PUBLIC MEETING AT STIRLING.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 149, 18 May 1877, Page 6

PUBLIC MEETING AT STIRLING.

■ ' - ','-7 - -+ .„,-. :.■!,- :". 1 A meeting of settlers and others in the Tuakitoto and Kaitangata districts was held in Rae's Railway Hotel, Stirling, on Saturday afternoon, to. consider the appli-= cation to purchase these lakes by Mr M'Gregor, -CE. Mr, ;Ja,mes ; ;Petrie- was called to the chair, and there ,were about twenty gentlemen jru'esent, Tlie Chairman said he had convened the meeting at the request of a number of gentlemen interested in the lakes. He was glad to see so many present, although he; had no doubt there would have been a much larger attendance had it been longer advertised. He, however, deemed it advisable , to have the meeting on that day, as the matter of the application would again come before the Waste Lands Board on Wednesday. The question of the drainage of the lakes -would affect a large number of settlers ahd others, and •. he hoped it would be fully considered by the meeting. He believed resolutions would be laid before the meeting for their adoption, and trusted they would prove to be for thejbenefit of the district. He was glad to see Mr M'Gregor present, and he had no doubt that gentleman would be willing to give all* necessary explanations to the meeting. Mr M'Gregor said he would be happy to explain anything he knew on the question. The meeting would not expect him to go into the matter unless . he was asked some pertinent questions concerning it. He wonld be very glad to answer any questions on the subject. The position at present was that he had applied to purchase the lakes, and that it was his intention to drain them, to do which would require a large sum of money. ' In reply to Mr Landels, Mr M'Gregor said he could not tell what amount would be required to drain the lakes. An claY borate survey, would first be required, and he could not, do that on the chance of the application being refused. He had satisfied himself that the work could be done, and for general information he could tell the meeting that, in round numbers, it would cost £10,000. • In reply to Mr Blackie, he said he had no plans except the ordinary plans of the district. Tf his applications were successful, he would do his best to drain the" lakes. Mr Blackie said he owned land adjoining the lakes : he had a right to the water frontage, and would not give up his right. Part of his land was sometimes flooded with water from the lakes, and he had contributed, along with others, to keep down the water in the lakes, and prevent their flooding. But, he said, grass would be of little value without water, and if the lakes were drained dry he would have no water for his cattle. He would therefore object to being deprived of his water frontage. In reply to a question by Mr M'Gregor, Mr Blackie said part of his land was often flooded with the water, and would be more valuable if drained: Mr Landels asked Mr M'Gregor as to the area of the lakes. Mr M'Gregor replied that it was about 2000 acres. Mr Blackie believed there was 4000 acres. Mr M'Gregor said Mr M'Kerrow; the Chief Surveyor of the Province, and himself took a survey, and found that they only contained about two thousand two hundred acres, and he supposed they would take Mr M'Kerrow's word for it. Mr Aitcheson said that at the present time the land adjoining the lakes was almost useless by flooding. The OAvhers do not cultivate it, and do not trouble about the loss they sustain through the overflow of water. Mr M'Gregor was surprised that any opposition should have been shown. He thought he could thoroughly rely on the support of land owners in the district. Had he known that there had been any opposition, he would mot have made the application. The work would involve a large expenditure of money in the district. In reply to a question, Mr M'Gregor said the water wonld have to be drained by artificial means into the river. Mr Blackie : We are expending money now on a channel to reduce the lakes. You are aware that the outlet of the lakes to the creek is very small, and would be consequently very- difficult to drain. If they applied to the district for the gi*ound, it would be easy enough to get it drained by men residing in the district. In reply to Mr Mosley, Mr M'Gregor said he could not tell Avhether the lakes, if drained, would be suitable for agricultural land. In reply to Mr Landels, he said he could not tell whether the Waste Land Board' had the power to give a title. That was a question for the Board to determine. Mr Mosley suggested that there was not only the riparian rights, but that there would be found to be a fine bed of coal underneath. The best thing the settlers could do was to postpone the affair until after the next meeting of the Board. He should very much like to see the lakes reduced in size, but not altogether done away with. They were an ornament to ( the district, and though he had no land in > the immediate vicinity of them, still he , had lived a long while in the district, and was cex*tain in. years to come the Kaitangata Lakes would be one of the principal inducements for persons visiting the district. He had no doubt in his miiid that there was a large bed of coal underneath; Mr M'Gregor : If I find the coal, Mr Mosley, you can have it for nothing. After some further discussion, Mr M'Gregor suggested that the meeting pass some resolution to the effect that it is deemed desirable to drain the lakes, and forward a copy to the Waste Land Board.. > Suclv>a -thing must be beneficial to -the district YY.,. VMr. Landels then read the following letter, addressed by the Drainage Committee to the Waste Land Board .* — . Balclutha, May, 1877/ To the Chief Commissioner Waste Lands Board, Dunedin. Sir, — We, the undersigned, being a Committee nominated by the settlers in the Katanguta, and Matau districts to prevent hy certain works the flooding of the. Lakes Kaitangata andTuakitoto, beg to forward, for. the information of the Waste Land Board,' the following re-, marks on the late application to purchase these lakes. We must first express our high opinion , of. the deference the, Board has shown to'the . wishes of the people interested, .and we trust that the relation thereby apparent may long sub' sist between it and the people of Otago. . -•-.■■ f The Kaitangata Creek and Lake and the creek connecting it with Lake Tuakitoto, called by the

■'-Natives : Teanahiteroa,7tlier Lake' Tiiukitoto, 'nmi part of Lov oil's Creek above, bas. been a lawful highway- r for th©7ueighbouririg Bettlers for more than ,207 years, but- since the roads sand railways, have been .formed around it it has ; seldom been used ' as such, and a bont carrying any kind of ' commodity is scarcely ever; seen on it. It seeUis also unlikely ever- -to be required - again fortius purpose, unless .perhaps, canalised, ..and even' ' then, for -'certain' reason's, both general and special, we doubt'if -it'could compete with other and .more modern communication. We do 'riot think; .either, thafc.ttie drainage of these 'lakes will- icaiisej the settlers any loss through" a scarcity .of. .water, for the! adjacent country is well watered, irrespective of them. Still we cannot advise the sale of the lakeson the late amplication, and for these resons— 1. The application does not appear; to have been attended with. sufficient definite statement concerning it. ' Ry draining tlie lakes, the applicant may intend widening the present channels, the cutting another oiie and erecting a, sluice, all perhaps' at £1000 or £1200, tbus merely supplementing -the WvorksinOw in progress. The land reclaimable in this way, though probably suitable for only pastoral, would be considerable, and would repay the cost, but there seems! to us no reason why County or; Government should not do the same, and. the public thus be benefited. 2. Even should the applicant coritem plate and be willing to be bound to the construction and embankments, , and . furnishing machinery,', it would still be best, wo think, to decline the application; The. simplest i ; ule of economy in so low a site, as tbe.bcd of the Tuakitoto against the power of the Molyneux, woiildj we believe, prove comparatively uaproductivclabour. v ! 3. Under the circumstances, we are ; of opinion that the Legislature should, at its.next meeting, empower the County Council of Bruce^to drain the lakes and lease tbe ; lands so reclaimed, and the rent obtained primarily charged to the improving of the means of drainage, the surplus, if any, to remaiu with the County. . ; : ■Mr Blackie moA^ed,. " Th'atthe action oi the, Drainage Committee be approved of, and that a resolution t to that effect be forAvarded to the Waste; Land'Board;"—Se- • conded by Mr Malcolm Morrison. , Mr Stoddart spoke 'in favour of the Waste Land Board granting MrM-Gregor's application. He Avas sure it Avould be for the benefit of the settlers , in the district. He moved,, and. Mr Aitcheson seconded, the folloAving amendment :—" That in is to the interest of the people generally thai the land be sold by the Waste Land; Board under condition that it be drained." '*" A gentleman present said he had been asked by Mr Boyd to, attend the meeting, and explain' that he would resist any attempt'to drain or sell the lakes.' V ; A discussion ensued as to whether Mi Boyd's agent should be alloAved to vote. It was decided in the negative. On the Chairman putting the amendment to the meeting, there A'oted for itMessrs Currie, Stoddart, Watt, Bruce, Nelson^ and Aitcheson. For the motion — Messrs Landels, Blackie, Anderson, Morrison, and Mosley: The amendment rwas" declared carried. Mr Landels asked Avhether Mr M'Gregoi would bind himself over to expend £100 C in draining the lakes, provided his application Avas granted. Mr M'Gregor replied that he could not bind himself to do so, but all must see very well that if he purchased the lake he Avould of necessity drain it. Mr Landels expressed his opinion that £1000 Avould do but very little towards draining the lakes. Mr M'Gregor .said that then he (Mr M'Gregor) woiild*be the sufferer, and deserved their commiseration instead oi their opposition. He had spoken to several persons on the subject, and they all coincided "with him that it would be beneficial to the district to have the lakes drained. If it Avas possible to do the AYork he would do it ; but he Avould not bind himself to spend any definite sum. After some further discussion, a, vote oi thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.