THE WAIMAKARIRI

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17629, 5 December 1922, Page 5

THE WAIMAKARIRI

MEETING OF BOARD. The South AYaimak-riri River Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. E. Jones (chairman), J. L.sle. W • Spencer, A. Manhire, S. A. StapleH. E. Peirmnn. C. H. Opic, A. t>. Brace, and J. P. W. Lee.

Mr Opie stated that hj? had taken legal advice regarding Mr Jems s st .tus in view of his tix im nths le;'.\e, and wa> informed that Mr Jones was still entitled to his seat. Mr Op e r.ddcd' that ,e had written to tho Mm *toi of Public Works setting . lUt , . Board's obj.ctions to c rtaiu cmu.es in the new A.:t rce n tu.uiiig the B.)ard. He received a rep.v irom -Mr Coates st ting t.jr.t hj? wo .Id be pea- e -| to give the representations very c.relu. consideration. The overseer reported that during the month t!;er.' had been fi.-ur flo ds :n t .c river, but no dainag- 1 wa- don. t-o any of the worki. Owing to the stream which strikes No. 11 embankment s wting further so ith, it was n. c-e sary to start and put in a small b.. u:dor era to ;royne to save the stream Irom eutiri, tbrough the emb.nkment between the two lots of cement. That work was started cn Saturday and would cost about £3O, including material I>e course of the river had altered opposite Ha kett and was ma-King further s..uta. Tliero was a very heavy stream just mi-sing the end of No. 12 embankment, which was likely to get into the old channels that ran b tw.en McLeans and the foreman's cottaue. The couree had also altered north of M Le.m s, and tlio bulk of tlie water was now going do-wn the north branch again. Mr Jeal, the overseer, said the position at No. 11 embankment might lead to serious trouble, for if the etream broke through, as it did on a formsr occasion, it would probably involve the Board in an expenditure of £ICO3. The Board authorised the expenditure proposed by the overseer in his report. Regarding No. 12 embankment, Mr Jeal said the stream was jivrt missing the concrete, having already washed away the gorss. There was a tendency for the stream to get back to the old channel.

'I lie report was approved The N.Z. Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canterbury were appointed auctioneers to sell the leases of the Board's reserves on the expiry of the present terms. In reply to a letter 1 from the Canterbury Progress League, relative to the operations of the Railway Committee, it was agreed that each member of the Board would, as requisite, bring any railway complaints or suggestions before the committee.

Representatives of the C ark Bros. Construction Company waited on the Board with, a request for permission to remove shingle from the centre of the stream by means of a suction dredge, and to use No. 2 groyne at Mason's Flat for landing the spoil. The- chairman said he d ;übted wl ethir the Board had power to agree to the request. In any event, wh •t'ror wa* done should be subject to the approval of the new Board. Mr Leslie said it would be of considerable advantage to the protective works if the shingle bank near the Empire bridge were removed. Mr Opie said it would be better to defer the matter until the new Board took charge. The chairman suggested that the applicants should oonsult with the Board's overseer, and frame an application setting out all they wanted for submission to the Board later.

This suggestion was agreed to, and the matter was deferred in the meantime.