WAIPU RIVER WORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 71, 23 March 1906, Page 2

WAIPU RIVER WORKS.

A meetiue of the ratepayers of the Waipu River Bourtl district was held fn the library hall on Saturday, March. 17. when Mr A. McKay Entrance occupied the chair, and about "sixry others were prf=ent. The meeting was convened to consider certain objections made by Mr N. J. Campbell to the river worlds.

Mr Campbell stated what he thought of the matter, usuis a blackboard with, a diagram of the river u> show where lie tlmeghi groim should, hare been put ntid should not have been. In answer to a question, lie stated that he considered that the object with which a certain groin was built in the river was not accomplished.

Mr Dan. U. MeKenzie, chairman of the present Rirer Board, stated that tbe work liad been so far accomplished as wished. That some time ago a cmumunicattou was received from the steamship company trailIlls' here that owing to the channel being bad and their boat getting stuck repeatedly', if something was not done to improve the channel they would have to take the bout off rue trade; bin since the work had been started the boats have had no trouble in getting up. He handed to the chairman of the meeting a communication from Captain MattUsulu, of the schooner Scott, to the effect that he considered the channel very good, and thought the Board were t» be congratulated on the success of the works undertaken by them. Mr McKenzie also Stated that Captain MeKenzie. of the s.s. Uael. considered tie channel very good. -«r J. a. S. McKay, chairman of (he |au- Board, explained why certain works nad l.ei-n undertaken, and said that there was not the slightest doubt but fhar they had accomplished the object for which they were undertaken. The work done was miV! S i d V ue '" accordance with plans submitted by Mr H. H. Metealfe. civil ■ engineer and before Government subsidies b-v nJ 5 ™ S "< \ h '' Ur>rk haU to be approver! Dy proper authority.

- i t r V C. McDonald said he had that day the works, .uid found the channel good where the steamer stuck aboiu nine ago. when he was on a trip to town. Theivj was now plenty of water Several other irenth-men. including the foreman of works, spoke, certifying that the work done was producing very satisfactory results, and that where once there was only a channel I.">ft wide and the. St.:amer had to be dragged round,' she couid now go round at full speed, and. in oae bead where the channel was om-e so uarrow that the steaiiur could scarcely get around at all she now had no trouble in netting round, whm a timber laden boat was lying at one side becalmed.

Mr A. MeLennan. as the first person whose signature wa< on the requisition tn the Chairman of the Bnartl to call a meeting of ratepayer?, said he did so as he thought it was only fair to hear both sides, as having hpurd that Mr Campbell had reeigned as a protest agauisi rbe Board, hp wished to hear thy other side, and on n's motion the following morion was unaui mously carried: "That this- meeting of ratepayers thank the Hoard for meeting the ratepayers and ffhin-g their policy for fa tying on the work."

Mr Campbell stated that ai tin- previous meeting of a few of the ratepayers, ho had consented to be nominated as a candidate, hut must now recall his consent.

Mr S. Mclnnes. member of late two boards, said there wouUl always likely I.e. trouble with the river, owing- to the shifting Rand.

A motion was passed thanking Mr Campbell for the action lie had Taken in the mater, ami drawing the ratepayers" attention to what he thought was wrong.—(Own ( urresi/undcnr.i