ASHLEY RIVER TRUST.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18906, 22 January 1927, Page 3

ASHLEY RIVER TRUST.

\ FIRST MEETING. The first meeting of the newly-elected commissioners on the Ashley River Trust was held at Rangiora yesterday. ' Present: — Messrs F. Langboin (chairman), F. Horrell, W. Stalker, L. J, Stokes, R. Peach, T. Dawson, H. G. Philpott, and Thomas. Wyllie. " Tho chairman extended, a welcome to Mr :T. Wyllie, the only new; member elected at the recent election. . ' . The financial, statement showed receipts : since last meeting to bo £7O 17b Id, and expenditure £289 15s, leaving a bant debit balance of £247 5s Id. • ■;'.-', iV Mr Horrell, in moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, reported that the cost of hauling willows from the Ashley river-bed up till the present amounted to £413 6s Id, and the cost of tho survey of tho river was £498 ' : Mr Stalker, on behalf, qt'tiie'. Dorics Committee, reported that the willow hauling plant /was finishing'up its work'this week.. Good ■work had been carried out in the Ashley ■river-bed,' but there was a lot. o£ clear-■ting-up work yet to be done. ;' In reply to an application to have certain i reserves at Oust invested in the Trust, the Minister for tands'wrote stating that before giving his sanction he would consult the Forestry Department for further information on the mattor. - .„ •••Messrs'''Jas. Pulley,and;.G. Barker, ! l!Pburn, wrote, protesting against the action of the Trust in granting the leases of serves 847 and 1811,-. joining their properties, claiming that the..Trust had no jurisdiction owing to riparian rights. In support of their objection, they both waited'cm the ' Trust, and urged their claim. They stated that if their rights were not upheld .the Trust should-fix an Upset price for the leases of these lands, and if they were'not prepared to pay that price, then •call-for tenders.: The matter was'left, in the .hands, of the Reserves Committee to make an inspection, and after hearing a legal opinion regarding riparian rights, to. report to the Trust at next meeting. Messrs Peach, Philpott, and Horroll. were elected a Finance and Reserves and Messrs Stalker, ; Dawson, Stokes, and. Wyllio were appointed a Works Committee. After some discussion the meeting confirmed the resolution of tho previous commission, ers in regard to the classification of lands for rating for the rivet"protection; v' „ : -: ' The chairman and Messrs F. Horrell and T. Wyllie were appointed a sub-committee to pi-pnare ft classified roll. . . ■ ... It was decided to notify the Kowal County Council to clear the piles at the lower Ashley bridge, and to remove all cut willows above'the bridge. ■ ■ .. It was agreed to write to Mr J. D. Wyllie thanking him for his work when. a member of the last Trust. Discussion on Mr Hayes' report on the Ashley river protection was?postponed till next meeting. :