered considerable damage through the neglect of the board I now claim £SO damages.” The letter was received with very little comment. WARDVILLE SPECIAL LOAN The chairman reported on the conference held by the board members and the ratepayers at Wardville re improving the No. 5 drain. The settlers, he said, had approved of the proposal to raise a special loan of £IOOO for the work. The chairman and Messrs J. Orr and J. Pohlen were appointed a committee to inspect the drain and consider the engineer’s scheme. It was also decided to take the necessary steps towards raising the money. THE WAIWHERO AREA. Mr F. Hughes reported having, with the chairman, conferred with the chairman of the Piako County council re the proposal that the board take over the Waiwhero drainage area. An amicable arrangement had been come to, by which all expense would be home by the ratepayers in the area; there being no expense to the board. The County council would be obliged to collect all rates previously struck. v The committee’s action was approved. It was later ascertained from the solicitor that the settlers expected an expenditure of £4OOO. The clerk explained that the cost would be borne only by settlers within the Waiwhero area. It was decided that a committee be set up to confer with the engineer on the matter. Mr Pohlen pointed out that the £4OOO proposal would practically cut up the whole of the loan money available to the body. Other areas were requiring money, and in consequence he thought the scheme should be modified to bring the cost to somewhere in the vicinity of £2OOO. Mr Pohlen’s suggestions were adopted. A WALTON REQUEST. G. Given, Walton, wrote asking for the dates of all contracts done on the board’s drain, which runs through his farm. It was resolved that the clerk 'comply with the request. The chairman stated that a point worth considering in connection with the drainage of this property had been mentioned to him. One settler in the vicinity, whose land was classed A, had a drain through his property, while Given’s land was classed A, and he was in the unfortunate position of being “ the man at the far end.” Mr Hughes objected to the board entertaining any suggestion of providing private drains. The man at the bottom had to put up with the water from Given’s and he did not think the latter was suffering under any extra hardship. Given could make a boundary drain into the board’s outlet, as other settlers will have to do. No further action was taken.

CLEANING WORK. Mr Hughes asked that tenders be called for cleaning No. 5 A and 5 B drains. The claims of the Puranui stream, and drains in Mr J. Orr’s district, and Crawshaw’s were also advocated. It was decided to defer further consideration until a meeting of the committee to be held on Thursday. In advocating cleaning work in his district Mr Orr said that it was a pity the ward system was not followed. Messrs Hughes and Pohlen also advocated the scheme. The chairman said the members were sufficiently enthusiastic to keep the matter in mind. It was decided that the questions of by-laws and ward system be considered at next meeting. MATAMATA AREA. Mr Pohlen inquired if any advice had been received as to the completion of the Matamata extended area. The matter being hung up, he said, was one of the causes of stopping the introduction of the ward system. The clerk said the official notice had not yet been published in the “ N.Z. Gazette.”