HUNGAHUNGA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 140, 10 July 1919, Page 2

HUNGAHUNGA DRAINAGE BOARD.

July Meeting. The ordinary monthly meeting of tho above Board was held at To Aroha on Saturday. Present: Trustees, J. R. Clothier (chairman), F. E. Hughes, J. Orr and S. Pohlen.

Messrs Nicholls and James, To Aroha, instructed by Mr W. Weston Hughes, Manawaru, applied for £135 compensation for damage sustained through the widening of the board’s No. 5 oulet through Mr Hughes’ property. Tho damage included loss of grass, and land, and repairs to a fence. It was pointed out that this was the first claim of the kind made on tho board. Referred to the chairman, solicitor and ongineor to report to noxt meeting.

It was reported that the bridge over the drain through Mr Weston Hughes’ property had boon washed away during the heavy rain of tho last few days.—Referred to the engineer and Trustee Hughes with power to act. Mr J. Pohlen forwarded cheque for £SO as per arrangement in connection with outfall draining leading up to Wallace and Tyler’s properties. Mr R. B. Cram well asked when the contract for widening and deepening through his property is to commence. —The clerk had replied that loan moneys wero expected to he available within the next few days, when tho work would be put in hand.—Approved. The clerk Waihekau Drainage Board forwarded accounts for cleaning out tho Waihekau croek. He said the contractors had made a very good job, and considering it is three years since anything has been done to the creek, the priqe ho considered reasonable. The Waihekau Board has paid tho men its half, £6O 15s. —Agreed to. Mr C. D. Barker, Wardvillo, asked for information as to tho Board’s intention re draining his lands and that of others in the neighbourhood. Drains higher upstream wore bringing water down into his drains, which wore not large enough to deal with it. Mr Hughes said tho landholders higher up were sending water down and not contributing to the widening or maintenance of the drains lower down. He argued that this was a very unfair position.

Messrs Orr and Pohlen contended that no greater volume of water was coming down, but that the water was coming down faster than formerly.

Mr Clothier was of opinion that the drain was not in the light place, but he was doubtful whether it would pay to shift it now.

It was pointed out that the Board could not expend loan money outside a loan area. Mr Hughes instanced casos where money had been so expended. About £2OO had been spent in the now aroa higher upstream instead of at Barker’s, and thus it was only fair to reciprocate in the present instance.

Tenders received Contract 110, Waihekau drain, improving 240 chains, D. Kowich £4, N. C. Sweet £4 3s 6d—Declined, being considered too high. Contract 105, improving No. 5 B drain, Mark Martulovich Is Id per cubic yard.—Referred to engineer. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer (Mr W. R. Johnson) reported as under Contracts under operation have not progressed satisfactorily during tho interim by any moans, excepting the clearing of the Alexandra road outlet, which will be completed when slips are removed from drains passed over. The contractor for Pohlen’s outlet has met with bad going so far owing to abundance of timber. Ho telephoned asking for a rise in price, but was instructed to carry on the work until the board meeting, when the matter would be dealt with. I now recommend he bo informed that his request stand in abeyance until the work is completed. The contractor carrying out the clearing of the Waiharakoke creek has not done anything further since tho last meeting, notwithstanding that he has been ordered to do so. In this case I recommend that tho contract he cancelled and his doposit forfeited. Tenders will ho before you to-day for improving throe miles of tho Waihokau creek, and widening, etc., of the lower portion of the No. 5 B drain. Barker Bros.’ again complain about tho state of the same drain higher up, and I think advantage should be taken of tho hoard’s right to raise the 10 per cent additional loan of about £IOO, together with tho allocation of tho £SOOO loan just raised amounting to £2OO should make a fair job of the drain to the point above Barker Bros, property. Total about £4OO. Referring to now works and in viow of the fact that the loan is now available, I recommend that the sub-division leading from the Waihekau outlet

over the Wardville road and on under the railway line through Bond’s section and across tho Peria road be put in hand. Re Barker’s drain—Mr Hughes gave notice to move at noxt meeting that stops bo taken as recommended by tho engineer. Re sub-drain loading from Waihekau outlet, the engineer is to he instructed when preparing estimates, to also prepare estimates for the Matamata township drain.

Mr E. R. Chudleigb, Orongomairoa, waited on tho board respecting tho board’s attitude last month in refusing payment for certain work done by him. After discussion, it was decided to got a legal opinion on the board’s position, and again consider the matter at next meeting.