ASHLEY RIVER.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20921, 31 July 1933, Page 6

ASHLEY RIVER.

MEETING OF THE TRUST. / The monthly meeting oft the Ashley River Trust was held on Friday evening. Present: Messrs F. (chairman), L. S. Stokes, C. S. Ayers, G. Bruere, F. E. Martyn, H. Benjes, R. C. Wright, and P. J. Lindsay. Mr A. M. Carpenter waited on the trust with a complaint that the Public Works Department had commenced the erection of a stop-bank through his property without giving him sufficient notice. The only notice he received was while away from home. A Public Works officer had called to see him and an arrangement was made to meet him next morning. However, he was surprised to find 50 or 60 men with barrows in his paddocks and was informed they were going to erect a bank through three of his paddocks. He expressed surprise that he had not received any notice. The fences had been broken down, and his sheep feed had been destroyed, his sheep had strayed on to the riverbed and many had not been recovered. He was now compelled to sell them. He had also had to remove his cattle, as they were straying on the road through the broken fences. He would suffer a heavy loss, and he came before the trust to see what could be done. He was surely entitled to some compensation. It was rather a strange procedure on behalf of the department; some notice should have been given him and the matter of compensation should have been discussed, and an agreement come to between the parties before the work was begun. He came before the trust not in any antagonistic manner, but in a friendly spirit, and he hoped the trust would see that his complaint was reasonable and justified. The chairman (Mr Langbein) expressed surprise at the action of the officers in not coming to an arrangement with Mr Carpenter before entering on his land. Unfortunately Mr Carpenter had come to the wrong place, he should interview the Public Works Department. This was, however, the first he had heard of the matter, and he certainly thought some mistake had been made by the officer in charge of the work. He assured Mr Carpenter that the matter would be looked into. After some further discussion, Mr Langbein agreed to meet Mr Carpenter. The district agent of the Public Trustee wrote accepting the application of the trust to appoint the Public Trustee as sinking fund commissioners for the trust's loan of £3500 towards the Ashley river improvement scheme. Wandering Stock. Complaints were received of stock wandering on the riverbed and destroying willows and young trees. The matter was left in the hands of the secretary to take action against the owners. Mr A. C. Pulley wrote objecting to his classification for rating and also stating that the groynes being put in at Fernside would throw the river across to his side of the river and wash away some of his land. It was decided to inform Mr Pulley that nothing further - would be done until the Public Works j Department had inspected the place I and had an interview with him. Rate Levied. \ In accordance with a notice of motion given by Mr C. S. Ayers. a formal motion was passed directing that a special rate be levied in the district on all rateable property in the Rangiora, Kowai, and Ashley counties, and the borough of Rangiora, on lands I classed A 2-25 of a penny in the £, and, on lands classed B 6-125 of a penny in I the £, and a special rate of 1-25 of a] | penny on A class lands. 3-125 on B | clas-s lands, making a total of 3-25 on A class lands and 9-125 on B class lands. I It was stated by the chairman that the rates struck for this year were about 50 per cent. less than last year. A reduction had been made on A class [ lands from 13s a £IOO to 7s fld, and on , ' B class lands from 10s 5d to 4s Bd. ', A statement of the financial position \ of the trust as presented by the secre- , tarv showed balance from last meeting : £153 13s. rents £l9 6s, rates £2O 12s; j total, £39 18s 6d. The bank pass-book showed a credit of £2l 15s Bd. Ac--1 counts amounting to £3 15s lid were t passed for payment. ; Mr Langbein said that in view of • rem-esentations made it had been de- : cided to waive the order for Rangiora unemployed to camp on the Ashley \ while engaged on the Ashley improveii ment works.