FLOATAGE OF TIMBER BILL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXX, Issue 5161, 6 March 1874, Page 3

FLOATAGE OF TIMBER BILL.

Hi^Hojioi the Mr lMgnin, Mi Shechan, ami Mr. Buvcinlge snt .ii a. Court to-day to hoar objections to t io application in a do by J. 0 rftono for permission to float timber down the Kauaprauga Kiver nceotding to tho provision* of the Timber Floatage Act, lST^l — Mr. Macdonald appuiied for tho applicant, and Mi. P.iesiey foi 0 of tho objectois, n.itivc laud owners Tho tn st of thoeo objocfciotis wai tb.it th->y claimed that their ptopirly w.11 damaged by tho watti being backed up by the booma and logs, winch destroyed their tuUivationp, xnd that tho banks of tho tr,e\ w-Modcb-troyed, and that tho navigation of tho mei waa interfered w ith. They claimed p.ij ment iu the shape of a rent to cover these troubles. Mr. B inks' objection, «hi«h waa supported at the last Bitting of the Court hy Mr. i Bi.uaey, was withdrawn. These six objections wcra read over in Maori and Eugh-h. — Mr. Macdonahl replied to tlie objections raised, and said that the Act provided that any d.wnnye caused imi3t be paid for, so that tho giouuds of objections stated with reg.ud to damage to the river banks and cultivations weie no objections to tho granting c f tho ceihGcnte. With regard to tho sloppage of the navigation, he denied that fauch was done and pointed out, that a passage was left through which a whaleboat now traded, so that thero was nothing to prevent tho canoe 1 *, so pathetically alluded to in some of the objections, from go.ng thr ugh. Luowise evidence waa then taken t> show that the letting off the water in the dams in the tributary creeks made no appreciable difference to the volume of tho main 1 iver. — This concluded the hearing of tht first &ix objections. The n«xt objection was that of John Leith Stevens, tha owner of a dairy farm on the banks of the river. Mis objection wa.4, that it was impossible to float logs down the river without damagiug the banks, unless protective works Were Constructed, and, besides, the floodi'ig of the river would htoj) up the road to bis farm. If Mr. Stono made the protective works required, and raado a road as good as that in us , ho would withdraw his objection. — In examination by Mr. Macdonald thi8 objector ako rcfei red to the stoppage of the navigation of tlie river as a material mpiry to him. — James Buckley also objected on account of injury to the banks of the river, and said that the logs coming down tha river would stop tho cros«ing and pi went tl'a driving of bin cattle to l'uuri. — John Tilsdale and \V. Walker objected, for similar reisons; and these concluded the ooj-ctioiis raised by Kuiopeans. — Thohearingot Natne objections wo,* then resumed : — W. H. Twpui, on behalf cii hitiiself and others, undo objection tkat tho navigation of tho river was stopped, aud the booms and loga drore vbe water on to their cultivation ; also that no payment had been made to them for th« timbir lodging on their land, to which they were entititled iu aocoidanoo wi.h. Maoii custom.— Kdpana Maungonon, and otkcid, lodged objectiona in timiUr terms In the objection made by Nikonma, soms v.»«uc threats were in ado »s to the oonsequences if the application was granted. — His Honor traul that no objections had been urged of such a nature as could not bo provided against by tha piovisions of the Ac', which enabled the Superintendent to grant the licenses upon such conditions and utipulations aa ho mijht deem expedient. Further, by clauso G of tho Act, tha Superintendent had power in granting tho hecnvj to toquire two sufficient secuiities to enter into .1 bond for any damage which inay be recovered against such license.