COVERED BY LAKE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 577, 1 February 1929, Page 13

COVERED BY LAKE

COMPENSATION FOR LAND ARAPUNI FARMER’S CLAIM (From Our Oxen Correspondent) CAMBRIDGE, Thursday. A claim for £3,407 compensation for land and road access submerged by the lake formed as the result of the Arapuni dam operations was brought against the Public Works Department at Cambridge to-day. Mr. Justice Blair presided and associated with him were Messrs. C. B. Smith (Hamilton) and John Alexander (Auckland), assessors. Claimants were John Francis McGechie and Walter Frederick Woodward, farmers, of Pukeautua, for whom Mr. N. Johnson, of Hamilton, appeared, while Mr. V. R. Meredith, Auckland, represented the Crown. The basis of the claim was that by creating the artificial lake above the dam 240 acres of claimants’ land had been submerged, together with the main access road and with 120 chains frontage to the Waikato River. In consequence of the destruction of the access they were forced to travel more than two miles to the boundaries of their lands and a further mile to the homestead. By reason of the general disadvantages accruing, the value of their land had been reduced by £2,000. The balance of the claim was made up of compensation for having to form a new road and general depreciation of their property. The court inspected the locality and is hearing evidence this evening.