CARRICK RANGE WATER SUPPLY COMPANY.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 197, 19 August 1873, Page 6

CARRICK RANGE WATER SUPPLY COMPANY.

The following is the Half-yearly Report of the Directors of the above Company, laid before the meeting of shareholders which took place last evening : '' The Directors have the honour to report to this meeting of shareholders, that since the last general meeting the race has been completed as far as Duffer's Saddle, with the exception of a few culverts. A heavy flood took place about the middle of May, which severely tested the race, and rendered it. .necessary to make some parts of the walls of the race stronger, and also to repair several places that were injured. " Four contracts have been let and completed, —three at the lowest prices for which we could get the work done by tender; and your din ctors are satisfied that the work was completed according to their specifications. " Oar efforts to forward the works have been considerably crippled on account of the vexatious delay which has taken, place in negotiating the Government loan applied f.»r over twelve months ago. In making our application we acted upon the bole" (having had the advice of the Warden upon the matter) that the reports of the Manager and the District Engineer would be sufficient to satisfy the Government of the bona fides of this Company. Both of these gentlemen prepared and sent lucid reports > n the undertaking, and we were much chagrin* d to learn that the whole thing had to be gone o.'er again, and that, an authorised Government surveyor must he employed to survey the work, and forward plans and report, in order to c mply fully with the conditions insisted upon by the Government previous to any loan being obtained. However, we at once employed the Distiiot .Surveyor; but we regret being compelled to say that th-it gentleman ;ip;iears to make our work a sort of stand bye to work at only when otherwise disengaged. The survey commenced on the 3rd of May last, and although retarded by Severe weather was finished about five weeks ago. The plan and report are not yet, however, forwarded to us; and it is of this latter delay that we have chiefly to complain. " We have some pleasure in reporting that on the strength of tiie reports sent by our Manager and by the District Engineer, the Government were sufficiently satisfied of our position to return the deposit of £llO made when sending ap plication for the loan. ■ In our opinion, it is only the delay in furnishing the District Surveyor's plan and report which, prevents us from getting the loan at once. We fully expect when the loan is granted that the Company will be in a position to prosecute the work to its final completion without any further delay. " The change of Wardens in this district has also had.a good deal to do with the delay of our business. Since our Company first commenced operations, no less than three Wardens have been acting in this district. Cur work being one of considerable magnitude, it took each of these three gentlemen some time to thoroughly understand our position, and consequently each change for a time acted detrimentally to. our interests. " The Auditors' report shows a slight discrepancy, but the late Manager says it can be easily explained and settled. It is contriry to the intention of the minutes of the Directors, however, that any accounts should be paid by the Manager until submitted to and approved of by the Directors. This nntter. with the explanation of the Manager, will be further brought before you at the general meeting. " Notwithstanding the delay which we have been subjected to in negotiating with the Government, we have carried the work as far and as fast as our funds would permit. And we cannot close our report without acknowledging the assistance which in so doing we have received from the Agent of the Dank of New South Wales. He has dealt most liberally with us throughout our whole business, and accordingly deserves an expression of thanks at our hands. "James Taylor, Chairman."