PUBLIC MEETING AT RANGIORA.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 946, 6 July 1877, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT RANGIORA.

A meeting of the inhabitants of Eangiora, interested in the drainage of the township, was held in the Eoad Board office on Wednesday evening. There was a large attendance, the room being crowded. Mr A. Parsons, chairman of the Eoad Board, occupied the chair, and opened the meeting by reading the advertisement calling it. He said that the question of drainage was a very important one, and he hoped it would be well discussed that evening. He would call upon any ratepayer present to propose a resolution.

Captain Brandon proposed 'the first resolution, viz., “ That in the opinion of this meeting it is necessary that the Eoad Board takes immediate action to cause the creek running from the junction of High street and the Drain road, towards the railway, to be thoroughly cleared out, and that all obstructions therein to be entirely removed; also, that the Eoad Board is justified in proceeding with the necessary legal steps to cause this to be done.” Mr Lewton seconded the motion.

Mr T. D. Triphook asked the permission of the meeting to say a few words on behalf of Mr Bassingthwaite, through whose property the drain in question runs. This having been accorded, he said that the resolution before the meeting affected Mr Bassingthwaite more than any one else in the room. They were probably aware that Mr Bassingthwaite had filled up that portion of the drain which was on his property, and had done so for several reasons. In the first place, the Eoad Board had given permission to the inhabitants of the township to drain sewage into the dry watercourses, which Mr Bassingthwaite contended they should not have done. Then the course of the water was completely stopped after passing through his section by the railway line, so that the water lay on his land without any outlet being provided for it. The resolution before the meeting was only strengthening the hands of the Board in allowing sewage to be sent down the drain. The Board had several alternate courses pointed out to them by which they could carry away the stormwater, and before deciding to make the old water-course the main sewer of the town, should take professional advice, and get estimates of the cost of the alternate drains, and in the interests of the ratepayers select the cheapest and best. If the Board persisted in sending the sewage of the town through or on to Mr Bassingthwaite’s property he had a claim on them for compensation, as bad also any [other holder of land on the watercourse.

Mr Blackett said that it was well known in Rangiora that the water-course referred to had been a course for water for the last twenty years, and the Board considered that as such was the case, that was the proper way to carry the water.

Sevcral gentlemen stated that their properties were flooded during the late rains, and one stated that the house he was living in had a foot of water in it. They attributed the llood to the culverts and pipes across the roads being inadequate to carry the water, and to the fact that a good deal of water from

another creek had been forced into the one running through the town, through a culvert on that creek being too small. Messrs Good, Norfolk, Nicholas, Wheeler, and Gulliver all testified to the amount of water coming down the creek, and urged that something should be done to relieve it nearer its source. Mr Leech wished to ask if the Board could state whether there was not a cheaper way of taking the water than along the old course. He thought some other course could be made for the water, which was quite as efficient and much less expensive, besides which there was really no outlet for the water along the old course, and the Board had made it worse by making the present drain deeper than the old creek. Mr Dudding thought the course required clearing out from its source on Mr Bell’s lands. The resolution was then put to the meeting, and carried with only one dissentient. Mr Buss proposed the following resolution;—“That to assist the before-mentioned creek and the drain through the road near the Junction Hotel in carrying the flood water, it would be expedient for a drain to be cut on the west side of South street into the bead of the Northbrook creek.” He said that if the drain were cut as he proposed, it would relieve the main creek of a great deal of water, and would prevent a recurrence of floods in the township. Captain Brandon seconded the motion. Several gentlemen objected to the water being taken out of its natural course, and to its being taken to another watercourse. On the motion being put to the meeting it was declared to be negatived. Mr Thorne thought that as the Board had the confidence of the ratepayers they should leave such matters in their hands. Mr G. Cone moved—" That for the purpose of further easing the drain already constructed on the main street an extra pipe bo laid from the side channel on the Ashley road, north of the Club Hotel, diagonally across that leading to Eitzgerald’s road into the ballast pit at the rear of the station master’s house.” Mr Thorne seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr E. R. Good proposed —“ That this meeting is of opinion that it is necessary that the different culverts and drains under the roads which the creek crosses should be considerably enlarged.” He said that, as the meeting was of opinion that the water should come down the old course, it was necessary that the culverts along it should be enlarged to carry away the water and prevent floods. Mr Buckham seconded the resolution, which was carried after some discussion. Mr Hanna proposed—“ That a pipe be laid across the road by the railway gates, to drain the waste water into the railway drain.” Seconded and carried. The meeting then terminated, after passing a vote of thanks to the chairman.