THE RIVER TRUST.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18147, 9 August 1924, Page 8

THE RIVER TRUST.

GOVERNMENT NOMINEE GIVES SATISFACTION, A -warm tribute to tfa« work of. Mr J. Wood, inspecting engineer to the Public Works Department, in his capacity as cliairman of the Waimakariri, River Trust, was paid by members of tie Trust at yesterday's mooting. Mr A. Manhire drew the attention of members to a letter which bad appeared in "The Press." signed by Selwyn Bruce, in which the writer, in referring to the Waimakariri men-

J sco, stated '• . . . ss kng as the I Trust has as its chairman a Govern- ! raent nominee who live.* in the North 1 Island, the chance of getting the obstruction removed from the bed of tho river at the railway bridge will bo a [remote one." Mr Manhire said that ' aa a member of tho old South Waimakariri River Board, ho shared the resentment of Mr Selwyn Bruce and other laeiabcrs at the appointment of aWellington man as chairman of tlio Trust, bur after twelve months' experience of tljo Trust, he knew thai they had lost nothing by Mr Wood living in Wellington. Mr Wood had done exceptionally good work as chairman of the Trust and was always ready to inspect any trouble and givo a fair and impartial hearing to any matter brought before him. His help in making the. necessary financial arrangements had been invaluable. Mr Manhire said he thought it was only right that they should make their opinion public in view of what had ben written. Mr J Leslie said ho endorsed everything Mr Manhire had said. They might have appointed dozens of men from the south and would not have got a better chairman. Mr Wood was always ready to help and it would be a difficult matter to replace him. Mr J. H. Blaokwell said that during the last twelve months Mr Wood had steered the Trust through very difficult waters. It was a great advantage to the Trast to have a technical expert at the head of affairs and one who had no prejudices, parochial or political. Messrs R. 0. Dixon and F. G. Horrell supported tb* remarks of the previous speakers. Mr BlackweTl mentioned that the Canterbury Progress League had decided to ask Mr Wood to give an address fo representatives of local bodies interested and to the general public regarding tho eroskm of tbe Woimakar rin.

Mr Wood thanked members for their expressions of confidence. Regarding the Progress League's invitation, he said bo would accept it but would not be ready to deliver a lecture for two or three months. He would first refer any matters of policy upon which ho might speak to tbo members of the Trust so that in giving expression to his own opinions !» might speak on their behalf.