WAKANUI RIVER BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1917, 13 August 1888, Page 3

WAKANUI RIVER BOARD.

A meeting of this Board was held on Sitorday; Present — All the members. LIABILITIES The Chairman said he had asked the Clerki to make out a statement of the liabilities of the Board.— The Chairman* Mtlon wm approved of. PROTECTION. After discussion it was tesolved — "Tint the Board agrees with the advice given by Menra Fooks and Son m their report on river protection, and regrets that Its limited means and the district's already heavy taxation preolude it from further adopting the report at present, but having In mind the great danger to be appre hended, and the heavy burden of m additional rate, It will carefully and cc momipally act on the advice In ouch mtnner ai it* means will allow."

It wm resolved 'That oar member, Mr 8. Buxton, be requested to obtain the following Informatign, showing, lot, How many River Districts are Id the colony, and the rateable value of each ; and where the land are classified, the rateable value of etch olaaa. 2nd, The highest rate that each River Board has levied on eaoh class of fondi. 3rd, The extent of the endowment of eaoh Board, the nature of the endowment, and the amount of yearly revenue which each Board respectively derlvei from inoh endowment." IHTAKS OF WAK4NUI MILL RACE. The matter of bringing m water from the river to supply the mill race and the danger apprehended therefrom, which was brought before a ratepayers' meotiog on June 16, 1886, was then considered.

It was resolved That the proprietor of the Wakanni Mills be informed that, if it is his desire to continue to take the water from the river, instead of from the creek m proposed by Mr Protheroe, qb advocated by himself, and bo resolved after discussion at a. public meeting, the Board expects that he will thoroughly protect that part of the river bank which ib contiguous to, both above and below, the large cutting made for the mill race, and should the Board m the interest of the public think fit to stop the race, it will endeavor to give him timely notice. DBTOTATIOH. A deputation of ratepayers waited on the Board and presented a petition that it was intended to send to his Excellency the Governor asking him to have the riper district abolished. Mr D. Wilson presented his viewa on the subject m writing. - The petition was as follows:— COPY OP PBTHION. To Hti Exoellenoy the Governor of New Zealtnd.

The petition of the undersigned rate- „ payers of the Wakannl River Dlatrlot, humbly ehoweth 1. That your petit'onera are ratepayers of the Wakanul River District, and form two thirds m number of the whole body of ratepayers of the said district.

2. That your petitioner! desire the Bald dlitrtot should be abolished for the follow log rewona.— lst. Because although the promoters of the petition for constituting the said district, assured the ratepayers of the distrlot that if the ssld district were constituted it would only be necessary for the Hirer Board to levy a small rate, and numerous signatures to the said petition were obtained on the faith of that assurance, the Wakanul River Board hss now levied the highest rate leviable tinder the River Boards Act. — 2nd. Became your petitioners have already to pay heavy County and Road Board rates, and the additional rates which are about to be Imposed by the River Board will be greviously oppressive to them, 3rd. Because the members of the •aid River Board are divided m opinion amongst themselves, and are about to engage In costly useless and unnecessary works which will entail severe peouniary burthen upon the ratepayers of thedUtrlot, while no corresponding advantage will be reaped by the ratepayers.

Theeefore your petitioners humbly piay thai your Excellency will be pleased to •bollih the Wakannl River District,

And your petitioner*, etc.,

. 28 signatures. The deputation having withdrawn, and the petition been considered, the Chairman moved, and Mr Wilson tteonded " That the statements In the petition are untrue and without foundation and as the records of the Board are open to the ratepayer!, the statements show culpable negllgenoe on the part of the persons who prepared the petition. The motion was carried, Messrs S. Brown, and Olephane dissenting. It wu further resolved ;— That, if the petitioners to HlsExoellenoy tho Governor braying for the abolition of the Wakanul Elver District, will show before the 17th In'it; that a substantial majority of the ratepayer! desire the abolition of the Blver District, and will pay to this Board the sum of £20, for the purpose of paying Its debts, then this Board will pledge itself not to levy the proposed rate, or~«ny River Board rate until oalled on by a majority of the ratepayers to do so. Toe petition was ordered to He on the : table, NOTICE 07 MOTION. The Chairman gave notice to move : •'That the Local Bodies Loans Aot be brought into foroe In the district for the purpose of borrowing the sum of £600 from the Government at f> per oent for rirer protestlon and contribution towards the nnrahase of land and the opening of the Rive? Board." ADJOURSJCBKT. .The Board adjourned till 11 o'olook on Saturday next for the purpose of giving time to the Board to more fully under itaad the opinion of the ratepayers, be- . fore It |evles a rite.