RIVER PROTECTION WORKS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2215, 30 July 1914, Page 11

RIVER PROTECTION WORKS

PALMER.STON BOROUGH'S LIABILITY. : , (By Telegracli.—bpecwl Corresuonflent.i . Palmerston North, July 28. Sir Robert ; Stout's judgment defining the PalmerstW River Board rights as to rating properties directly and' indirectly Benefited by the protection works, was b6foro the Board yesterday. The Board's solicitors (Mr Cooper and Mr. Rutherford) stated t'hat it appeared from the judgment that all lands in tho borough should pay rates, and also probably all lands in tho river district on the Fit-zherbert side of the river, most of the sections being classified under Class' C. The secorid portion of the judgment made it clear tnat all properties must pay rates as classified. I'ho position in regard to the Borough Council's liability to pay rates appeared to bo clearly eet out, but it would be necessary to go carefully through tlio borough properties and check each section in accordance with tho decision.

The Board's trustee, Mr. j. A. Nash, who is also Mayor of Palmcrsion, considered that the, judgment 'was very clear, but rather against that given in /tho local .Magistrate's Court:' Riverside settlers are. beginning to exhibit new optimism regardiug the prospects of controlling the river, and will_ s6curo the engineer's (Mr. Fisher) advice .respecting their own efforts. A request from Mr. T. A. Frost, of A.okautere, that the engineer might advise him respecting willow pfanting on his frontage, was granted by the Board yesterday. Mr. Fisher reported that the two groynes in Fitzroy Street were finished. 'J heir combined length was 683 feet, and their cost £855 us. 10d.; With future floods'-he expected an appreciable sconr to develop to divert the river, and as tho -result thero- would bo less friction on tho bank farther down. That result would incrcaso when the. proposed other groynes farther up sent a stronger stream against tho Fitzroy groynes. A deputation asking for the protection of the bank'at Bergersen's, w'here considerable erosion had recently occurred, were..assured, by Mr.. Fisher that tho nevr groynes farther up would afford tho desired'security. The boaua however will inspect the point..