MUDDY CREEK SLUDGE CHANNEL.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1532, 7 April 1926, Page 5

MUDDY CREEK SLUDGE CHANNEL.

* I At last meeting of the Vincent County Council correspondence was read from the Lands Department] from Mr G. Alexander (claiming com-' pensation for land taken) and fron Mr W. A. Bodkin on behalf of Mi M'Cubbin asking for the freehold foi land taken in exchange in connection with new Muddy Creek Sludge cban noli Or Scoular remarked that a verbal arrangement had been made where! the, old channel was to be exchangee! for the new obe and there was absoJ lutely no agreement regarding the] freehold in exchange. He took] strong exception to the present' attitude and was strongly of opinion that they should drop the whole thing' and raise the road Mr Alexander was entitled to compensation if they went through his land with the channel but he was tired of the whole business as he had done his best to deal with the matter in the interests of all. The chairman remaiked in endorsing Cr Scoular's remarks that the Council refused to have anything to do with assisting Mr M'Cubbin or anyone else to get the freehold, all they were concerned about was ; , giving the ratepayers a decent road. He was concerned about the liability as far as the maintenance of the channel was concerfjed ami thought they had done then duty io voting £2OO towards (he cost. He had morcovei, told the Department tba the Council would recognise n further liability. Be suggested tba Mr M'Cubbin be asked for his con sent in writing to allow the cbannc to go through his land. Cr Scoular reiterated his prev'ou statement that he was tired of th whole business- The road he said, was in a disgraceful condition and he sympathised with the long suffdiing ratepayers. Cr Spain remarked that the P.W-D. had the power to make the channel regardless of objections. He thought the demand for the freehold was absurd, but he believed that the water would have to be confinedCr Middleton supported Cr Scoular believing that the raising of the road was the solution. The chairman remarked that there was no mining at present. It was a sludge channel of course and there was no telling what development might take place. If, said the chairman, consent was not given, then he thought the P.W.D. should be asked to take the land as allowed by the. Act. ' Crs Weaver and Webb agreed with the chairman Cr Scoular stressed the importance of the work. being done at once and he suggested that 10 days notice be given the landowners to give their consent to the work being undertaken. —This was agreed to.