Hungahunga Drainage Board.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43070, 19 March 1907, Page 2

Hungahunga Drainage Board.

TENDERS TO BE CABLED. ' WORK SOON TO COMMENCE. \ - _ ] A meeting of the Hungahuuga Drain- , age Board was held on Saturday last at i Te Arolm. Present: MessrsThos. Hanna (chairman). H. Magill, T. Stanley, W. ) P. Gvohrist 'r-l-rk) The me *ti-*» « *;A>•t *r ! he • > -se . of considering the spstoiti.v.n ,«*< f ■<’. f-»ar different contracts which had been prepared by the Board’s engineer, Mr. Chas, j 1 C. Otway, for draining the north west ' corner of the District. The contracts in ; question are as follows: Contract No. 1, Drain No. I.—This is a drain to run from near Mr Magill’s property on the Matamata-road to the Waitoa river. It was resolved that the time allowed for this contract be four months. Contract No. 2, Drain No. 2.—This is a drain running from Mr Davey’s i property to the Kereoue-Waiorongomai-road. It was resolved that three months be allowed for the completion of this contract. "'' Contract No. 3, Drain NO o.— Adram running from Barker’s-road to Johnson’b road. _ „ _ , c The chairman ana Mr Lockyer were ot opinion that surface drains might be re-

said he never heard of sur face drains being of use in such a case. Specifications for this drain were then read, showing that the present drain would be enlarged to measure 9 feet at the bottom. The time mentioned was 9 1U Mr objected to this length of time. He suggested a much shorter time. On the motion of Mr Lockyer seconded by Mr Stanley it was resolved that the time he fixedat 4 mouths. The specification stated that Mr Hughes should show the work to the contractors. Mr Stanley objected to this, he thought the engineer should do this work. The Chairman explained that the Board had already decided that a member should show the pegs, and that he might as well show other work at the same time. Mr Lockyer thought that the engineer.

ought to find an assistant to do the work. It was pointed out that if Mr Hughes happened to make any mistake, that it would then exonerate the engineer en tirely. Mr Stanley persisted that a member should not be sent round to show the work. The Chairman said he was in favour of sending Mr Hughes, as he thoroughly understood the nature of the land. Mr Lockyer said he did not think it a matter of understanding. He considered it was the engineer’s assistant who should show the work. On the motion of Mr Magill it was resolved that Mr Hughes should be in-

structed to point out the preliminary works now putting in hand, but the Board would not be responsible for any statements made by Mr Hughes. Mr Magill objected to a clause in the specification which said that the engineer should be the sole judge of the work, and that his decision should be linal. Mr Stanley said that if the Board could not rely upon their engineer it was no use appointing him ; he believed in giving the engineer the sole management.

Mr Lockyer thought two or more members should go round with the engineer to be taken over the work before he passes it. Mr Stanley thought it would be_ advisable to appoint a working committee of two to each drain. Mr Magill was not in favour of this. The Chairman thought the engineer was in a better position than the members to judge the work. It was regretted that the engineer had not been present at the meeting. Mr Stauley thought he should have attended the meeting with plans. On the motion of Mr Magill, seconded by Mr Lockyer, it was resolved that the engineer, in conjunction with two members of the Board, be the sole judges of the work. (This is to refer to ail the contracts). Contract No. 4, Drain No. 3 This is the Wailiekau main drain, whica follows the Waihekau stream from the Kereone - Waiorongomai - road to the Diagonal-road. The specifications showed that it was proposed to make this drain an average depth of about three fe9t. Mr Stanley strongly objected to such a shallow drain being cut, as a quantity of timber would be encountered uear the surface of the ground, whilst deeper digging would be easy while they wese about it, as less timber would be met lower down. It was said in reply to this that there would not be much timber in this ground. Mr Lockyer said a second deepening would be necessary in say twelve months. He hud found this to be tbs best plan—to have two deepenings on such peculiar land as was met with on the Hungahunga swamp. Mr Stanley thought there would be many difficulties in the way. The Chairman did not favour Mr Stanley’s objection. Mr Magill was inclined to agree with Mr Stauley. that a three feet drain Avould not be advisable.

Mr Lochyi-r said three feet deep at this place would bo as good as six feet on the actual swamp, He reckoned there would have to be fully six feet more taken out at the second doepening. Mr Magill thought the depth should be six feet at once at any rate up to Diagonal-road from tho end of the existing portion which was to be enlarged. The Chairman thought cubing the drain so deep would make it , very awkward working with other water coining down the existing portion of drain.

On tho motion of Mr Lockyer, secouded by tho Chairman, it was resolved, that the contract for a three-feet drain be let, Mr Magill thought the deposit of £3 was much too small: he suggested £2O as a proper sum. Mr Stanley thought small deposits were tho right thing. It was pointed out that the deposit was only to make the contractor start, as after some work had been dono tho deposit was practically valueless. On the motion of tho Chairman seconded by Mr Stanley, it was resolved that contracts be commenced within a fortnight after being let. The time of four months was allowed for No. 4- contract.

Mr Stanley said the subsequent contract for extra deepening would turn out to bs a far greater expense thuu the original one.

It was resolve ! that the engineer bo instructed to call tenders for the work immediately. It was also resolved that the Auckland

Labour Bureau be notified of the opportunity for placing men on the work. When Mr Lockyer asked what tha _ engineer and foreman were doing at pro»aSng P “ff‘ I Mr Stals, should t tke the trouble to have a look at Chairman said he had seen 1 engineer and foreman at work and they were making good use of lheir time. Mr Staulev objected to the order in •vji-.h the op rdi ns of “chaining and • ’•••• llii:"” w re carried *»«t. '.he duai ui n < x-1 mud that the engineer was unable to u>o hi • mstiument when water caused Vibration, swamping was a very different thing to pegging out roads. . . Mr Stanley said that when a plaoa where there was vibration was ; oncountered, that section could be missed, the next peg put in, and the level taken by working backwards. Mr Lockyer then brought up the matter of the drain which it is proposed 1 to cut through high country over l Waghorn’s property. He urged that a man be put on at once to peg out the Mr Stanley said there would be a fall 'oTafeCuTfour feet six-inches in this drain. . whereupon the Chairman said he WOula like to know Mr Stanleys authority tor that assertion.' “ The men at Cochrane s mill ” replied Mr Stanley. , After several expressions of. disgust by Mr Stanley the matter was dropped and the meeting closed.