MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2487, 30 September 1922, Page 2

MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

INAUGURAL MEETING

The first meeting of the members of the Manawatu-Oroua River Board was held at Palmerston on Thursday. Tho%e present were: — Messrs R. T. Bell. H. Akers, K. McDonald, W. Smith, X. P. Xeilsen, M. F. Anderson, H. Wilton, and A. Seifert. An apology was received from Mr W. S. Carter. Mr Bell was unanimously elected chairman of the Board. A committee of members was set up consisting of Messrs Bell. McDonald and Nielsen, to report on the question of appointing classifiers and preliminary finances. A second committee, consisting nf the chairman and Mr Akers, was also set up to make enquiries in reference to the appointment of an engineer for the purpose of drawing up a comprehensive scheme to be placed before the Board. Mr P. Baldwin was appointed solicitor to the Board, and Mr A. H. (leant clerk and rate collector-; the public office "of the Board being 31A Rangitikci Street. Palmerston X. It is generally conceded that the Board will prove to be one of the most- important local bodies evei formed in New Zealand. The total area of land in the district is approximately 73,000 acres, comprising the whole of the famous Makerua Swamp, a large portion "! the Moutoa Swamp, and many acre- oftin richest Kai ranga pastures. Tlie object.-, of the Board are toy.iTy out works in both toe Manawatu and Oroua rivers to'protect these valuable lam's ~ from damage by lb,od waters, and to facilitate the drainage of the. low-lying parts of the district. The approximate capital’’value of the area is £2.300.000 id £2,500,000. The maximum rate allowed by law to be -truck by a river board is IMI in the £ sterling, which rate would produce a revenue of about £15,000 a year.