DRAINAGE UPKEEP.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17586, 15 December 1928, Page 7

DRAINAGE UPKEEP.

QUESTION OF LIABILITY

MATAMATA COUNTY PROBLEM. DIFFERENCE WITH BOARD. There are several culverts and drains in the Matamata County, originally used for draining the roads, which have been used as outlets by numerous propertv owners in the district. Owing to this enlargements have been necessary—at the council's expense. Ino opinion that the local drainage board, which collects rates from the property owners, should bo solely responsib e for maintaining such drains and culverts, was expressed by the county engineer (Mr M. E. Fitzgerald) at the monthly council meeting yesterday. He suggested that a principle was involved and a test case might be advisable. The' Hungahunga Drainage Board wrote repudiating liability to maintain culverts under roads in its area. It was pointed out that such culverts had not been maintained by the board'before, and that the board benefits several roads in the county, such as Station Road, for which no revenue was received. Cr. H. C. Rollett explained that the chairman of the board explained the position to him, and said the Piako County maintained certain culverts. That 'the drainage board could rate for the culverts was stressed by the clerk. r

The engineer said hundreds of cases cropped up and a principle was involved. Eventually, a drain of a certain depth constructed for county road drainage alone had to be enlarged for individual property-owners. Thus, although the drainage board was collecting rates from these people it was contributing nothing to maintenance. •' This position is becoming serious," he added. "It doesn't matter who originated the drain. The drainage board may be the successors of the county. The culverts and drains belong to the drainage board from the day it was constituted. We could make a test case of the whole problem but the point is that we are losing a large amount out of revenue every year." On the motion of Mr S. 11. Judd, it was decided to reply that the Hungahunga Board was legally and morally responsible for the drain in question and the Council would not assist. As the culvert was part of their drainage system. Cr. Rollett suggested that the Council's policy of the general principles of the question should be embodied in the letter.