SLUGGISH RIVER DRAINAGE BOARD.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9011, 26 November 1907, Page 3

SLUGGISH RIVER DRAINAGE BOARD.

The first meeting of the newlyelected trustees was held yesterday. Present: Messrs Kendall, Gray, Touueut, Hockeu aud Wilton. Mr Kendall was elected : chairman unopposed. In thanking the trustees for the honour conferred upon him, Mr Kendall said they had a stiff twelve months ahead of them, but they would do their best and he would relv on the trustees attending every meeting. Ho believed the Horseshoe Draniage Board anticipated amalgamation but in Jus opinion, the matter should remain in abeyance until the mam dram hopn restored to its original

was received from the Horseshoe Drainage Board asking that another meeting f Boards he arranged to finally settle the question of amalgamate . The Chairman said that one reason stated on behalf of the uppo • for amalgamation was, that the &mg Irish River Board was spending too much on the main drain and iu the event of amalgamation tins could ho stooped by the larger representation in the upper district, but the objection raised by the late Hon. W. Johnston to his land, consisting of about 70,000 acres, being the proposed new drainage district had really boon one of the ■ 1 causes of the amalgamation not having taken place. In regard to the remark said to have been made by a

member in the other .board tnat would bo necessary to lower tue main drain for 50 chains in Sluggish River district to give fall for ratepayers in tfie upper district, he thought such a work would make trouble unless the drain was first restored to its original width. Hr Gray was in favour of faceting the other Board on, the question of amalgamation, as in his opinion the rumour that the upper Board was opposed to the proposed expenditure on the mam drain was no barrier, .for the newly-constituted Board, whoever may he its members, must keep the main drain m a proper condition. He took it that the Sluggish River Board intended to compel the other Board to proceed,, to raise a loan of £3383, as its share of the estimated _vflsfinriDl? tho lUiftin dfftlu,. Mr Hockcu thought taking la tho

additional country in the proposed new district wonid lighten the rates in the upper district, but not in the lower part, and it would be a mistake to amalgamate until the main' drain was put in a fit state to carry all the water. The secretary said it was proposed to extend the drainage district to the Awahuri-Sandou road on the one side, and to the Manawatu river on the other; an additional area of IC'D ,000 acres. It was decided to meet the other Board at the Glen Oroua Hall at 11 o’clock on Monday, December 9th. The Board decided that the instructions of the previous Board as to the diversion of the river at 3 D Xiower Abraugi, be confirmed; That is, that the Engineer report on the best means to carry out the work without endangering the adjacent land.