MEETING AT OPRAI BRIDGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1897, 28 May 1889, Page 2

MEETING AT OPRAI BRIDGE.

A meeting of persons interested in the Orari-Waihi water rape, was held in the Orari Bridge schoolroom on Saturday evening last. There was a good attendance of ratepayers present, representing pretty well the whole of the district. Mr W. Posfelethwaite was voted to the chair. The chairman explained that the meeting had been called to discuss certain stipulations which Mr Q, Gk Tripp had submitted to the G-eraldine County Council, and upon which he was willing to allow the race to pass through his property. The stipulations were contained in a letter "forwarded by Messrs Harper and Co., of Christcburch, Mr Tripp's solicitors, to the council. The chairman said he did not anticipate any difficulty would arise in the matter, as Mr Tripp was always alive to the importance of the water race question, and he did not think the suggestions thrown out by his! solicitors would lead Mr Tripp to do anything contrary to the interests of the district. The chairman read a letter from the chairman of the council in which the latter stated his opinion that the council would not agree to Mr Tripp's terms, but that if the ratepayers came to a decision on the point no doubt their wishes would i be carried out. The chairman then read over the 1 stipulations, which were contained in some thirteen clauses. When read over they sounded formidable enough in their legal phraseology and several present objected entirely to their being entertained by those present. ' Mr Tripp, who was present, said that ■ some time ago a letter written by one of the ratepayers present hod appeared

in one of the papers blaming him for having hindered the water race being gone on with. lie could assure them it was no fault of his that the work had not been proceeded with long ago. 'I hey all knew that before such works were commenced a survey must be made, and as no survey was made and no plan laid before him he did not know the part of his property the race was wanted to pass through, and consequently, having nothing before him, be could give no answer re its construction. Mr Meason came up to make the survey about the Ist or April last, and he (Mr Tripp) lent himall the assistance lie could in the jmy of maps of his own, etc. On March 7th he (Mr Tripp) wrote to Harper and Co. to write to the County Council for the plans of the race. On May 3rd Harper arid Co. received the plans arid ' forwarded them to him (Mr Tripp), who returned them upon the 7th and they were, returned to. the council upon the Bth May, only five days thus elapsing between the receipt of the plans and their return to the council, so that he. was not to blame for any delay of the work. Unfortunately the plans only reached the council the day after their meeting, so tha whole thing was thereby delayed a month. Thinking to forward matters he then wrote to the chairman of the council saying the letter had been sent,- and suggesting that, if ;he (the chairman) vrould call and sea it, matters might be expedited. He (Mr Tripp) thought he had done all that he could to push on the work, and hoped it would be gone on with. The chairman suggested that Mr Tripp's stipulations be taken 'seriatim. A sort of irregular, discussion then took place, in which Messrs C. Hewson, H. Hunter - Brown, A, McLean, J, Thatcher, J. Eiefield, and others took part, most of the speakers objecting very iitrongly to the ; proposals. Finally it was agreed to take them' seriatim, as suggested by the chairman, and they were explained by Mr Howard Tripp. Shortly put, the stipulations as contained in the thirteen clauses were to the effect that:—(l) Where Mr Tripp's present race was cut by the proposed race a concrete or iron arrangement must be made to preserve the flow of waterin Mr Tripp's race; (2) Mr Tripp to have the right to tap the "proposed race with one three inch iron pipe above, his planta- : tion reserve ; (3) Mr Tripp to have | the right to erect within his own land a turbine water wheel for the purpose ;of driving machinery ; (4) all the | surveys in connection with the race | to be made by the couacil at its own cost; (5) Mr Tripp to hare the right ito plant what trees and grass he j pleased along the race on his own I And, and to have the sole right jto such trees and seed from such grassy (6) Mr Tripp not to be called upon to pay any rate whatever in connection with the race; (7) The: race passing through his land to be made and kept in repair entirely by the council; (8) No trees to be cut without Mr Tripp's permission, the work to be done before September next, and no dogs allowed to be taken -upon

his land while the work wag being carried out; (9) notwithstanding Mr Tripp agreeing U allow the race to pass through his property the council to be liable for any damage done by the race; (10) immediately the race is completed the council to erect and keep in repair substantial stock-proof fences in such places as Mr Tripp considers dangerous; (11) timber or concrete crossings to be put in where Mr Tripp may require, and to his ap[proval; (12) all fences and crossing* ! to be kept in repair by.the council, and existing fences upon the line of race put in repair:—if not put in repair by the council after due notice Mr Tripp to have the right to put them in repair and recover the cost from the council; (13) the present fence from intake to the plantation reserve being very old and of bad gauge the council to repair and keep the same, Mr Tripp allowing them to use the sound material now in" the sam e. "With regard to the laßt four clauses the paddock through which the proposed race would run

being Mr Tripp's shearing paddoek he is obliged to-be very particular witff regard to the fences and crossings. 1 Subject to these conditions Mr Tripp would alljw the race to be cut without claiming any compensation for the land taken up by the race or spoil banks, provided it did not exceed 4facres. The suggestions of the council's engineer with regard to each clause was attached to the same. The clauses were dealt with as follows : No. 1, agreed to; No. 2, agreed to; No. 3, agreed to on a guarantee being given that the water should return to the race unpolluted; No. 4, agreed to; No, 5, the word trees was withdrawn on it being pointed out to Mr Tripp that they would take a deal of the water, and the clause as altered agreed to; Nos. 6 and 7, agreed to. No. B—Mr Tripp pointed out that he did not wish contractors to go into his bush and cut trees as they pleased j also, that he wished to have the work finished before his next shearing.— Owing to the delay in starting, the time for completion was extended to October, and the clause passed. Clause 9, agreed to. No. 10 and 11—Mr Tripp said he would be quite willing to leave the ' question as to where a fence shouM be erected or a crossing made in $!& hands of Messrs W. Postlethwaifce, H. Hunter-Brown, and C. Hevvaon, who

were practical men, for them to decide after the race was finished where in their opinion it should be fenced and crossings made, so aa to _ prevent danger and the spoiling of his shearing paddocks.-—The suggestion was acted upon. No. 12 and No. 13, agreod to. The chairman said, as far as he could eee, the ratepayers ought to be very thankful to Mr Tripp for allowing the work to be carried out on such favorable terms. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Many of those present expressed ytheir satisfaction at Mr Tripp being present, and explaining away what at first seemed preposterous demands. The,meeting .were unanimously of opinion that Mr Tripp, instead of trying to stop the work, was ©nly desirous of having the race cut through his property withaut his own race being destroyed or the proposed race being left open for his sfeeep. to be smothered or drowned. Mr, Tripp said he had every wish for the race to be made and had the interests of the district thoroughly at heart. (Applause.) He baggested that the chairman write to the county council and urge upon it the necessity of getting the work pushed on at once, A vote'of thanks to the chairman terminated a meeting that began in sterm and ended in calm.