HUNGAHUNGA DRAINAGE BOARD

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 153, 9 October 1919, Page 2

HUNGAHUNGA DRAINAGE BOARD

October Meeting. There were present at Saturday’s meeting of the above Board, at Te Aroha:—Messrs J. A. Clothier (chairman), F. F. Hughes, J. Pohlen, Jas. Orr and W. Crawshaw. Mr Crawford advised that Mr E. R. Chudleigh has done nothing to the Valley Drain—The chairman detailed his in terview with Mr Chudleigh, and it was decided that the Board could not depart from the position it had taken up.—Mr Chudleigh’s secretary wrote: “ As Mr Chudleigh intends connecting the Maungakawa-Waiorongomai road with the Valley Drain road by a bridge made with concrete pipes, he will he glad if the Board will advise what sized pipes are necessary for the said bridge.”— Request granted, subject to the approval of the Board’s engineer. Mr W. R. Johnson, clerk-en-gineer to the Waitoa Board, asked that a conference of all local bodies interested be held in connection with the proposed formation of a Waitoa River Board.— The engineer said there was already a petition before Parliament asking for the creation of a Waihou-Ohinemuri River Board. The Waitoa proposal was almost identical for the Waitoa River. The control would start from a point about twelve miles below the Morrinsville-Te Aroha railway line. It may not be necessary to use a dredge. Awaiti settlers were procuring up-to-date machinery from America. This included a dredge on the caterpillar principle, and this device would probably give better results than the old-style dredge. There were many hundreds of acres of good land that would be vastly benefited. A River Board would have all the powers of a drainage board. —lt was unanimously decided to be represented at the proposed conference. The secretary Waitoa Drainage Board wrote re the Waitoa Board using the Hungahunga Board’s drains, that as soon as his board is in a position to deal with the question thematter will receive its attention.

The contractor for Peria Outlet asked for an increase in price, as the country in general is very hard. —Referred to engineer for a report. The Stats Advances Office advised that the Board’s application for £3500 loan for drainage in the Waiwero special rating area had been granted ; also for £l-300 for draining in the Wairere special rating area. Mr M. O’Donoghue waited on the Board and complained that a neighbour had blocked one of the Board’s outlet drains from his property in the Waiwero area. The engineer produced a map of the area and explained the details of the Board’s working. It was suggested that the drain could be diverted at Burke’s boundary, and taken a few chains along to O’Donoghue’s corner, which would enable O’Donoghue to drain practically the whole of his land. He (the engineer) was not sure this was feasible, until he had taken the levels.

It was pointed out that the blockage at O’Donoghue’s boundary would cause the waters dammed up to soak through into the neighbouring land. The question was raised as to jurisdiction, it being contended that the drain was blocked when the drain 1 was actually under the control of the County Council. A block had been put in some years ago, and the County Counoil had insisted upon its removal. The Board decided to seek further information as to its jurisdiction in the matter. The chairman, Messrs Orr and Hughes, and the engineer were appointed a committee with power to act. Messsrs J. S. Tretheway and A. Cornes waited on the Board, and complained that a neighbour was constructing a drain to take water off land previously held by Mr Chudleigh, and complainants' properties were being made the dumping ground for all the surplus water.

It was also decided to join with complainants inaskingthe County Council to prevent drainage work along Hungahunga Road being proceeded with until an adequate outlet drain is provided. The action of the chairman in adjusting the dispute between Mr Weston Hughes and the Board for damage caused by the Board’s drain ,was confirmed. It was decided to strike the same rate this year as last year.