NORTH RAKAIA BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2430, 19 January 1882, Page 3

NORTH RAKAIA BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

A special meeting was held at Southbridge on the 16th January. Present —Mr J. B. Campbell (in the chair), B. J. Lee, S. Forsyth, and W. Bishop. The Secretary reported that the receipts since the previous meeting were for the rate account, £3O; rent account, £25, The disbursements for members’ honorariums were £l7 10s ; Bank overdraft, £llO 14b lid ; accounts to be collected, £202 3s 9d. Nothing had as yet been undertaken as to the overflow below Knyvett’s, as the foreman was satisfied that to commence anything with expenditure restricted to £6O would simply mean throwing the money away. The breach had increased at least a chain in width, and that although the river was at present very low, a considerable body of water was always running.—A letter was read from Mr Bradshaw, and Mr Hampton interviewed the Board re lease of Reserve 1244 being cancelled. The Board deferred giving a definite decision until the next meeting.—The Chairman stated that he had visited the breach with the idea of enrolling voluntary assistance to repair it. He felt confident, however, nothing could bo done without systematic management and the employment of a large staff for a time, and having judged it advisable to consult Mr William White, had asked that gentleman to again lend them his valuable assistance. Mr White had kindly consented, and, with the members of the Board, had just returned from an inspection of the point of danger. Mr White then explained his ideas on the subject of protection. He recommended that the old bank be made up and strengthened at once, and three or four new groynes constructed. He also suggested that, if practicable, a permanent outlet should be left for a stream, so that a scheme for irrigation might at the same time be inaugurated, and what really was a public calamity might be turned to practical benefit —Mr Forsyth thought that the cost of protecting Stony Gully should not be borne by the whole of the district.—Mr Lee stated that Stony Gully could only contain a certain amount of flood water, and that sooner or later some other outlet from Stony Gully would be made. He agreed with Mr Forsyth that his (Mr Lee’s) land was in more danger than that of Mr Forsyth, but so long as the banks of the river were protected and the overflows prevented both properties were equally protected. He proposed that the work as recommended by Mr White be put in hand at once.—Mr Forsyth thought that the obstruction to the overflow should be first made and the groynes loft till after harvest, as the river was not likely to encroach on its '.banks very much more.—The chairman stated that to his knowledge, within the last four days, at least one chain of river bank had been scoured away.—Mr Forsyth finally agreed to Mr Lee’s suggestion, but recommended that the embankment be made secure first, and the groynes constructed as may be found necessary.—The chairman was authorised to make arrangements with the Bank for funds. —Mr Campbell, senior, Mr G. J. Smith, and Mr Anderson interviewed the Board, and impressed on them the serious damage that might result from procrastination in making provision for permanent protection. — The chairman informed the deputation of the course that the Board had already decided to adopt.—On the motion of Mr Lee, seconded by Mr Forsyth, it was resolved—“ That notice be given that it is the intention of the Board at its next meeting, on Monday, the 30th day o£ January, 1882, to make and levy a general rate of sixpence in the pound upon all the rateable property in the district for the year ending 31st March, 1882, payable in one sum at the office of the collector, Southbridge, on the 28th day of February, 1882.”

A Glasgow constable of the Southern Division has fallen heir to £30,000. being share of a large fortune amassed by a Scotch gentleman in South Carolina, which, in terms of his will, reverts to his next of kin because his daughters failed to marry Highlandmen. One of Professor Geerge H. Cook’s recent bulletins from the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station “ shows very plainly the greater worth of the bone that is ground fine, and the loss which comes from sending it into market imperfectly ground.” Water glais, soluable silicate of soda, has been used by the Gormans for keeping eggs. This is a clear liquid, of the consistence of syrup, and, when smeared over the shell, soens dries into a thin hard, glossy ooating, entirely impermeable to the air,