Ratepayers' Meeting at Glenavy.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 180, 20 March 1902, Page 3

Ratepayers' Meeting at Glenavy.

Yesterday afternoon there was an attendance of about, 25 ratepayer-* in the

Lower Wailiao water race district to consider several questions oflocal interest. Mr G. V. Cochrane, County Clerk,

presided. On the first question, “ whether the ratepayers should themselves keep the wa'er races ou their properties in repair, or whether the work of maintaining the races within the whole district should be let by the Council under one contract,” some little discussion took place, and then it was proposed by Mr Boss, seconded by Mr Morris—“ That the clearing of the races be done by contract, as at present.” In answer to Mr Campbell, the

hainnan fftid the present contractors’ cerm expired in October. The Council t csired to have an expression of opinion drnm this meeting before taking any {further action.

tjfVeral present expressed dissatisfaction at the way the contract system worked, but on being put to the meeting the motion was carried without dissent.

The next question was whether a water race supervisor should ho appointed. Mr Henstridge wanted to know what was the duty of the supervisor. ; Was it to ride round and bu’ly people ?

The chairman said this was not specified as part of his duty; ho was supposed to see that the races were running and in good order. The present supervisor resigned as from the 2Gth of this month.

Mr Henstridge asked why they did not make him fulfil the contract to the letter, as the Council wou d have done to the speader if he were on the mads hau'ing shingle. The contractor had no right to “ jack ’ it up at any time he pleased.

Mr Ross said the present contractcr was allowed to give two months’ notice. Mr Moiris, the sup i vis >r, said lie had a lot to put up witu. Mr Honstr d.;e h<d ordered him olf his p.op.ny wh u engaged in inspecting the races. Mr Henstridge said M r Morris on that day had too much “ tanglefoot ” on board, and was nulling and tearing through the fences, and the speaker being frightened he would kill himself, ho ordered him oil’.

Mr Morris ,said he was never bo far gone as that.’ Mr Hanley said they came to settle about a supervisor, not to quarrel. Mr floss said the farmers would not be let off this year’s cleaning, for it would not be fair to leave the cleaning till spring. The supervisor should get all the races clean and leave them so. It would tal e more than one man to clean them.

Someone suggested paying the present supervisor to complete the term. Mr Pelviu thought fanners should be campclled to put the races in good cader. Mr Connell asked what was a fair cleaning. Was it to raise a four foot race to eighteen inches, or to lower an eighteen inch race to four feet '!

Mr Campbell said tile races were not made a uniform depth, but according to the water they had to carry. Mr Ross said the races were badly constructed to begin with. Mr Hcastridge thought the Council should put on good day men and make a thorough job of it. Mr E. I’alvin supported this, but Mr Connell thought someone would he needed to watch the day men. Mr Ross favoured the Engineer taking over the - races. The Council was against it, hut he thought they would come round.

Mr Morris said the supervisor could not order anything to bo done without making enemies.

Mr Connell moved and Mr lloss seconded, “ That a supervisor be appointed.” Speaking to the motion Mr lioas said the Council could always appoint a man to see the work was done. MrTlennndge moved as an amendment. and Mr d’elvin seconded, “ That a supervisor bo not appointed.” Tho amendment was put and carried, securing 18 votes, while tho motion was only supported by the mover and seconder. The next business was to decide whether the maintenance would be payable on an area basis or on • the capital value, as at present. Mr lloss proposed, Mr Henstridge seconded, that it be on the capital value. In reply to Mr Campbell the chairman said the interest would still be payable on the capital ve'.ue ; they were pledged to the Government to repay the loan. The area basis was adopted for main' tenance by several counties. On being put, the motion was carried. This concluded the advertised business, but the chairman invited an expression of opinion on any other business relating to tne welfare ot the district.

Mr Henstndge anid the Council knew they had no right to the water in Whitney’s Creek, but they could get it if they liked to take the proper course. They should drop this law business. 'Che wa'er in the creek was his.

Someone suggefted that Mr McLean might have given it to the Council. Mr Henstridge said Mr McLean could not giye away property belonging to him.

Mr Cochrane caused some laughter by remarking ibat Mr Heuskidge’s remark on this point was undisputable.

Mr Ross said the preliminaries had to be gone through, and. consent of owners of adjoining properties secured. Mr Henstridge said he was about the only one, and if the Cqnnoil did nob do the work before he had hia crop in they would have to wait till after harvest; he was not going to allow them to damage his crops, fle could cultivate to the water’s edge according to his lease.

Mr Morris said that in this case what became of the bye-laws. Mr MeNaughton said the bye-law was goad enough to frighten people with, but otherwise not worth anything. Mr Corrigan said he knew he had no right to speak, but as a ratepayer he would like Mr Ross to speak on the question whether the. Council knew it was needlessly wasting money in law. Mr Ross said Mr Corrigan had no right to speak at the meeting Mr Corrigan knew that, but he wanted the particulars. He was a ratepayer as well as Mr Ross.

Mr Ross : Not a water ratepayer. Mr Corrigan : You pay very little; Mr Ross : I pay them, anyhow. Mr Corrigan : Only a unit. Mr Henstridge asked when the ratepayers’ books were made up, and was told March 31st. How was it, he asked, that they had been charged three months’ maintenance that Mr McLean should have paid ? Mr Cochrane said that all the ratepayers’ names in the books were charged. If Mr Henstridge should not have been on he had paid in error. The station was taken over on the Ist April, and he had advised the Government that there were three months due by Mr MoLean. Mr Henstridge said the now settlers aad bad to pay it and he considered it unjust. This was all the business.