THE WAKANUI RIVER ROAD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1791, 16 March 1888, Page 2

THE WAKANUI RIVER ROAD

Yesterday afternoon Mr John OlHvier,

he commißßioner appointed by Govern*

ment for the purpose, held a Court of Enquiry regarding the reaolution ol the

Wakanul Road Board to take, under the Pablio Works Act, certain land belonging to Mr W. JameHon for the purpoßo of a road fo>.' the benefit of those settlers whose direct route to the town bas teen cat off by the encroachment of the Ashburton river, destroying portion oE what ia known as the River road. The dealre of the Road Board 1b to construct a road from the River road to oonneot with Wilson's road about ten chains on the side towards the river from Mi' Jameson's house. Forty chains of the proposed route, and that portion through Mr M. Wilson's property 1b a

road now, though unformed, and the remaining 17 oba ns through Mr Jameeon's property the Board deßlred to take under the Publlo Works Aot. Mr Jameson and others object to this ooarae for a vavlety of reaaoua, They maintain that the Rivet road could be made quite good by taking some of Mr S. Brown's laud at tbe damaged portion, and this route wouid be better and more direct than the other. Mr Jameson aiao avers that if .the road ia taken through his land he will Buffer great damage, viz. , by

his land being cat up into inconveniently Bi'zsd sections, by the deterioration m value to hia property by the increased risk of flojd water ooming down the road and on to his land m times of freshes ia the river, and also there was a rlak of his

house and fenoea being swept away If floodwater bo came down. The Road Board maintain that the road they desire to take will be quite aa serviceable to the settlers aa the River road if restored would be and that moreover it would be lesa liable to damage by fljod. Mr 0. W. Purnell appeared for the objectors, and Mr J. W. White, of T matu, for the Road Board. Mr Ollivier read his appointment from theDepattment of Pablio Work-* The Road

Board desired to take this road ; Mr Jameßon and others objected, alleging that the road was not necessary and thai If taken a great deal of damage would be sustained. It was for him to consider whether ttm road was necessary and If no whether Mr Jumeßon would Buffer damage for which no compensation was provided by the Pabllc Works Aot. In the oourae of farther remarks on the case, Mr Ollivler aaid, that of course he would not decide it, but his opinion after hearing all the evidence _woijlj|jrj!ldaJfcJifl. Mtoleter m coming Whis cficlaion. Mr Purnell then opened tha case for the objectora. He spoke at considerable length recounting the history of these roads. Evidence was (hen led. Owing to the number of references made to plans of the district immediately affected by the proposed road It is impossible to give a report m anything like detail, and only a summary of eaoh witness's statement oan be given here. Willitm Jameson stated hia objections to the proposed road. These were : That the Vilue of hia iand would be deteriorated by its being cut up Into inconveniently sized, three cornered sections ; that deterioration would also result through the liability to flood water; that there |waa a risk of his house and fences belog swept away. He also said that the river road if restored, which it easily could be, would be a better and shorter route, that lees expense would be entailed on the ratepayers, and that a water-race, the head works of which had been swept away could be restored if the River road were again made up. Samuel Brown gave evidence of a similar nature, Ho was willing to sell tho land required to restore the River road— ln cross-examination by Mr White the witness admitted that he had previously refused to Bell the land to the Board and had made no formal offer slnoe, but explained that the reason of his refusal was due to the neglect of the Board to provide protection to the road from the encroachment of the river. At this stage the Court adjourned till 10 o'clock this morning. The Court opened this morning at 10.20. William Brown objected to the construction of the road proposed to be made by the Road Board, It would bo of no benefit to him, and he did not think it would benefit anyone except Mr M. Wilson. If tho proposed road were opened it would save Mr Wilsons jourr t; 0! seven or eight miles m the trip to and from Aebburton j if the River road were reopened witness would be saved a journey of about six mllea. Witness considered if the proposed rosd were constructed he would not be benefited by tho shortening of the jjurney except as regarded a few chaiuß, The witnesß corroborated previous evidence as to the damage likely to be caused to Mr W. Jameson. — By Me White ; Considered the River road could bo restored if it wet • adequately protected ; Ouuld not say what tha coat of restoring that road would be, David Wilson objected to construction of proposed new road. Considered it waa not for the benefit of the ratepayers of the distriot, and further considered if it was made there would be no hope of getting the River road opened up. because tho Road Board would not have sufficient funds to oonottact both, and the River road waa more advantageous to the distriot. Considered the River road could be protected and there was now a River Board, whese duty it was to attend to such matters. If the River road was opened tho water supply, which had been out off, could be restored to ih's district.— By Mr White { The proceeds of the sale of the proposed road, and the saving of. the putohass from Me W. Jameson would, m witness' opinion, go a long way towards defraying the cost of the reconstruction of the River road and the purchase of the necessary land fjtom Mr S. Brown. About £60 would be saved to the Jjoard if they could sell the road. Could not esy how much land it would be neoesefcry to take to recor struct the River road. Samuel Thomas gave evidence. — Id crosaexamlnatlon he said that if he had do frpntage to Wilson's road the proposed road would ba of benefit to him. v ' John Brown also gwo oyldenoe objecting to the road. Mr Purnell said that he bed somoj further evidence to lead, but his witness had not vet arrived. The jOonrt adjoaruod till two o'clock. Mr Ollfvler, agdornnanied by Mr O. 0. J?ookB and M* P.W ilson representing eaoh ilde, In the meantime going' out to j Juepeot the |Jvrl jront^ii,