MEETING AT ORARI BRIDGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1809, 30 October 1888, Page 4

MEETING AT ORARI BRIDGE.

A meeting of ratepayers between the Wuihi and Orari Rivers was hold in the scboolbouse, Orari Bridge, on Saturday avt ning last for the purpose of considering ihe advisability of constructing a waterrace for the district. The n bole of the ratepayers interested, with the exception of some three or four, were present or represented. ‘

Mr W. Postlethwaite was voted to the; chair, and read the advertisement calling the meeting. , A tracing showing the district proposed to be irrigated was laid upon the table. The Chairman in opening the meeting said those present doubtlessly knew the v>d'ieaud importance of water. For bis part in- had an idea of finding water for hima If by means of pumps and windmils.He thought however that the idea of Ihe ratepayers was a very good one and would be a step in the right direction. The number of ratepayers in ihe proposed district being under 100 would lie believed, obviate a considerable amount of red fapeism in taking ihe vote of the ratepayers upon the question. Ho believed if the matter were pushed the work could be completed in time to be of use during die coming summer. The chairman then detailed the necessary steps to be taken to have the worfe put in hand. Mr C. Hewgon said that ho had marked upon the tracing lying on the table where he thought would be tlie best course foi the race to go, but that must not bo taken as carrying any weight as ho had seen the engineer to the County Council and the latter would give each settler at leat 48 hours notice before coming upon his land, and would take the race in any direction ihey wished. ,He (Mr Hewson) believed that if a push were made the race could l>e got before harvest. The latter certainly was not very far oft’, but still he thought ■ho work could be done. He had seen Mr H. Hunter Brown who was quite in lavour of the work being gone on with. In fact from all be could hear he did not baiievo that one person in the district was opposed to it. Mr Hewson moved—- “ That steps be taken under the Counties Act 1886 to form a water-race district in ihe G-.raldine County on lands situated between the Woodbury and Peel Forest rc'iis on the north, bounded on the east by the Orari river on the sonth, by the road bordering on section 22539, and on the west by the Waibi river. Mr J. Thatcher seconded (he motion, and it was carried unanimously. The district comprises a little over 4000 acres. . The meeting was unanimously of opinion that it.was desirable to push ti e work ou at once. Mr Hewson said the Council's engineer had told him he could cal tenders within a fortnight after inspecting the ground. The Chairman said he had no doubt they could get the work done at once if they pushed therrnttir, but at the same liuir might have to pay a little more for it, but their w 1 ingnues or otherw se to do so was i question for Use ratepayers themae'v s to decide. Mr Hewsoc read over the list of landowners in the proposed district, and it was found that all were present: with the exception of seven, - three of whom had expensed their approval of the scheme. The remaining four had not been spoken to upon the matter. A petition to the Geraldine County Council asking for the work to be done in-accordance with the foregoing resolutions was l>id upon the table and igned by each ratepayer present. In reply to Mr Thatcher, the Chairman said that where the race passed through the property of any person not in the district he amount of compensation payable would be assessed as provided by the Public Works, Act, 1882. Messrs W. Postlethwaite and C. Hewson were appointed to attend the next meeting of the Geraldine County Council to support the petition and urge on (he tpeedy undertaking of the work.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman and to Mr C. Hewson for the trouble he had taken in the matter terminated the meeting.