NORTH RAKAIA BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

Press, Volume XXX, Issue 4077, 21 August 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

NORTH RAKAIA BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

A meeting of the Board was held at South' bridge on Saturday, the 17th inst. Preeant— Messrs E. J. Lee (in the chair), A. Storey, J. J. Loe, and G. Bourn. The following correspondence wag read:—Prom Mr William White, who was in attendance by request, reporting on the present etate of the river, and calling attention to several places where it had made considerable encroachments daring the late heavy freshets, and recommending further protection. From Mr O. A, Fitzroy, M.H.R., in answer to a letter from the chairman, promising to do everything in hie power to obtain assistance from the Government for the Board ; also a telegram from the same, advising payment of pound per pound subsidy at once. From the traffic manager, Canterbury Railways, regretting that he was unable to comply with the request of the Board for free carriage of willows. From Mr John Webster, C.E , stating terme on which he would take levels and prepare plan of the district showing same. From Mr Durey and the Chrietchurch City Council, offering supplies of willows, which the secretary was instructed to accept. The Chairman in his statement referred to the late very heavy fresh, and the necessity that existed for the employment of more hands. He had personally inspected theworks from the bridge to Gorman's section, and had found that ell the groins, with the exception of one close to the Ferry Reserve, had stood well; that the river was encroaohing considerably just below the railway bridge; that he had seen Mr Charles Clark in reference to Mr Brawley's land, where it was most necessary that work should be recommenced at once. He placed upon the table the draft, of petitions to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, to which their sanction was requested. That the Government had decided to include the banks of the river from the South road to the railway bridge, within the boundaries of their district, and in answer to application for grant in aid, refer them to the County Council, who, however willing they might be to assist, were, from want of funds, utterly v- able to do so ; that the directions given at the last meeting in reference to willows were being carried out, and he hoped they would obtain a fair supply ; that he had been in communication with Mr Jno. Webster, C.E. on the subject of It Tele, and placed on the table correspondence) the; eon. In conclusion he referred to the fint nces of the Board, and trusted that funds wfuld be available for the requirements of, the coming spring. The notions of the chair* man as contained in hit ett-ment were fully endorsed by the Board. Re Extension of Works—The Board a thorieed the increase of s!aff applied for by Mr White, additional protective works to be commenced at once in the vicinity of the dividing ridge, Knyvett'e Blue Gums, Miln'f, Gorman's and Brawley's River Frontages— Re Brawlsy'e Section :—The chairman wa» authorised to treat with Mr Brawlejr for the purchase of the river frontage of his sections to the depth ot two or three chains, and in the event of his not being able to come to a satisfactory arrangement, to tako such steps under legal advice as may be necessary under the Public Works Act, i 876, to acquire possession of the land, lie petitions—The draft of petitions aid on the table was accepted, and the chairman requested to «gn on behalf of the Board, and forward at once. lie level*—Authority was giTen to the chairman to arrange with Mr Webster for a scries of reliable levels. Re finance—The chairman was requested to make arrangements for sufficient funds to meet the authorised requirements of the Board. The secretary was instructed to call for tenders for a regular supra'v of jrorso to be delivered on the works. M» ssrs Cdnnon and P. Campbell, sen., prenented a petition signed by twenty residents below Stony Gully, praying that necessary etepj be immediately taken to provent the further encroachments of the river between Mr Miln's sections and the sea beach, where, if step-, were not immeciitely taken, it wouldi shortly be impossible to prevent eeifous encroachments. The Board thanked the petitioners, and stated that the matter had alreadybeen under consideration, and promised their immediate attention. Pay sheet 270. 16t> amounting to 528% was- examined and passed for paymealt