WAIKATO RIVER BOARD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 214, 3 October 1916, Page 1

WAIKATO RIVER BOARD.

Monthly Meeting* The regular monthly meeting of the Waikato River Board was held on Saturday, Mr A. G C Glass presiding. Other members present were: Messrs R. Clephane, M. Gallery, J. Cronin and J. Prendergrast, with the clerk, Mr R. Carter.

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES

A reply from the Marine Department to an application for authority to expend the £ for £ grants appearing on the Department's estimates for works on the Waikato River and its tributaries, advised that the Department would entertain an application by any authority which could carry out the work and at the same time contribute the £1 for £1 required and, further, that no limitation would be placed upon the source from which the contribution came.

The chairman mentioned that in addition to the subsidies there were some " straight out " grants for which he would like the Board to secure authority to expend. He understood that the Raglan County Council was negotiating to take advantage of the £ for £ grants. —Mr Ed. Hallett, who was present by request, however, informed the meeting that such was not so. It was decided to ascertain from the County Council whether or not it was prepared to subsidise those grants and to empower the Board to carry out the work, the question of applying for authority to expend the straight out grants being deferred for further consideration. WORK AT MERCER. A n application for a loan of the Board's pile driver for the purpose of driving piles in connection with the proposed enbankment of the river adjacent to the Mercer wharf, made by the United Timber Company was considered and it was decided to ascertain from the Board's foreman, Mr P. Sellars, when the plant would be available, the chairman and Mr Gallery to attend to the matter.

WAIKATO HEADS WHARF. In connection with the Board's desire to have tho wharf at the Waikato Heads demolished and a new one erected at a spot lower down towards the Heads, where the depth of water was 13 feet, instead of allowing it to bo repaired as suggested by the Raglan County Council, a communication was received from the Minister of Marine stating that tho request could not bo entertained at present as there was no vote from which funds could be provided for shifting the wharf. NOT UNDERSTOOD.

Mr Manfred Kew, a ratepayer in the Pokeno district, wrote requesting particulars appertaining to the Maungatawhiri River and its tributaries but as the Board failed to arrive at an understanding as to applicant's requirements and would have liked the contents df the letter to have been more lucid, Mr Prendergrast was deputed to wait on Mr Kew with a view of eliciting an understanding. KOTO NGAKO CANAL. Exception to his property being included in the rating area for the cost of improvements to the Koto Ngaro Canal on the ground that his lands could not possibly benefit from the proposal and claiming exemption under the Act, was received from Mr H. W. Matthews, of Kangiriri. He added that his property would probably be damaged if the Whangape creek was not cleaned of willows and logs, thus giving the canal u clear vent to the Waikato River.

Mr White, representative for Messrs Stead, who took the petition round, was present and intimated that Mr Matthews was a signatory to the petition and that another ratepayer who had signed had since sold his property, the new owner objecting to paying the rates. The chairman pointed out that the only way the objections could be dealt with would be at an Assessment Court, which would ccst Messrs Stead and Co. some £25 or £3O.

Mr White was deputed to wait on the objectors with a view of arriving at a settlement, the outcome to be reported to the Board. Later in the meeting a tender for carrying out the work was submitted by Messrs M. Gojock and Co., the price being £967 10s lOd, but it was reported that, the engineer's (Mr Civil, of the Raglan County Council) estimate was £Boo.—A representative of the contractors was present, and was accordingly asked to reduce the price to the engineer's estimate, and ho promised to do so conditionally on the specifications being modified. —Mr White was deputed to arrange for a reduced tender to be submitted to Mr Civil and if it was considered satisfactory the chairman was authorised to arrange for the contract to be proceeded with.

EXCESSIVE RAILWAY FREIGHT.

In regard to the charge of £39 for freightage on tho Board's dredge from Paeioa to Mercer further correspondence was read, the General Manager of Railways expressing inability to modify the charge. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Prendergrast, it was agreed to communicate with Mr R. F. Bollard, M.P., to ask him to lodge a protest. A RATING OBJECTION. Mr Scott, a ratepayer, whose property is situated between Mercer and Tuakau, .waited on tho Board and claimed that an island owned by Mr Blandford had been included in the area of property for which he had been charged rates. —After a lengthy discussion, in which little headway was made, Mr Scott agreed to put his claim in writing for the further consideration of tho Board. FINANCE. "Thanks to Mr Hallett the accounts have been adjusted and instead of being in debt the Board is in credit," was a remark passed by the chairman when mentioning matters of finance.

FOREMAN'S REPORT. k-Tho foreman, Mr I\ Sollars, reported that two launches had been completed and launched, ready for use and that the dredge was now in working order. The report was adopted. MR ASHLEY HUNTER'S REPORT. Consideration was given to the report made by Mr Ashley Hunter in regard to the Board's operations on the river and it was decided to request the Board's Engineor, Mr Kennedy, to make au inspection and to submit a report in reply to that of Mr Hunter's.