LOWER WAIRAU RIVERS BOARD.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 127, 8 June 1880, Page 3

LOWER WAIRAU RIVERS BOARD.

A meeting of the above Board was held on Saturday evening. Present—Messrs Chas. Redwood (in the chair), Davies, Eyles, and Parker. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman said they were doubtless aware that lie had received an injunction from the Supreme Court to stop the work of diverting the Omaka river into the Opawa, but nothing was said about banks. He had taken Mr Travers’ opinion, who held thatthey were justified in going on the work at the banks, and ho had not, therefore, interfered with what the contractor was doing. It would be for the Board to say what should be done ; his own opinion was that they could easily get it removed. He would suggest that the matter should be tried in open court here in six months, by which time their opponents would see that no harm was done them, and they would be glad to let the matter drop. Mr Parker and Mr Davies said they thought this was the best course to adopt. The Chairman said it was very probable that after this Board sent their pleas over, that a permanent injunction would not be granted, and there would be an and of the matter.

Mr Eyles said if it was not too late he should like to see the other injunction that had been dropped gone on with, so that they could operate on the aiver up above his place. The river was coming this way, and was doing great injury to the neighborhood. It was necessary to make the big river take its proper share of water, and to treat the Opawa as an overflow. It would be a great injustice if they could not make the Wairau the river of the district, as it was when they purchased their lands. It would be too late to bring in a Bill this session, as three months’ notice must be given, but a bill could be brought forward next session. The big river must be made to carry the water. Mr Sinclair would meet the Board any evening and settle what the pleas to the injunction should be. The pleas must be forwarded to Wellington on or before the 16th inst.

It was unanimously resolved that the whole Board should form a Committee to meet Mr Sinclair on Monday evening at 7 o’clock, and consider the pleas to he sent to Wellington. A letter was read from Air J. Thomson, Old Renwick Road, and others, complaining of the injury done to property in that locality by the overflow of the Opawa, and asking the assistance of the Board in the matter. Mr Parker said he had visited the spot, and there was a considerable encroachment there. It was resolved that the Board should visit the locality on Monday afternoon and see what could be done. A letter was read from Air Sinclair, stating that it would be advisable before paying Mr Alclvor for his land ; to get a con-

veyance from him and Mr Henry Seymour, but the Board could pay a deposit to Mr Mclvor if they thought lit. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Davis seconded by the Chairman, that a deposit of £SO bo paid to Mr Mclvor, and the balance on the completion of the conveyance. TENDERS. The following tenders for raising the Opawa bank near Batty’s were received : Curnow and Co., 15s per chain; MacMahon, £75 the job; J. Batty, 13s 9d do. ; J. Renfrew, 13s Gd do, time 3 months; Philpotts £1 Ills do: Thomas and Co. 22s Gd do. Mr Renfrew's tender was accepted, the time being altered from 3 months to six weeks. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment —Rogers and Co. £49 Ss, J. Renfrew £l2 and £1 12s, W. Sinclair £8 Ss, Compton £l, Secretary £7 10s, Dodson £23, Whitelay £9 4s, J. Tait £7 Ss 3d, Warmouth £3 4s. Bary £29 14s, Desmond £135. A sum of £4 was ordered to he spent under the supervision of Mr Bary, in wattling about two chains of the Opawa bank near Mr Mclvor's property. OMAKA RIVER. Mr Parker moved that two men be employed to remove willow trees near the Omaka bridge. The Chairman seconded the motion, which was carried, Mr Parker and Mr Davies to superintend the work. The Board then adjourned.