LAKES ELLESMERE AND FORSYTH RECLAMATION AND AKAROA RAILWAY TRUST.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 164, 12 February 1878, Page 2

LAKES ELLESMERE AND FORSYTH RECLAMATION AND AKAROA RAILWAY TRUST.

The members of the above met at Wascoes Hotel on the sth insl. ,

Present—Messrs E. C. Latter, --chairman, Daiglish, G. R. Joblin, John Bell, Thomas Parkinson, John Gebbie, John Murray, Rev. P. U'Callagan, and W. Marshall.

Mr Latter enumerated the subject to which the attention of the meeting would be directed, of these the first was the monthly report of the.engineer.

This document was read, and showed the degree of progress that had been made by him since his appointment. Working « drawings, in an advanced state of preparation, were produced. The first, called No. 1, was constructed on a scale of 40 chains to the inch on one sheet, the dimensions of which is 10 feet by 5. This will be com- - pleted in eight days. No. 2, drawing is an enlargement of the preceding to a scale of 20 chains to the inch. This is on two sheets, each being 9 feet by 6, and will be completed in ten days. These drawings were compiled from accurate plans made by the survey department of Government, by permission of the Chief Surveyor. No. 3, is a working drawing of the Estuary of Lake Ellesmere, on a scale of one chain to the inch, representing one and a quarter miles in length, of both banks of the Estuary, and the sea coast of the spit approaching Tamutu. 'Mr Johnston, the Engineer, ▼ professes to have bestowed great care and attention in the construction of this drawing. It is not-yet completed, but will be entirely so before "the next meeting, when m , all the necessary soundings and borings, both Inside the Estuary and outside to seaward, in the vicinity of the proposed channel entrance will have been made.

The report having been "read and con-, sidered, Mr Johnston was called in, and produced the drawings, and explained their nature, and the purposes for which they were required. He said that after the water of the lake had gone out, and the proposed outlet had been constructed, not * more than two-thirds of the tidal wave would, on its flowing, find admission to the lake area ; hence at high tide, one-third of the area of that part of the lake, which would be covered by the inflowing of the sea, if there were no restriction to their admission, would lie high and dry. The extent of area thus affected would be 20,000 acres.

On this statement considerable discussion took place, and some diversity of opinion prevailed. In reply to Mr G. R. Joblin, Mr Johnston said that he had not the slightest doubt as to the practicability of draining the lake, and that he had found line alluvial soil, often of several feet in depth, extending* for miles within the area of the lake. He further said that the work of surveying the line of railway would be commenced in a day or two, by two competent and that he was in hopes " that 20 miles or'; plan and section, would be laid off and be ready to be placed before the Trust at their next meeting." Mr Johnston then withdrew. Mr John Gebbie called attention to the . difference in area ascribed to the lake by different surveyors. The land reserved was gazetted as "that within the highest flood line," but if some of the lines represented to be the highest flood line were adopted by/Mr Johnston, great loss would result to'the Trust.

Mr Parkinson thought that no difficulty would be found to exist, as the flood line varied very much, and was never so high now as it used to be years ago, and the acreage reserved was already fixed. Mr O'Callaghan was of the same opinion He thought that as the area reserved was defined, no difficulty or loss was to be apprehended. Mr G. R. Joblin could not concur in this view of the question, but was entirely of Mr Gebbie's opinion. The highest flood line now was much lower than it used to be, but this did not arise from natural causes, but resulted from the annual works of the Road Board. To preserve their roads, the lake was let out, hence it was prevented from attaining its highest flood line. If the lake was not let out, it would again reach the old flood line. If the highest line now annually reached by the lake were accepted as the highest flood line, some thousands of acres of the best land would be lost to the Trust. Although the area of land reserved had been defined as consisting of a certain number of acres, yet if their Engineer found within the highest flood line a larger area than previous surveyors had estimated, the larger area would undoubtedly be claimed by the Trust. The Government had empowered the Trust to have the lake surveyed, and provided the funds for the purpose. This of itself constituted proof that the accuracy of the existing surveys was not unquestioned. He believed that the survey now in progress would, when completed, take precedence of all the others as far as reliability was concerned. The Chairman did not anticipate any difficulty would exist in relation to the area, but it was an important matter, and it would be well to be on the safe side. The Act empowered the Trust to make the survey, and the area of reclaimed land would probably be computed from the •survey now being made, and he thought it would be well to call Mr Johnston's attention to the matter. Mr Bell thought the matter was of considerable importance, and if Mr Johnston had his attention directed to it, he would get information on the subject. Some of the land between the flood lines was very valuable. Mr Joblin thought the importance attached to the subject would be best manifested by passing a resolution in relation to it. This, would be entered on the minutes, and the Chairman could convey it to the Engineer. Mr Gebbie proposed that Mr Johnston be instructed that his survey should include all lands below "the highest flood line as proclaimed in the Gazette. Seconded ■by Mr Joblin, and carried. Proposed by Mr Gebbie, and seconded "by Mr Dalglish, and carried, that a cheque for £150 for the first monthly instalment "be made payable on the Bth inst. A long letter was received from Mr Latham, but was not entertained. Mr Bell proposed that the sum of £4 be paid to each of the Returning-officers engaged in the late election of the members /jf-the Trust, Seconded by Mr Joblin, ajid carried. Proposed by Mr- Joblin, and seconded by Mr Parkinson, that a cheque for £18 be paid to M'Allister in settlement of his accomir;--a«d-that the Chairman be authorised to* pay such of tie disputed accounts as the Solicitor to the Trust may advise. 'Carried. Mr O'Callaghan wished to call attention to the very great trouble and expense incurred by the Chairman in journeying so often to Christchurch to attend the R. M. {Jourt, concerning the disputed claims. He thought the Trust should compensate him for his trouble. It could not, and ought -not to be expected that all this should be ■done without remuneration. Mr Parkinson held the same view as Mr O'Callaghan, and was certain that no member of the Trust would object to so reasonable a proposition. Mr Latter said the proceedings involved •great loss of time to him, and considerable expense, but that he did not deuire that he =alone of the members of the Trust should be reimbursed for his outlay, or compensated for his trouble. He would, therefore request that the subject be waived. Mr Joblin would as a rule oppose the ■expenditure of the funds of the Trust among the members, but this case was ■entirely exceptional, and he considered great injustice would be.done if Mr Latter ■were not paid travelling expenses. It was not compensation for labor or loss of time. The disputed claims must be heard in the law court, and the Chairman was bound to be present. It wap proposed by Mr Gebbie. and seconded by Mr Parkinson, that a cheque for £15 be paid to Mr Latter as travelling expenses to Christchurch to attend the law cases brought into the Magistrate's Court. Oarried. It was then arranged that Messrs O'Callaghan, Gebbie, Parkinson, and Murray should meet the Engineer at the hotel, Lincoln, on Tuesday next, at 9 a.m. for the purpose of pointing out to him the proposed routes for the line of railway. The meeting then adjourned to the 7th •of MarchL