SOUTH WAIMAKARIRI RIVER BOARD.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17064, 8 February 1921, Page 3

SOUTH WAIMAKARIRI RIVER BOARD.

. V • | The South Waimakarui Hirer Board, met - yesterday afternoon. Prceentr-MesßW C. H. . Opie, F. E. Jone®, A. Selwyn Bruce, J. I Leslie, A. Manhire, W. P. Spenoer, J, P. W. Lee, and H. E.- iteyman. Mr C. E. Opie was unanimously elected chairman, and oil- his motion a vote of thanks was unanimously -accorded Mr H. E. Peryman for his valuablo services as chair- • man. Messrs S. A. Staple# and A. Manhire wore weloomed as new members. The overseet reported that ainoe the previous meeting of the Board one email flood hadi.occurred, but there had been no damage and no alteration in the course of the river. Repairs fo the protective trorks at Stewart's Gully had been completed.. • The report wee adopted, and it was decided to ask the tSelwyn Plantation Board to allow thftir superintendent •to visit the river and adviso the Board -aa to the most suitable trees to plant. The chairman stated that the late Mr T. W. Adams, of Greendale, had supplied the Board with a list of suitable trees for planting on the river bank, and he asked and was given permission to har« some of these tress planted. Committees were set up as follows:*— Finanoe, Messrs Bruce, Jones, and Leslie; works, the whole Board; emergency, Messrs Leslie, Lee, Manhlre, and Spencer; gorse and broom, Messrs Spenoer, Staples, and Peryman. , Regarding 1 the demand made 'by the Baparua County Council for water rates a legal opinion was read from the Board's solicitors, Messrs Johnston, Mills, and "White, who recommended the payment of water rates in respect of 366 acres 2 roods of the Board's reserves within the wateT race district"; as regards the Board's reserves within the water race area it was eugMfeted that a lump sum should be ' agreed iipou. The Countv Council had submitted an account for £196 lis 2d, the rate being 80s per 1&0°Mr Peryman said tfiat the Board's solicitors' had suggested that the lump 6um should be £75 per annum; buV he (the speaker) would like to know what benefit was derived by the Board's reserves before he supported this. , . Mr Leslie eaicl that as chairman of the bounty he intended takinjr" n neutral attitude, but ho pointed out that unless rates were paid in respect, of the Board's reserves in the water race area it would not be difficult to out the water off. Mr Spencer eaid that without the County v.ater the r«serres would bo practically useless. He moved:—"That the full amount be paid." There was seconder, and it was agreed, on the motion of Mr Pcrvman, seconded by Mr Lee, to offer, without tftejudice, £IOO per anirum in respect of the Board's reserves in tho water race area. Aocounts totalling £274 19s lOd were passed for payment. The secretary reported that the balance to debit wbs 1387. The total rents., leceived totalled £4175, and. the total I outstanding wa; under £2".