OPAKI IRRIGATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3065, 9 December 1908, Page 5

OPAKI IRRIGATION.

"D LANSDOWNE WATER SUPPLY. F<WER ft, "HEMEJ TO BE PROc™w.'™ AT ONOEPLANS AND^»/ II ; IOATIONS ' , ■■ ■ , cms f° : The plans and specincat'x . , wer< the Opaki irrigation scheme placed before the Masterton Council yesterday afternoon by Mjf G. Laing-Meason, C.E., who is engineer for the scheme. Mr LaingMeason explained fully to the Council the details of the plans, JJand gave the Council his opinion as to the best method to pursue in the letting of the various contracts for the work. He stated that in preparing the specifications he had allowed for the letting of one contract which would permit of the water supply scheme being carried to lulfilment as far as the Lansdowne dam by the end of January, providing tenders were called at once tor the work. The Lansdowne scheme could be proceeded with under a separate contract. In regard to the hea']works expenditure there would be embodied in the first contract work a proportion of which would have to be debited to the Lansdowne scheme, and that would' have to be adjusted later. Mr LaingMeason stated that nuw the specifications were ready he proposed to invite the District Health Officer to accompany him over the route of the races and pipe line,in terms of an agreement msde previously to that effect. The Engineer advised that Mr Dorset be approached to request his written agreement to the work required to be done on his property, providing the conditions previously agreed to by him were adhered to. These conditions were that where the race went through certain of his paddocks it would be a covered-in race, to allow of the paddocks being wonted in the usual course of agriculture. A reinforced concrete culvert of about 1,000 feet in length would be necessary. Mr Laing-Meason thought that Mr Dorset would be quite agreeable to this course, though if the Council thought it better they might proceed witn the work under the Public Works Act, and compensation would be awarded to Mr Dorset, a course which he did not advise. As regarded the fencing of the water races only a small length of fencing had been provided for in the proposed first contract, but in a subsequent contract more fencing could, if necessary be done. In reference to the letting of the contract", a deposit of £3O had been provided for,and a penalty of £lO per week for excess of time occupied in performance of the contract. The v procedure would be that the plans must be deposited in the Magistrate's Court for a fortnight and the fact of their deposit advertised. Tenders could l.e called at once, and after the statutory term nf deposit had expired a tender could be accepted. Any objections lodged would not interfere with the progress of the work, but the Court would be called upon to assess compensation. Mr Wilton had intimated that he intended to object, but so far as Mr Laing-Meason was aware, Mr Wilton was the only person likely to object to the scheme, but as he was to benefit under it there should not be any very serious consequences attached to his objection. Mr Laing-Meason stated that he would furnish the plans for the Lansdowne scheme later. The Council unanimously approved of the plans and specifications lodged, and on the motion of Cr Murray, seconded by Cr Forman, the County Clerk was authorised to take the necessary steps for proceeding with the Qpaki scheme, tenders to be called to close on the 23rd inst. It was resolved to write to Mr Dorset asking his endorsement of the scheme so far a3 it affected his land, providing that previous stipulations made to him were complied with. Later the special orders striking the special rates to cover the loans were confirmed.

The Opaki Riding representatives, Crs Welch and Foreman, were authorised to open tenders, along with Mr Laing-Meason, and to notify the successful tenderer of the acceptance of his tender conditionally on the objections to the scheme being dealt with.