WAIKATO RIVER BOARD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 128, 16 September 1913, Page 2

WAIKATO RIVER BOARD.

Meeting of Members. A meeting of the members of the Waikato River Board was hell at Mercer on Monday; present—Messrs Ghss (in the chair), Gal Dry, Hill and Dea\ Mr Glass was re-elected chairman. RESIGNATIONS. The resignations cf Messrs Wilv and Ballard, as members cf the Board, were accepted. Mr Hallett, acting clerk, was appointed a; rolling clerk, Mercer and Rangiriri beng tamed as polling places, to arrange for the election of two new member?. REFUND OF RATES APPLIED FOR.

H. E. R. L. Wily applied for the return of £4 6s Id paid to the Board in March. 1912, in respect of a claim mada upon him for rates alhged to be due. The letter added: "I would point out to you that tha rate struck was not one that could be legally claimed, end as th? Board has not been able to collect it the payments ma.le should be returned. I shall be glad tc receive a cheque frcm you at an early date." The letter was ie _ eiv3d. WANT A S'JHKME?

F. K. Worthington, Onehunga, asked if the Board wanted a scheme 'or straightening ar.d lowering the Waikati river. "If so," raid the writer, "I tnink I could bring forward a m-:thod that would do Ihe trick at a very small ccst." It was decided to a-k the writer to let *h' Board know something of his proposal. WILLOWS IN RIVfcRS.

Brownlow Horrocks. of Waeranga Downs, wrote n tha willows in the Whangamarino stream, saying that eomething should be done to remove the willows from tha waterway, otherwise it was only a question of time when navigation would be stopped by the growth of these trees.

The chairman said he had received a complaint from the Maramarua river in the same way. He thought the brst thing to do was to ask the Government for a general grant for all these rivers, lhere was to b2 a gram of £3OO for Pokeno, and it was only fair that other rivers should be cleaned cut. If the 'Government granted, say, £250 the Board could set an up-to-date willowstumping plant with which they could clear all tha rivers. The Government should also give £IOO for each of the rivers.—The actingclerk and chairman were to draft a latter to the Minister through the members fur the districts. The chairman remarked that the £SO had been spent on the Matingatawhiri river, and the engineers reported themselves very well satisfied.

FINANCE. Ihe acting-clerk reported that on September Ist, the debit balance was £192 13s 4d; money had been pain since, the present overdraft being £266 9s 4d. The punt hire received wss £l3O, which was satisfactory, tfce row-bcat had been let at 3i Gd per week, the huts were being looker alter. CAN THE RIVER BE DEEPENED? The engineers' reports about the deepening of the river were read. Mr Thomp-on disagreed with Mr Kennedy that the river could be lowered four feet at Mercer. These important reports will appear in cur nexl issue.