WAIPOUA OVERFLOW AT OPAKI.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1802, 1 October 1884, Page 2

WAIPOUA OVERFLOW AT OPAKI.

A Sub-Committee from the Wairarapa East County and the Masterton Road Board met a committee of settlers interested in the protection of the Waipoua banks at the Pirau, at the County Council offices yesterday to resolve upon what line of action they should take, conjointly with the Railway Department, to stay the encroachment of the Waipoua at the Opaki. Mr McGregor occupied the chair and stated the object of the meeting, He suggested one of the local bodies should be chosen by the meeting to take the necessary steps to prepare and send plans to the Government of the work required to turn the river back into its channel,

Mr W. H, Beetham moved, That the County Counoil be the body appointed to undertake the work and expend the money to be raised. Mr J.'Cameron seconded the proposal,

Mr R, Welch moved as as amendment, That the Masterton Road Board be the body to.carry out the work. He moved this for the reason that the Road Board Engineer had sent in an intimate of the cost of tin; work at £l9O, and the Uoveriuueiii, railway

engineer said roughly it would cost £IOOO.

Mr Herbert thought as the Railway Department had most at stake they would be the largest contributors to the work, and would probably consider themselves entitled to have their own engineer to supervise the work, Mr Dagg seconded the amendment pro forma to test the feeling of the meeting.

Mr Chamberlain said they had Mr Bremner's estimate before them for a guide, and he thought they could not go far wrong in asking him to undertake the work, Mr Bremner had informed him that for another £l5O he could make a permanent job of the protection. He thought they should not hind him down to simply keeping to his estimate of £l9O, which was simply for returning the river to its natural course.

The amendment was put and carried. Mr R. Welch moved and Mr Cameron seconded—That the Masterton Road, Board be requested to undertake $e work necessary to turn the Waipoua river back into its proper channel at the Pirau, and that they at once prepare plans and estimates of the work, which, in their opinion, will prove effectnal, and that application be made to the Government and County Council for help in that direction. That all expense incurred by the Road Board on this work he paid out of the monies received from the various bodies contributing,—Carried. • The meeting then adjourned.