BOARD OF CONSERVATORS FOR THE CLUTHA HIVER.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 215, 23 August 1878, Page 6

BOARD OF CONSERVATORS FOR THE CLUTHA HIVER.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Board of Conservators was hold in the Board's Office, Balclutha, on Tuesday last. There were present Messrs Brydone (in the chaii*), Robson, Dalgliesh, and Inglis. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. An abstract of receipts and expenditure, audited by the Provincial Auditor, for the period ending May 31, as also a statement of assets and liabilities, were laid before the meeting. The abstract shewed the receipts to have been L 2281 13s 2d, and the expenditure L 557 15s 6d, leaving a balance of cash in hand and in the Bank of L 1723 17s Bd. The assets amounted to L 1893 5s 4d, and the liabilities L 250. It was explained that the abstract only brought the accounts down to May 31, since which time the credit balance had been materially reduced by the expenditure in blasting rocks, removing snags, &c. The accounts were passed and certified by the Chairman, as required by the Board's Act.

The Secretaiy explained with reference to the Auditor's note — " The proviso in section 4 in the Clutha River Trust Reserves Act, 1874, has not been complied with " — that this .referred to a sum of L 546 recently obtained from the Government as the price of Brugh's pre-emptive right, sold in 1874. The Act provided that the X-roceeds of all sales of the endowment land should be invested in Government securities, the interest to be paid to the Trust. At the time the L 546 was got the Board considered it a very small sum to invest, and therefore instructed that it be placed in the Bank, and to bear interest till such time as a larger sale was effected. After a short discussion, the Secretary was instructed to bring the matter under the notice of the Government, so that the amount referred to ' might be invested or retained in the meantime as they might direct.

The Secretary reported that no action had been taken to erect coal and goods sheds at the jetty near the' Balclutha Railway Station, as the jetty had not yet been taken off the contractor's hands. The following report as to the blasting of rocks up the river was read : — Balclutha, August 14, 1878. To the Board of Conservators for the Clutha River, — Gentlemen, — I beg to report that according to instructions T proceeded up the liver to Ecelefechan on July S, and after getting all appliances in readiness commenced blasting operations on July 11. I remained there for three weeks, during which time I was engaged cutting off hy means of boring and blasting about 12 feet from the inner sides of each of the beacon rocks. I also removed as much of two sunken rocks abovo the beacon rocks as Captain M'Kinnon considered to be necessary for navigation. By these operations the channel at this point has been widened over half a chain, and is now broad enough and deep enough for navigation at all states of the river. On August 30 as the river had risen, I, as instructed by Captain M'Kinnon, proceeded up the river for the purpose of clearing away rocks at the Clydevale upper station. There I removed two rocks— -one 30 feet long by 8 feet wide, and tho other 25 feet long by 10' feet wide. These rocks have been removed to the same depth as the ordinary bed of the river at the spot. There is now a fine clear channel to the company's station. I also removed a nesfc of snags from the rivor opposite Buchanan's, and I may here mention that in my opinion snags, wherever found and whatever their size, can be removed by dynamite, especially in connection with your powerful punt, cheaper and more expeditiously than by any other means. It was my intention to remove one or two large snags pointed out by Captain M'Kinnon near to Whitelea, but the river having j'isen to such au extent ag to obliterate all traces of these snags, I ■leemed ifc wiso not to wait, more especially as I believe Captain M'Kinnon will manage to remove these snags so soon as the rivor falls. I may also mention that the rocks operated upon were much larger than they appeared by a cursory examination, and therefore required more matorial to remove them . The quantity of dynamite used by me was 2400 lbs. I would only add that in the work in which I have been engaged under the Board I have endeavoured to carry out the same with economy and efficiency, and I trust the resuit will prove satisfactory to all concerned.

I am, gentleman, yours, &c, Samuel Gorman. The Chairman and members expressed themselves as highly gratified with the result of tbe blasting operations. The Chairman explained that the vote of LSOO had scarcely proved sufficient to meet the cost of rock blasting. The amount was therefore increased to L7OO. The Secretary reported that the Committee had paid L 450 for dynamite and some wages accounts. The following were passed for payment: — Sutherland and Co. , price of a boat, LlO ; Dalgety, Nichols, and Co., material, L 6 14s ; Dalgety, Mchols, and Co., charge for Mr Gorman's services, &c, L2B 12s ; A. Briscoe and Co. , rope, &c. , L 4. The meeting then adjourned.