WAKANUI RIVER BOARD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1971, 16 October 1888, Page 3

WAKANUI RIVER BOARD

"A.' meeting of this Board was held on the 13th lust. Present — All the momberi. The mlnntes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was re id from the Wakanui Hoad Board, stating that the River road In the neighborhood of the protective works had been placed, as requested, under the oontrol of the River Board.

From Mr R. Maxwell and twelve others, complaining of the hardships which they •re suffering from the want of water, and expressing the opin'on that • supply oould easily be obtained by deepening the race, where it ii breached by the river, without any risk of damage being done, and asking the Board to express its opinion to the County Council as to whether the propoial (s praotioable without risk of injury to public or private property. — Resolved *• That thU Board is oi opinion that the k >aM on the RWet toad might ba supplied VI **Q water by deepening tbe race on the toad iT*d 0 ' bat that * n doing this it woald be oeces***? t0 P at * n a Bma M sluice or something 1* fch * fc iort Bo Mto Prevent •operabundant *»* 8t from ™nnlng down tbe woe m time °* flood; that as many settlers are Buffering *"»* hardship from tbe want of water, the *»«* respeotfully urges that the work be a* soon as possible ai the oost would be «m»H and no injury likely to be doce topuUwoi pri rate property. That a copy of this resolntion and Mr Maxwell's letter be forwarded to the County Council." >n^aocount for advertising received from the •• Ashbucton Mail" waa psßsed for payment and it was resolved that the Chairman and Mr Thomas sign all cheques on behalf of the Board,

The Works Committee reported that the river was making rapid encroachment on the overflow banks and that they would very likely be breaohed before soother week passed, and that they had interviewed Mr S, Brown for the purpose of obtaining his content te erect other bankr, but to this Mr Brown atrongly objected. On the*QOtlon of Mr M. WilaoD, seoonded by Mr Thomas it was resolved— " That banks be erected sufficiently high and at • aafe distance from the river to stop the oveiflow, and that the preparation of the plans of the works and the acceptance of tenders be left la the hands of the Chairman and the Works Committee, tenders to be sent m not later than 10 a.m. od Saturday the 20th inst."

Mr Olephane dissented, and desired hla name to be recorded against the resolution

(Resolved— " That the Chairman give notice to Mr Samuel Brown, In accordance with flection 78 of the ' River Boards Act' 1884, (hat the Board will enter upon the landi m bis oooupation m the Wftkanai river district, and fronting on lira Aabbnrton river, »nd erect banks thereon for the purpose of stopping overflow from the river, and will exerolse the powers conferred by the said Act bo far that the Board, or any of its members, or any servants of the Board, will enter upon the said lands at Bach times as may be necessary for the purpose of inspection, and attending to protective xworka of any tort, but will endeavor to <do m little damage and cause aa little inconvenience to Mr Brown aa the nature of the worki on haod will allow."

Besolved — "Tbat the ordinary meetings of the Bjard be held m the Wakanui Boad Board offioe on the second Saturday of each month at the hour of 10 a.m."

Me Clephane moved " That two chains of floating trees be token over tbe river at the new breach over the road, to start at a point 18 yards above, piles standing op 24 feet, piles driven through mortises Id the trees 16 feet into the river bed, and 30 feet apart from each other and tbat tenders be invited for the work."

Members thought that such a motion required very serious consideration. The Chairman agreed with them and eaid he ■honld rale the proposal to be extraordinary boiloeM of which ootioa ehonld be given. It was resolved on the motion of Me Thomeg, " That a meeting of ratepayers be held In the Wakanal schoolroom on Monday the 22ad Inst. Business — to obtain an expression of opinion bb to the advisability of raising a loan for protective purposes." Mr Olephane gave notice that he would movv? tne following motions at next ordinary mO etln ß of the Board :— '•That .'he natural bank of the new bwaoh be 'mioteqted by driving 24 feet pile* 16 feet Into toe river bed and 10 feet •part, with wir« S.twined to piles and banked behind with gorge and olay." •*That the resolution passed that the Board 2 approves of sH the actlofls of the previous board be rescinded." "That the Board abolish classification •rid Instead to levy a email rate equally m the dlatriot and to substitute voluntary contribution* to oonttruot. such works as th» ratepayers generally objeot to be done at their expense, the contributions to b? paid In works or mousy ." ' 74* Board then tdjoaroel