BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 208, 5 July 1878, Page 6

BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

The annual meeting of the Board of Conservators for the Clutha river was held in the office of the Secretary, Balclutha, on Saturday last. There w.ere present Messrs James Smith (chairman), Inglis, M'Ncil, and Dalgliesh. The minutes of previous meeting wero read and confirmed. A letter was read from the N.Z. and A. Land Co. calling the attention of the Board to the necessity for a coal and goods sheds being erected at the jotty, j Balclutha, for the accommodation of the. traffic. After a discussion, it was agreed to erect such sheds, and that the matter be I referred to tho Jetty Committee, with ! ; power to act. ) A letter was read from Mr D. Reid, I solicitor, on behalf of Mr George Wilson, i Milton, contractor for the jetty. Mr Reid intimated that his client held he had fully carried out the work according to the specification, and that the Inspector unwarrantably withheld a certificate. He suggested that the matter be referred to some disinterested party or to arbitration.

It was resolved to decline to accede to the suggestion, as according to the specification the- work must be carried out to tlie entire satisfaction of the Inspector.

The Chairman reported that he had seen Mr Gorman, agent for the Dynamite Company, with reference to tho removal of the dangerous rocks at Scclefechan. Mr Gorman had examined the xock3, and believed they, could be removed by dynamite. He (the chairman) also believed that some of the worst bars or shallows in the river could easily be removed by the same material. The Company charged L 5 a week for Mr Gorman's services. A number of men would have to by employed, and the cost of sufficient dynamite to remove the rocks might amount to L2OO.

it was resi >lved that the work of blasting the rorks and the bars be proceeded with under the direction of the Channel Committee, the cost not to exceed LSOO.

A letter "was read from Mr J. H. Jeiiidnson, Port Molyneirx, offering to purcfcauv) a buoy belonging to the Board which had been left at the port ; also calling attention to a crane upon the jetty at ths port being in danger of dropping into the river.

The Clerk was instructed to reply that the Board declined to dispose of the buoy as the same might be required for mooring purposes ; also that instructions had been given to have the crane removed to a place of safety.

A few small accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.