Hangahunga Drainage Board.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43113, 4 July 1907, Page 2

Hangahunga Drainage Board.

AN UNSATISFACTORY ENGINEER. A meeting of the Board was held yesterday afternoon, there being present: Messrs Hanna (chairman), Waghorn, Magill, Lockyer and Stanley. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, dated June 4th, wrote stating that on April 29th last the Board’s engineer submitted draft plans of his levels in the Hungahunga drainage area for consideration, and was informed that it would be necessary for the Board to supply a tracing of the level plans and a copy of the engineer’s repor to this office before any work was authorised. So far these have not been Ireceived. He had had numerous letters from settlers on the Piraunui stream, in the Rangiatea settlement, some miles to the north of the drainage area, that your Board is going on with the drainage work, with the consequence that their laud will be prejudicially affected by flood water. They profess themselves as being willing to come into the drainage scheme if your Board would open up the Piraunui stream from its junction with the Waitoa river. He would be glad to have the views of your Board on this matter, as he only learnt now that there is likely to be any chance of damage by going down the Piraunui.

Writing again on June 20th, the Commissioner acknowledged the Board’s letter of the 15th, and informed them that he had met their engineer and looked at ths scheme generally, and also at a report which he had received from the district Surveyor, Mr Hasyard. As far as he could see, what would give the least friction would be the deepening of the drain at the Diagonal-road, from Waghorn’s whare to Coleman’s, a distence of 23 chains. This would take off the top water, and the Waihekau and Piraunui settlers would have no cause for complaint. At the same time he mentioned that several of the settlers lower down express their willingness to come into the drainage area, although he thought that going down Coleman’s drain seemed preferable to any scheme coming down the Piraunui. A communication was received from the Board’s engineer stating that he would be up next week, also declining to lay out a certain piece of work. Members generally expressed themselves very strongly on the engineer’s action, and were of opinion that if lie could not see his way to look after the work they should get someone else.

It was decided to insist on the engineer coming up at once and give certificates, for payment of contracts, and get specifications out for work authorised.

After some further discussion the following wire was sent: ‘‘Board insist on your coming to-morrow, wages must be paid on Saturday night.” The members thought it was unfair to keep the men waiting for their wages, and members arranged to inspect the works in progress'in case the engineer did not arrive in time.

A communication signed by the following settlers adjoining the Piraunui creok, Messrs J. Borrie, J. B. Thomas, P. A. Sweeney, M O’Grady, H. Ross, H. O. Cooper, T. Jamieson, R. Moriarty and G. P. Goodfellow, notified the Board that they would be held responsible for any damage sustained by the above-mentioned settlers properties through the operations of the Drainage Board Several members said that a number of the settlers were in favour of joining the drainage area, and Mr Magill proposed that Board inform them that they had no objection to them joining. Mr Stanley seconded the motion. The Chairnjan, he understood from Mr McKenzie, that tjie settlers were willing to come into the drainage area. He thought they should form an extended area, and be included in the Board’s area, and petition the Governor to that effect. The Board deeideded that if the settlers called a meeting the Board members would attend and explain the matter to them.