HUNGAHUNGA DRAINAGE.

Matamata Record, Volume XIII, Issue 1112, 7 April 1930, Page 5

HUNGAHUNGA DRAINAGE.

BOARD’S MONTHLY MEETING. | The monthly meeting of the Hungahunga Drainage' Board was held ion Thursday.. There were present: Messrs. F. E. Hughes (chairman), J. H. Hedley, F. Montague, W. Hallett and G. H. Reid. Basis of Rating. | The clerk to the Mangawara River Board wrote asking for support to a request that the new Drainage Bill make provision for ratepayers to decide by vote whether rates shall be levied upon the acreage basis, the capital 'value or the unimproved value. The chairman: We are very much in favour of the proposal but the matter could be dealt with by the joint committee. He did not think, however, that they would be able to get valuation on an acreage basis. It was decided to support the proposal. A Waharoa Request. Mr. P. C. Trebilco, Waharoa, wrote asking the board to take over and maintain an outlet through Mr. E.Bowen’s property to his western boundary, ,a distance of about 11 chains. This was an extension of Kenah’s outlet. He was willing to have his property classified for benefits to be derived. The drain would benefit some fifteen acres of his property and about 20 acres of Bowen’s property. It was left with Mr. Reid to inspect the drain. Mr. Reid: There is no doubt we will have to take the drain over some day. The chairman: He is paying rates now, but a higher rating may be necesary. The clerk said there were cases in which a man could only drain through a neighbour’s property, and . as the neighbour may not clean the drain through his property the only way was -for the board to take it over. He had advised same ratepayers to make application for this. The chairman said he had offered the contractor for a portion of the Waiwhero the full length of the drain at 3s per chain to compensate him for extra work in clearing blackberries. Though the settlers had been given notice that blackberry had to be cleared very few had responded. The upper end of the Waiwhero was only worth 2s 6d per chain and this would enable the contractor to make up some of his losses lower down. Mr. Montague: The contractor won’t be had again with blackberry. Mr. Hallett: A man should see a drain before accepting a cleaning contract. • The chairman’s agreement with the contractor was confirmed. General. Mrs. D. Sealey (W T aitoa) wrote stating that a drain at Ngarua animals had been given credit for filling in owed its condition to the fact that it was cut with perpendicular sides instead of with a batter. Mr. Hallett said he would inspect the drain and the matter was left in his hands. Notification by the bank that the rate of interest on overdraft had been increased was received, and the clerk stated it would not affect the board much as it had a credit balance of £737. With regard to the Land Drainage and River Protection Bill, the Undersecretary asked for any comments the board had to make as it was desired that the Bill be ready for introduction next session. The clerk said Mr. Gilchrist intended calling the joint committee together some time this month.