CARRICK WATER RACE

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 269, 24 November 1874, Page 6

CARRICK WATER RACE

To the Editor of the Cromwell Argus. Sir, —Not being much of a hand at the pen, I would rather that some one more accustomed to that kind of work had taken up the subject,' on which I shall endeavour to give the shareholders of the Carrick Range Water Race my views, and which has already been touched upon by a writer signing himself “ Shareholder." ***** It is well known Mr'Varcoe had a number of testimonials from the St Balkans shareholders, and Mr Taylor evidenced a desire to please them by putting in their man. In this I consider he was quite right, as most of the St Bathans shareholders are practical men, and would not for their own interests recommend an incompetent man. So far so good. But what weight did the Directors attach to the opinion of the same shareholders, when they recommended certain steps should be taken, as they considered the money was only being wasted ? They did not hastily arrive at this conclusion ; not until they had sent some of their own number to' inspect the race and report thereon. Their report was something to the following effect: After carefully examining the Carrick Range Water Race, we consider that it is only money thrown away; that it will require a large sum of money to make good that part of it that has been cut by contract, as in its present condition it will not carry half the quantity of water it is supposed to carry. After that, will anyone have the hardihood to say that the Directors were justified in paying no attention to their earnest request ? I should think not. But now their story is, we’were trying to please the Dunstan Creek shareholders! _Mr Taylor says “ Shareholder” ought to make his grievances known at a general meeting of shareholders. This, I daresay, he would do ; but when such a meeting will be held no one appears to know. But this state of affairs is not confined to shareholders only, as one of the Directors infc rmed me that he had not got notice of any meeting of Directors from the time he was elected, and that is over eight months ago, during which time business of importance had to be transacted, —such as stopping the works, receiving a large sum or sums of money from the Government, (which I suppose will be now lying in the Bank to the credit of the company, but as no balance-sheet has been published, who knows ?) Then the legal manager resigned ; but there was no advertising, no calling for applications, no testimonials, no recommendations from the Dunstan Creek shareholders required. No, no ; simply a Directors’ “ pet” was put into office. All these and many other; things were done without a meeting of Directors being called. I am, &c., Another Shareholder. September 21, 1874. ■ [lt will be seen that part of the griginal of the. above has been deleted. The writer is referring’ to the question of whether Mr Griffiths (an applicant for the post of working manager) was or was not justified in expecting Mr Taylor’s support, regarding which enough has already found its way into print.— Ed. C. A.]