GARRICK RANGE WATER SUPPLY COMPANY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 566, 21 February 1873, Page 2

GARRICK RANGE WATER SUPPLY COMPANY.

—o—(condensed from ceomwell ahqus.) Tbe adjourned half - yearly meeting of Shareholders was held in the Town Hall, Cromwell, on Friday evening last, the 11th instant. Mr. James Taylor occupied the chair. Report of Working Manager “February 6, 1873. “Gentlemen,—l beg to report that the portion of the race let by tender (three miles and three-quarters) is almost completed. Next week will, I believe, finish all the contract, Hall’s party being the last, and they have joined their portion to the next section, and are now taking out the rock which they left as they proceeded. There were two or three places which Mr. Bews, the Government engineer, suggested should Lo strengthened, which the contractors have clone by building stone walls outside the race. I may say that Mr. Bows found no fault with the work, but suggested that, when high walls were built, they should have mure batter. The portion to be let at present, to the Buffer's Saddle (about two and a half milts), is laid oft' in sections. Mr. Wilson," surveyor, a shoit distance from the saddle, gave the race a perpendicular drop of eight feet, to avoid a very trifling obstacle, and farther >n brought it through a perpendicular fare of rock some chains in length. After carefully

examining the ground, I came to the con. elusion that a great saving would Le effected by carrying the upper level about threequarters of a mile further on, which 1 have done. This will bring the level of the race to wiihin three or four feet of tho top of the reeks, instead of the mid die of them, ni d will save a large portion of the cost. ■ But still, about trdf a mile of this portion will bo very difficult and costly, as the race will hj .vc to lie blasted out in the rock for many chains ; it is very steep at Ibis part, - with rock s cropping out on the surface,—to no parts of it b e ing'so steep that it is difficult to walk along it. About a mile and a half of tho two and a half miles is very good, and should be cut pretty cheaply “ Thee were two places in tho portion already cut whore it was intended to luva flnming for about seventy feet in length in each, hut as I have a great objection to lluming at this altitude if it can lie avoided, I have put on two day men, who are acquainted with this kind of work, to blast the rock away to tho proper depth. I shall bo able, on doing one piece, to see the cost in time and material, and, by ascertaining the estimated cost of flnming judge by this whether to cut the rock through thvso places or Hume them. If the cutting is rather more costly at present, I believe it will bo a great saving eventually, as lluming is far more liable to accident, at d frosts at that height would have tar more effect upon it. “ I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, James Marshall.” The report as read was adopted.

The Legal Manager read the half y arly balance sheet, au-l explained that, from various cause, it had not been audited ;he was condemned for his neglect, and instructed to hand the report to the auditors for their report. The existing directory were re-elected for six months longer. The chairman referred to the payment if Directors, ho thought there was too much of the £ s. d. element amongst the people at Cromwell in regard to the management of the Comp ny. ft almost seemed as i> everyone desired to squeeze as much as possible out of the concern. After discussion, it was resolved. That the Directors bo requested to consider the expcpiency of receiving a smaller amount (Ids. per meeting) of remuneration for their services. A telegram from Mr. Haughton was read, to the effect that the Government v ill not advance any money to the Company until the provisions and regulations of the Act had been compliod with. The Chairman said, that by supplying detailed survey and plans as requited by the Government, the interest would be nearer 12 per cent, than 7 per cent., as represented ; he was, therefore, not sony that the Government had refused to advance the money applied for. He would suggest that the Company should cut a race of smaller dimensions than the part finished. By adopting that plan, they could bring in a small supply in a comparathcly ehott period, and from the revenue derived they would afterwards extend and enlarge the race. The result of the discussion v. at, tin t hj s Honor the Superintendent be applied in, t> use hits influence with the Government, towards obtaining the subsidy. The absence of the Director’s report was commented on, a shareholder and director pointing out that, under the new Mining Company's Act, directors we:y liable tea P' natty of SU I. for failing to deposit at the office of the Legal Manager, a report one week at least before tiro meeting. (Qry.— See sec. 25. 111. Mining Companief Ac), 1872.) The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chair.