A WATER RACE QUESTION.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7781, 7 February 1891, Page 3

A WATER RACE QUESTION.

A meeting of ratepayers in the OrariWalhi water race district was held iv the Orari Bridge schoolroom ou Wednesday evening last. There were some fourteen lor fifteen of the largest landowners in tbe S district present. Mr F. A. Flatman was voted to the chair, and explained that the meeting was called to consider whether the water race district should be extended to Orari and Winchester, or not. At the last meeting of the Geraldine County Council Mr W. Postlethwaite had applied to the Council to have the district extended so us to take in a block of 500 acres of his land. When tbe district was proclaimed Mr Postlethwaite refused to allow this block to be included in the district, and to allow water from above to cross his land unless he were granted the u*e of it. This arrangement had been made and Mr Postlethwaite used tbe water for driving machinery, and now Mr Kelinan, the last occupier on the race within the water district, claimed to have the right, as the last user, to use the water for irrigation purposes and this would deprive Mr Postlethwaite. The settlers at Orari and Winchester also desired to have the race extended to their homesteads, and tbe question wis whether tbe old ratepayers would allow the races to be so extended to them, or accept the otfer made by Mr Postlethwaite for the right to the tail water, namely, £25. Those present were in favor of accepting the offer, provided they would thereby get their maintenance rate reduced as much as by extending the district, The engineers had said tbat by widening tbe races above they could send enough down to supply Mr Postlethwaite, and also run a stream to Orari, Mr Kelman would be in favor of this, provided Mr Postlethwaite widened the races at his own expense. It was pointed out tbat the £25 offered by Mr Postlethwaite for the 500 acres was equal to the maintenance rate now paid by the ratepayers, namely. Is per acre. A long discussion took place as to whether the water should be taken on down to Orari and Winchester or sold to Mr Postlethwaite. No one present could say whethsr the ratepayers would reap the greater advantage by extending tbe race or selling the tail water. The Chairman said Mr Postlethwaite had assured him the latter would be the most profitable, .and he regretted tbat Mr Postlethwaite was not present at the meeting to explain tbe figures. After considerable discussion the following resolution was proposed by Mr Kelman, seconded by Mr Fifleld, and carried unanimously—" That this meeting is in favor of allowing Orari and Winchester to join them, provided the Council will allow tbem to have tbe water.** Mr W. Hewson proposed, Mr Thatcher seconded, and it waa also carried unanimously — "That this meeting is aware of the fact that the residents below the present water-race district are desirous of obtaining the extension of the water race to their various homesteads, and such being tbe case, this meeting would ask the Council to delay Mr Postlethwaite's application, unless he is agree able to allow enough water to pass his property to supply the residents now petitioning.*'