LOWER WAIRAU RIVERS BOARD.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 156, 17 September 1880, Page 3

LOWER WAIRAU RIVERS BOARD.

Thursday, September IGtii. Tite Board met at half-past 7 o’clock. Present —Messrs 0. Redwood (in the Chair), Evles, Horne, Davies, and Parker. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. IN RE KCCLF.S’ ESTATE. Mr Sinclair, solicitor, wrote to the Board as follows : “Dear Sir,—On the 30th Aug. I wrote to the executors of the late Mr Eccles, regarding payment of L 139 16s Id, the amount of rates collected by the late Mr Eccles. and L2B 11s fid interest, but they have not paid yet. I understand that at the time of the late Mr Eccles’death (Aug. IS7S), a large sum of money amounting to nearly LI 30 was found in the safe, and I also understand that Mr Ruff can prove that the bulk of that* money was collected by Mr Eccles and himself for the Board, and. therefore, should have been paid over to the Board two years ago, instead of which the executors paid it into an account of their own. In order to compel payment I would recommend that an action should be commenced against the executors in the District Court, or an administration suit in the Supreme Court. —Yours, etc. “IV. Sinclair.

“P.S.—Since writing the foregoing letter, I aiii informed that Mr Ruff is under the belief that the sum found in the safe was nearer LI 70 than Ll3O. W . S. In reply to the Chairman, Dr Horne said he had been informed that the executors had sent no reply to Mr Sinclair’s letter.

The Chairman suggested that further time be given. Dr Horae said he would move that Mr Sinclair be requested to write again to the exeeutors, and in tile etent of not getting a satisfactory reply, that he be instiCcted to proceed in whatever way he thinks best for the Board’s interest. Mr Davies seconded the motion, which was carried. RAISING .MAXWELL ROAD. A letter Was read from the Town Clerk, informing the Board that the Borough C'oun oil have granted the Board permission to raise the Maxwell Road from Fearon street to the Taylor bridge ; thence along Halifax street and lied Wood streets to the Omaka river (according to a plan accompanying the Board’s letter to the Council), provided that the works arc carried out to the satisfaction of the 1 nspector of Works who will be required to approve of the plans and specifieotions both as to the making of the roads and the drainage of the lands.

The Chairman said the matter was one that required consideration. It had not emanated from him but he had been deputed at a meeting of ratepayers to write to the Borough Council. It was an important question for the ratepayers. '1 lie greater portion of the overflow of tile Taylor in this locality if diverted into the Omaka would make no appreciable dif erencc to the latter and would do a great deal of good in relieving a largo portion of the land from floods. He would move that tile Council go into Committee on the subject. The ratepayers in the locality had not benefitted much by anything being done for them in this direction. Mr Eyles said he should oppose the motion. 'The subject had been brought up before and had been opposed. The effect of the proposed work would be to flood the West Ward with the Taylor water by blocking it back on to that part of the town and would deaden the flow in the Opawa. He thought the best plan would be to divert the Taylor out by Burleigh. He did not think it was for this Board to raise Maxwell Road as proposed, which would do a grant deal of harm. The Board would have enough to do to hank Opawa near Mrs Budge’s property and other places instead of going in for street raising. He contended that the Chairman was incorrect when he said that the ratepayers about Halifax-street had not been benefitted by what had been done. He should oppose the movement if he stood alone.

Dr Horne said he signed a document purporting to he ail address or petition in favor of a" work of this kind, but it appeared to have altered its shape. Unless he knew more about what was proposed to be done lie should not like to support the motion without further consideration. There were very conflicting opinions on this subject. He had been chased by grizzly bears on one hand and Bengal tigers on the other. One said the work would be ruination, and the other that ruin would ensue without it. Until the subject wasfmtbci ventilated he should not support it. He should like to know what would be the cost • , , ~ , The Chairman said if done according to Mr Dobson’s plan the cost would be about Dr Horne said lie bad heard it estimated at LCOO or LIOOO. . Mr Parker said lie had signed a petition, hut he was very busy at the time, and did it hurriedly. He did not know then where Halifax-street was, He agreed with Mr Eyles that the proposed work would do more harm than good. . ~ , Dr Horne said he thought the Board would not be justified in carrying out this work without having f nore details, and the plan should be before them. . 1 Mr Davies said lie thought the work would be very beneficial to the ratepayers on the South sido of the Taylor and lie did not think it would raise the water above two or three inches except when the flood " Mr said it would benefit Mr Davies „™c, tv to the extent of some MOO tat it would drown out a lot of people. Mr Davie* said it would certainly benefit him but* it would benefit almost everybody else, and the tradesmen in the town u ould feel the benefit of iv. .. . . In reply to Dr Horne the Chairman said he regretted fiat the plan was not before them He proceeded to say that lie would guarantee one-third the cost and the ratepayers another. It was difficult for ane conservator to please everybody. He had always endeavoured to do the host lie could for the district. The ratepayers had repeatedly complained that the BoauUuid SDcnfc too much to benefit x . s Rose, and Dr Horne, who contributed very little in the way of rates, anougli to the large *>dy f . 1 gnch hn,i been *“ Dr Homo SXcb for Blenbeiin'formerly but now weve very considerate, and All i aiivei they weie vm y . { tlionglifc it ZZuZ r™ »c T e As however, the data hefoi ■ them was very imperfect he would not put the m M.°Evles said it was not true that the Board had erected works to protect his property. The overflow went through Ins property and lie erected a ten-foot bank. The overflow went through his property h st as it did years ago. Mr Davies and the Chairman took all the work on themselves. The bank he had been twitted about was not on his property hut on Mrs Budges. Dr Horne said the Chairman had a happy knack of playing his cards, so that he made friends of the Mammon of unrighteous and Slei himself the f.W of Bta-heim o which he caved about as much as he (Di Horne) did, and that was very little. He objected to being rated in the highest class anil then having banks erected higher up and let the water go, and • Cod speed it over Dr Horne’s land. The motion was not put to the meetm c and consequently lapsed.

ELECTION OF SECRETARY. Messrs J. L. Adams, C. W. Badge, G. S. Budge, G. Coward, J. C. Eulton (W ellington I~T. W. Millington, R. D. Aos worthy, and W. Tissiman, sent in applications for the office of Secretary. Mv Tissiman’s application bore no date, and the Chairman ruled it as informal, as the applications were to be sent in by a certain date. The Board concurred. The Chairman moved that the election be taken by ballot. Dr Horne seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Noswortliy received three votes, and Mr C. W. Budge and Mr G. S. Budge one each. Mr R. D. Nosworthy was therefore duly elected. fairhall’s bank. Mr Eylcs moved that Mr Bary be instructed to do certain repairs at Fairhall’s bank, which he considered was in jeopardy for want of a few days’ labor being expended on it. Dr Home seconded the motion. The Chairman opposed the motion, saying he did not think the bank was in jeopardy at all.

Mr Davies said lie would movej that Lo be appropriated for raising this bank. Mt IDlerl seconded the motion, which wts carried. accounts. The following accounts were passed tof paynicnt—>T. Batty Ll 3 12s Sid, G. Bmy LI 3 10s, C. Uriildle 1.2 12s, Rogers and ( o. L-oo W. Compton Ll, T.- Newman 14s, Fell Bros Llo 4s. G. Riley L 3 Is, jfow.robough Times LA 14s IM, G. Budge Ll42s, T. Wihlin 21s, T. Jackson 14s. SPRING CREEK BOARD V. LOWER WAIRAU RIVERS BOARD. Ml- .Siliclidr. solicitor, forwarded to the Chairman of the float'd) a copy of the declaration and pleas in the above action at law, for reference if required, and further stated that he had recoined a demurrer to the Board’s pleas, of which lie forwarded a copy. The effect of it vri'l be to leave it to the'Couvt to say if the Board lias the right to construct works outside its district, and if this be decided against the Board it will virtually settl" the action. No motion was made on the subject. This concluded the business before the meeting.