WAIMAKARIRI WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 9 December 1892, Page 3

WAIMAKARIRI WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT.

APPLICATIONS TO THE LAND BOARD. At an ordinary fortnightly meeting of th* Canterbury Laud Board, held at 11a.m. yesterday, there were present Me3srs J. \V. A. Marchant (Chief Commissioner), K. Mere* dith and D. McMillan and Hon. W. C. Walker. Mr Majrinaduke Dixon, for whom Mr Beswick appeared, alt-ended the Board in support of an application to purchase. 55 acres on the Waimakariri riverbed. Mr J. Dobsou (Chairman of the Waimakariri and Ashley Water Supply Board) and Mr Webster (Surveyor to tho Board) were abtf present. The Cuihf Commissioner stated that the. question had been opened by Mr Manna* iluke Dixon, who wrote on November 14th Jks follows :—" The General Mauager of the N.Z. Midland Railway Company having conceded to mc his right of purchase over the block of about 55 acres marked pink on the plan, enclosed and lyiuq along the terrace between R.S. 26900, ii 0573, 26583, 26384, 27754, and 26385, and the river Waimakariri, and having made such intimation to the Government, 1 apply to the Land Board to sell mc the same block of 56 acres, more or less, thu conditions aud price to be named by yourselves. The object was to construct a water-race or races, aud to make a plautation." On November 18th Mr John Brown, of East Oxford, wrote that he understood Mr Dixon. was applyiug for some land between, his (Mr Brown's) bouudary and tho river, and pointing out that he had always considered the river waa his boundary. He forwarded particulars of the application he had made in 1376, aud which was granted for certain land. On December Bth Mr J. JDobaou, Chairman ol the Waimakariri and Ashley Supply Board, wrote, applying for the reserve in question for the purpose of constructing a channel to supply the water supply district. The Chief Commissioner said that the titles to the sectious concerned had been searched, and though a legal opinion had not been obtained, it appeared that the strip of land for which application had been made war Crown laud. Mr Dixon, who was then called upon, said that the Midland Railway Company, after negotiations, had transferred to him the right of selection of the strip of land on the river bed in order to give him a frontage from which he could take a water supply to irrigate a large block of land which belonged to him. He proposed, to cut up this land for settlement; and he submitted a report by Mr Cvtthbert upon, his proposed irrigation scheme. It showed that his plan was not only feasible bub would be a great public benefit. The land was very poor, and was at present absolutely a barren waste, but his scheme would undoubtedly make it some of the most productive land in the colony. He desired to work with the Water Supply Board, but their scheme would result in throwing his land back as a sheep run. He had 43,000 acres of land, 26,000 of which he proposed to cut up, and he was only asking the Board to acquire the strip of river frontage which would give him the-right to take the water. Mr Walkeb asked Mr Dixon why he di<J not go in with tho Water Supply Board. Mr Dixon said he had tried his utmost to do so, but either the George or the Rook Ford schemes proposed by the Water Supply Board would entail a charge of about £10,000 on his land, and he believed the supply would be insufficient. It would saddle the land with a charge which ib could not make up. If the Land Board did not grant him the concession his land would have to go back as a sheep run. Mr Walkeb asked why the Board did not take up Mr Dixou s scheme as part of their own if Mr Dixon could get the worJt done at a cheaper rate. Mr Dixon eaid he bad offered to bring the water to a certain point for £4000, but the Board had not accepted his offer. Mr Walker asked if it would hamper the Board if Mr Dixon's scheme was carried out. Mr Dixon said the Board would not be able to charge his land if he did hia own work. Mr Walkeb asked whether Mr Dixon would not be taking away a part of the Board's area which they required to raise money upon to carry out their echeme f Mr Dixon was asking the Land Board to hold the scales between himself and the Water Supply Board. He objected to the Land Board being brought in by a side wind. Mr Dixoif said the Board h»d no power to levy rates until the ratepayers had voted for their scheme. He would not consent to give the Board power to rate his land to ea extent it could not bear. His land Waa only to be supplied in one way, and he asked the Water Supply Board to cooperate with him, but they had not done so. ; ■Mr Dobson said that Mr Dixon wished to act as contractor,, and construct,, the races through his own land, if Mr Dixon was. allowed to obtain the reserve he would shut out a large block of freehold, upon tht Eyre from obtaining water, and it would practically kill the Board's scheme. Mr Dixon had been offered a supply of water on the terraces at lid per acre, but ho had not accepted the offer. The Bout-d's schemes had not yet been approved of by the ratepayers. Mr Dobson explained the Water Supply Board's proposals. Mr Dixon said that was the first time ba had heard of tho offer of waier at per acre. t The Chief Commissioner said the' Board would consider the matter aud got a legal opinion as to the possible claims of the Midland Railway Company and the adjacent owners of freehold. There was not euißcicat information before the Board tof enable them to come to a decision. He would like to see the gentlemen concerned approach the Board with one comprehensive echeme that would serve the public wants and aba meet the requirements of Mr Dixon. It was asking the Board too much to give a private individual certain rights lor all time. Mr McMillan* said that if the ratepayers decided upon the Gorge bridge scheme, two races so close together would'.'not'be" required,* but if they decided upon the Bock lord scheme they might have auxiliary supply from the point proposed by Mr Dixon. The Land Board could not decide while the whole matter was before the ratepayers. Sir Walker said he had a strong opinion they should not part with the river right in any shape or form.- They would be best carrying out Mr Dixon's communistic ideas if they conserved this right. Hβ waf inclined to reserve the land for public purposee. After some further discussion the mattes was adjourned for a week.