Lower Pareora Water Race District.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 126, 21 March 1901, Page 3

Lower Pareora Water Race District.

A meeting of the ratepayers of the Lower Pareora Water Race District was held ‘in the Library Hall, St. Andrews, on Tuesday afternoon, at 2 o’clock. Mr G. V. O ochrane presided. There were about twenty ratepayers present.

Mr Cochrane explained that the Council wished him to put two questions before them—(!)• Were they is favour of electing a fresh- committee in place of the one recently resigned ; (2) were they in favour of appointing a supervisor instead of a committee ? If a supervisor were appointed tho Council wished it to be distinctly understood that the cleaning of the races was to bo done by contract. Mr Keddie asked at whose instigation tho meeting bad been called at that inconvenient hour.

Mr Cochrane explained that a subcommittee of the Council had fixed tho time.

Mr Traves asked how much expensehad been incurred by Mr Baxter’s recent visit. Mr Cochrane said he thought it was between £9 and UlO. Mr Traves asked why Mr Baxter hod been sent round. Mr Cochrane explained that numerous letters had been received complaining of no benefit, or of little benefit received from the races. The Council thought that the only way to settle the matter would be to send an outsider to.’report. Mr Tiaves said that, in the opinion of the committee, Mr Baxter’s report was a most unfair one. Mr Mackie asked if the Water Committee had been consulted by the Council about Mr Baxter’s exemptions. Mr Cochrane said that they had.

Mr Mackio asked further if the com mittee objected to any of these exemptions. Mr Cochrane said he thought that they had objected to all save two. Tha Chairman read tho following list of exemptions, total and partial: Messrs J, Mein, J McKenzie, J. Young, W. George, W. Morton, E. Hoskin, C. Ljsaeht, S. Turnbull, D. Bell, D. Stowell, 11. Maddocks, Rev. T, Farley, G. Lyall, C. 11. Bosley, 11. J. Gaader, P. Hart, W. Annett, J. J. Dickson, and G. H. Burton. After some discussion Mr Blair moved and Mr Traves seconded — “ That it bo a recommendation to the County Council that the Pareord -water race should bo entirely abandoned.”

Mr Stowell moved—“ That the, race south of Bluecliffs road should not.be abandoned.”

Mr Blair’s motion was carried by a bare majority.

Mr Cochrane said that he wished an expression of opinion in tho event of the recommendation just passed not being accepted by the Council, as to whether a committee or a supervisor should bo appointed.

Mr Stowell moved —“ That in the event of the Council not accepting tho recommendation, a supervisor should bo appointed.”

The motion was lost. Mr Keddie moved—“ That neither a commit-tee nor a supervisor should bo appointed.” This motion was seconded by Mr Blair and carried.

The usual compliment to the chair closed the meeting.—Morning Post