RIVER PROTECTION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1136, 1 September 1882, Page 2

RIVER PROTECTION.

A large and influential meeting of settlers interested in the question of River encroachment was held last evening at the Roseland Hotel. Among those present we noticed Maj oi* Westrup, Captain Poynter, Messrs E. Cameron, G. Wyllie, W. Walsh, M. and G. Smith, P. McFarlane, J. Mcßrettany, and several others living or having property near the River, and subject to the effects of its overflow. Mr W. C. Walsh took the chair and opened the meeting by calling upon Captain Poynter to explain to the meeting the ouject of its convention. Captain Poynter explained that the meeting had been adjourned for the purpose of enabling Captain Ferris to obtain signatures from Native owners of land in the vicinity. The meeting expressed some surprise that Captain Ferris was not present, nor had paid them the compliment of addressing them by letter regarding the result of his labor, of which they were left in desultory ignorance Captain Poynter said that as the Natives had promised to sign he thought sufficient reliance could l>e placed in their promises to enable the actual work to be proceeded with at once without waiting any longer. He would remind the meeting that while the work was in abeyance there were chances of another flood occurring, and notwithstanding the absence of Wi Pere and others, he would suggest that the work be immediately commenced. Mr Richardson read over the Assessment Roll, and Mr Ewen Cameron moved, and Captain Poynter seconded the motion, “That tenders be called for for the construction of 60 chains of embankment, commencing at Bloomfield and Wyllie’s place in the direction of Waerenga-a-hika. ” Mr M‘Brettany put forward an amendment, “That the matter be left until the Maori signatures be obtained.” The amendment was put and lost, and Mr Ewen Cameron's motion was carried on the voices. The meeting then closed.