PUBLIC MEETING AT TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1545, 21 August 1886, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT TEMUKA.

A public meeting was held on Thursduy evening in the "Volunteer Hall, Temuka, to consider the question of river encroachments. Mr Gray occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance. The Chairman said that at the urgent requett of many people he had cil'ed the mooting, and he thought it was unnecessary to explain the object, as they all knew it. The river had altogether changed its course, and was taking an almost easterly direction, and it became necessary to confine it within its proper channel. An Act was passed in 1884, giving power for appointing a Board of Conservator?, and he thought the best thing was to place it under such a body. Near tbe Oxford Bridge the river had taken about 120 yards away, and it was likely to come down to Temuka or go down the Arowheoua creek before long. Some time ago pressure was brought to bear on the Road Board and the Town Board, but both bodies decided they could do nothing in the matter, and he thought i was time the pgople took action. There were people who said it was io business of their's, but he thought it was the business of everybody, as th«ir propertiesl would deteriorate in value if the river changed its course in the directions indicated. The rates would not be heavy, for very little would suffice to turn the river. The first thing to do was to pass a resolution affirming that a Board of Conservators vas necessary, and then form a Provisional Committee. He invited all to express their opinion freely on the question. It would take twothirds of the ratepayers to be for it, against one-third against it. He read a letter from Mr C. J. Rayner, intimating that ho would do all he could to help the movement.

Mr Lee asked what would be the boundary 1 The Chairman said no boundary had been fixed. That would be the work of the proposed Committee. Mr Frow asked would both sides be protected 1 The Chairman aaid that was a matter for the Board to consider. He thought botlr'sides would.

Mr Frew said if a rata was struck they would all have to pay, and all the money would be spent on this side. To the one ratepayer there was on his side there would be nine on the Temuka side, and the result would be that the whole pressure of water ?/ould be thrown on the west side.

The Chairman said the Act provided for the classification of land. Theie were three classes—(l) Land liable to great actual damage ; (2) land liable to less actual damage ; (3) lands indirectlj liable to damage—and the rates cou!(? be levied on the lands on a sliding scale. Mr Paterson asked whether there would be less rates levied on lands less liable to damage 1 The Chairman : Decidedly. Land in the Town) Districts is treated as a separate district. ( Mr Frew : Does the Town Board go to the stream I

The Chairman said it would be necessary to go bayond that. It would be necessary to go beyond the Linseed Factory to near Mr Lyon's land. There was a terrace there which would be soon carried away, and then the river would come down the Sod Town creek. Mr Puterson : Does the Town Board district touch the river ? The Chairman said it did, and the Board had put eorre shingle there, and only for that r.he river would have been down now. The river is the Town Board bomdary. Mr Grant : How would you propose to levy the rutes 1 ? The Chairman explained thut they had only met to consider thn question of appointing a Board. He had explained that the rates would be levied on a sliding scale as property was benefited. Mr Grant : it might pay me to let 20 acrea go with the flood. The Chairman : The largest rate that could be struck is only three halfpence in the £.

Mr Brown asked if the Board put up protective works, and turned the river on to Frew's land would the Board be responsible for any damage done ? The Chairman said it would not.

Mr Twomey said that 30 as to put the meeting in order he would move—-" That a Committee be appointed to consider the proposed appointment of a Board of Conservators, and to report as regards boundary, etc., to another meeting to be held within a fortnight." He saw that no one understood anything about the matter, no boundary bad been fixed, and there was nothing definite before the meeting. As it was now, no one knew whether he was in the district or not, and a man from Mount Cook could vote as well as the most interested. It would be better to appoint a Committee, and let that Committee fix on a boundary, and get aTI necessary information for another meeting to be held. Then it could be seen who was entitled to vote and who was not.

The Chairman said be agreed that a Committee would have to be formed, but he thought it would be as well to take the sense of the meeting on the question asto whether a Board "of Conservators should be formed or not. (Hear,hear.) Mr Brown said it would be wise to get an expression of opinion as to whether there should be a Board of Conservators appointed or not. The matter had ahready been befero the Road B mrd and rhe Town Hoard, but nothing w<« done. It appeared that what was '» everybody's business was nobody's business," and f nothing was done the river would soon come down through Tomuka; He would moTe _" That it "is the opinion of this meeting that a Board of Conservators should be formed for Temuka." Mr Levens seconded the motion.

Mr Frew asked, if he could show a tide to land at this side of the river, wh t would the Board do to protect him )

The Chairman said the Board would have.full power to take the land, or do anything else that was necessary. Mr Frew fraid tbe whole stream had cut through land he had bought and paid for, What "vould be done in that case 1

Mr Brown expected the Board would try to confine the river within its proper channel.

Mr Grant suggested that the Temuka Town Board should take oare of its own share of it and the Road Board its share.

The Chairman said undoubtedly where a river adjoined n town district it would be a separate district. Mr Lee said there ought to be a line drawn o's to the boundary of the district. Temuka would have a great advantage over the rural district. The Chairman said property would have votes. Large holders, whose valuation would be over £7OOO, would have five votes, while small holders would have only one. MrG. Edgar: Would a man with a quarter-acre section have a vote t The Chairman said he would, and they would have a right to appeal. We Grant said the appeal would be more costly than to pay the rates. The Chairman said the appeal viai simple and inexpensive. Mr (bee asked would the Board be capable of extending its boundary f Thie was an important Supposing the river encroached outside the Board's boundary would they have power to extend the boundary ? . ■ The Chairman said they would hare power, to do anything which would affect the work don 9. Mr Pateraon asked whether the Board could define the boundary T The Chairman said the people would do that.

Mr Paterson said that was not his experience. The Chairman Baid a new Act had been passed since the time Mr Paterson referred to.

Mr Levens wanted to know why the County Council could not deal with the matter?

The Chairman said the County Council had no power to do so. Mr Blyth said he was bpginnhig tothink the motion proposed by Mr Twomey was the right one. It was better that those interested should meet and fix the boundary. From what he had heard Mr Frew say he felt sure that the town side of the river would alone be affected. It was no use doing anything at Cass street unless they went up as far as Mr McCallum's, and turned the river there also.

1 The Chairman said he quite agreed a provisional committee wuold have to be appointed. Mr Brown was ready to add to hie resolution the boundaries of the district. The district should extend from Milford to Temuka. *

Mr Grant proposed that the town protect its own boundary. The country - would have nothing to d > with them. Mr Lee seconded the motion. The Chairman declared it irregular. Mr Brown's resolution was then put and carried, by 26 to 16 votes. Mr Rutland moved—'• That a Provisional Committee be formed to gain the necessary information and report a fortnight hence." a discussion then arose as to who should be elected on the Committee. Mr Rutland said he wai willing to have four Road Board members and four Town Board members, with the present Chairman, on it. The Chairman thought it was better to elect a Committee without any reference to locality.

Mr B'yth moved—"Thot Messrs A. Grant, R." Thomas, J. Whitehead, and E. Brown be the Committee."

Mr Twomey would second this, provided the names of Messrs Gray and J. Brown were added. From the tenor of the remarks made it appeared to bim there was some misapprehension with respect to this matter, and consequently he thought it well to explain whai the Committee was for. 'The Committee which they were about to elect would having nothing to do except to fix boundaries and take the petition around for signatures. As soon as the petition was signed the Committee would be defunct, and if the district were proclaimed the people living within the area would have power to elect a permanent Board, just as Town Boards or Road Boards were elected. The-people had it all in their own hands. If they, were opposed to il they need not sign the. petition, and unless two-thirds signed it would be do good. As regards calling another meeting in a fortnight, he did not see good of it. All that was necessary was to sign the petition. Mr Lee was opposed to the Committee because there were too many Temuka men on it.

Mr Brown proposed that Dr Hayes be added.

The Chairman proposed to add Mr Lyon to it. Here the meeting beoame rather excited, several people speaking at once, till at last the ChairmaH said he would have to leave the chair if better order was not maintained.

At last Mr Brown proposed the following names, viz.: Messrs Gray, Talbot, Hayhurst, Rutland, E. Brown, and Dr Hayes. Mr Gaze Reconded the motion, and after some opposition from Messrs Lee Grant, Frew, and others it was put and carried, 2G hands being held up for it. Mr Grant called upon those opposed to it not to hold up their hands at all, and they obeyed it. The supporters of the motion then declared it carried unanimously, while those who wero opposed to it held that it was not carried at all. Although very strong opposition to IhV movement was exhibited, the utmost (good humor was observed throughout, and not an angry word was uttered. The meeting terminated with the usual compliment to the Chairman.