RIVER EROSIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 10 December 1907, Page 3

RIVER EROSIONS.

Suggested Conference.

At last night’s Borough Council meeting the following resolution was read from the Feilding Borough Council: “That the Town Clerk write to the Palmerston North Borough Council and ask it to join in arranging a conference of representatives of all local bodies whose territories are are wholly or partially within tl e watershed of the Oroua and Manawatu rivers, with a view of devising ways and means, legislative and otherwise, for adequately coping with the erosions of floodings of the Oroua and Manawatu rivers. ’ ’

Cr Frankland briefly reviewed what a deputation of local citizens had done at an interview with the Minister of Marine at Wellington recently. He. thought that perhaps it would be advisable for this Council to colaborate with other local bodies interested in dealing with the subject. He said it was the opinion of one or two councillors that Foxton, however, should not in any way prejudice its position with the Government in reference to representations already made.

Cr Hennessy said that the resolution opened up a very wide question. The conference would no doubt deal with matters affecting the upper reaches of the Manawatu and Oroua rivers. The local Council's proportion of interest over that area would be very small. He had no objection to appointing a delegate to attend the proposed conference. He stated that the Minister had said that he would require .£IOO,OOO to deal with erosions.

Cr Wilson agreed that it might be advantageous to the Council to send a representative with a knowledge of the subject to the conference.

Cr Coley suggested that an engineer be sent. He objected to any of the concillors going as they would onlj r come back as “ wind bags.”

Replying to an interjection from Cr Gray that he (Cr Coley) should represent the Council,- Cr Coley replied, with a wave of the hand : “ I call you all infinitisimals,” and in reply to a request for a definition, said it was “all vanity and vexation of spirit.”' Cr Shadbolt agreed with Cr Coley that an engineer should be appointed on behalf of the Council —someone who understood the question. The Mayor said that a delegate with local knowledge was all that was required. It was not necessary for the delegate to speak, but simply to listen and report what was contemplated. A delegate should be sent.

It was finally resolved that the Mayor and Cr Franklaud represent this Council at the proposed conference suggested by the Feilding Council, and that these delegates be fully instructed as to the action already taken in the matter by Foxton residents and the measures pending by the Minister of Marine’s instructions.