Hungahunga Drainage Board.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4409, 11 May 1909, Page 3

Hungahunga Drainage Board.

monthly meeting The monthly meeting of the Hnngahunga Drainage Board was held on aturr.ay last, when there were present : Messrs T. Hanna (chairman), J. Orr, Magill, and Yaghom. Mr Otway, engineer, was also in attendance. Waitoa-Waiorongomai Road Drain.— In connection with this matter, upon which Messrs Hanna and Waghoin waited on the Piako Council at its last meeting. The Clerk wrote that the Council is prepared to contribute onethird of the cost of the drain referred to provided that the Drainage Board will sign an agreement indemnifying the Council from a liability for damages that may arise through the flooding of the lands below the drain, the Board to make the new drain alongside the fence and the spoil to be thrown Out On the road side of same. Mr Magill said they might as well esk the Board to pay the whole cost of the w>rk. -The Clerk is to reply that the matter is under consideration

As decided upon at last meeting, the Board’s solicitor (Mr Gilchrist) sentjn a lengthy opinion re this matter.

—Outlet Drain Trouble.— The following letter was read from Mr W. Lockyer, Hungahunga :—I understand you are to-day calling tenders for an outlet drain, from Stark’s and Given’s properties,—the same to go through Sheehan’s section—and upon reaching my boundary I understand your proposal is to empty this wat< r into the boundary drain made by meaud Shrehan I object to this procedure on your part. The bouudary drain cannot possibly carry the water which will be brought down. The same being cut away twi e at right angles will ce tainly overflow and s riously damage my bridge, road and fence. It will cut off the access to the hick part of my section, and is certain to oveiflow my land generally Nothing else can result. The outlet from Stark s to Given’s should be t-ik- n direct to the top of the drain already made by the Board, which ought to be deepened to receive the uppei waters. For all damage resulting to me from your operations please to note that I must hold the Boaid responsible. The Chairman said he did not think it aright thing at all to do as the plan is drawn out. He proposed that Starke’s tender be accepted and that arrangements be made for the extra, caused by cutting off the angle.—Mr Otway (engineer) said he had gone thoroughly into the matter and there would be no danger of damage A few boards and stakes at the bend \s as all that is required.—Chairman : Angles Bhould be avoided where possible.—Engineer : If we do this at one why not the others ? There are two angles on each of the other contrac’s—Chairman : All the more reason why there should n-1 be another.—Engineer : Because one n an .s going to “ cackle ” and the other isn’t. Chairman : Not at all.—Engineer : "What about the others ? Mr Orr : We have h*d no objection—Engineer : Just so; taking too much notice of people talking. Mr Magill : Both cases appear the same. Chairman : Tliey nr* altogether different. —The Secre'nry said Mr Lockyer paid his rates under protest last year. —Mr Wagho.n said Mr Lockyer considered he Wis rated on the capital value : too high. —lt was mentioned that Lockyer had received cerlain advice from Mr Gilchrist. —The Chaiiman :We have been woiking under Mr Gilchrist’s supervision until quite recently. It seems strange. It only means hansirg drains up for a month or two.—The motion was eventually put and seconded by Mr Magill and carried.

- —Drainage Wanted.— Mr J. 11. Johnstone, senr., of Wardville, drawing attention to tbe drain that was supp sed to go through his property to catch the fl -w from Mr Suttie’s ntill. Mr Sutlic made drains to gvt water for milling purposes, and now it flows over my property, for the want of an Outlet. The Chairman of the Board at a meeting held at Waharoa in connection with the raising of the last loan, in answer to a question of mine, stated it had been decided to carry the c utlet to Mr Suttie’s boundary. He considered tbe j Board in honour bound to make the outlet through from peg 275 to Mr Suttie's boundary. Up to the present not one of the drains put in by the Board have benefltted him, and are of no use to him as outlets fop water on his swamp land. He complained that he ia rated between £4 and £5 and received no benefit whatever. He mentioned that Messrs Carroll Bros., Mr Orr, Mr Coad and Mr Franks farms have got two outlets to their sections, and again Mr McLaren, whose drain was in the very came position as his (Johnstone’s) before the Board deepened the outlet. Mr Johnstone contended that while he is paying as much rates as any of the aforementioned, he not receiving one shilling benefit, and thought he was entitled to a share of the loan expenditure as well as the Government grant He trusted this matter would be attended to at the Board’s earliest convenience. It was the opinion of the Board that Johnstone appeared to have changed bis mind considerably of late. A tone time he

threatened to summons the Board if they even went near bis property. —The Chairmau said he did not remember making Johnstone any promise,—Mp Magill : Oh, it must have been an electioneering promise, and one could not be

expected to keep that —The Chairman jocularly remarked that he supposed at that time a man is privileged. At all events we have given him an outlet and that is all the Board is supposed to do. It is a matter between Mr Sutfcie and Jhimielf. —Mr Orr : There is no need to make a big drain.—Decided that the en-

gineer look into the matter and report at next meeting

—Snagging the W&itoa. The petition to be forwarded to the Minister of Lands, praying for the snagging of the Waitoa River, was laid on the table, signed by Ghas. W. Keeley, Chairman Matamata County Council ; Wm. P. Chepmell, Chairman Piafeo County Council; Pierce Grace, Chairman Ohinenmri County Council ; Thos Hanna, Chairman Hung-"jjnga Drainage Board ; and Matthew Henry, Chairman Waitoa Drainage Board. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Member for the district, Mr Herries, M.P , acting him to use his influence; and also to members of the adjoining electorates. —River Bank Willows— B. "Whitten, Paeroa, wrote making an offer to cpt willows off the banks of the Waitoa. —The Chairman said the offer was somewhat premature, —The £4,000 Loan—**r The Secretary reported that the whole of the loan money (£4000) had been deposited in the Bank to the. Board’s credit. —The Board thought it would have been better had the money been paid in as formerly—£looo at a time—One of the members suggested letting a quota out to

the Waitoa Drainage Board, as they were speaking of raising 7A|per cent debentu’ es. —3)he Secretary was instructed to write to the Treasurer re letting the Board have it in £IOOO lots. —Revenue. — The Clerk mentioned that the revenue from rates is not snfficient to meet ordinary expenses. —Stanley Bros’. Contract. — It was mentioned that owing to water it is impossible to inspect the bottom end. —It was remarked that the settlers had insisted on keeping to the creeks. This had proved an error, as it would have been better to have taken straight ] cute. —Visit of Inspection.— It was resolved that'the Board meet on Thursday next to pay a visit of inspection.—Mr Waghorn said that he was not in favour of letting any additional contracts until next spring. —A Complaint From Mr G. L Laird, drawing attention to the totally inadequate drain at present being made through his property, as an outlet for the Board’s No 2 drain. The drain, he contended, as at present being made, has not half the carrying capacity of the Board’s No. 2 drain, and if not made larger he would suffer great damage from flood water this winter. He trusted the Board would have the matter attended to immediately.—lt was pointed out that after the present work is finished the complainant’s property would not suffer from flood water, but that it would be in a better position. The water is being cut off him. When the Peranui-Waihekau deviation is cut it will lower the water considerably.—TheChairman : We could legally claim compensation for the work done. —Mr Magill suggested that a claim for £SO be put in. It might prevent so much letter writing. —The Clerk was instructed to write to this effect to Mr Laird. —Thomas’ Drain—

Messrs Moreing and Clothier waited on the Board and pointed out the damage being done to their properties through sand, etc., washing down the drain and flooding over the land.—After a short discussion, the Chairman informed the deputation that the matter woijld be attended to right away. Deputation thanked the Board and withdrew.

—Tenders.—

The following tenders were dealt with :

Contract No. 21.—Part Waihekau drain. 90 ehaius : A Peterson, (accepted) £175 ; T- Lupes, £179 15s ; O. O’Grady, £3 18s 9d.

Contract No. 22.—Diagonal road to L ckyer’s north boundary, 45 chains: Neave and Farmer (accepted), £l 10s per chain ; T. Smith (lump sum) £135. Contract No. 23.—Lockyer’s south boundary to Stark’s and Given’s ; W. F. Starke, 16/9 per chain ; Schaare and Taylor, 17/6; G. S. Bai bridge, £1 10s. Ci ntractNo. 24.—Through Johnson’s to Gordon, Waharoa road : J. H. Johnson, junr., (accepted), 15s per chain ; Si haare and Taylor, 17/6 (informal in deposit) ; Carroll Bros., 17/6 per o jain.

Accounts. —

The following accounts were passed fur payment : —J. O’Brien. £2O ; Coad and Carr 11, £332s 6d ; Scott Bios. £4O ; Neave and Farmer, £SO; printing and advertising, £l 10s 6d; J. B. Johnson, £25 3s 4d ; Brumby and Hamilton, £SB 14s 8d ; C. Pearson, £4 8s ; N. Stafford. £l3 10s ; J. Evans, £2 14s ; F. E. Hughes, £B.