WAIPAWA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4289, 27 April 1885, Page 2

WAIPAWA.

(__OM OUE OWN COBHESrONUENT. I April '27. Tho many friends of Mrs Poole, of Waipukurau, will be sorry to hoar that she died on Saturday CA'oning. I believe she has not been avcll for some timo past.

I hear from that the militia aro likely to be called out during the next few days. It has not transpired avlio Avill bo appointed as captain in this district, nor am I aware how many persons are qualified, but I knoAV one, and I hope he Avill accept the command AA'hen offered to him, and I fancy ho Avould bo popular. Mr Guy has served in the volunteer force for a great many years to my knowledge, is Avell acquainted Avith tho duties, and is, or used to be, a crack shot.

A committee has been formed with a view of holding a fancy dress ball on or about 22nd May. >. A Mutual Improvement Society has beeif formed in connection Avith the Methodist Free Church, Avhere the future meetings are to be held. "The Bible in schools'' question is to be discussed at the next meeting. The Bishop's prizes and certificates are to bo presented at St Peter's Sunday School on Sunday next, and at tho sumo time tho usual prizes will bo gi\'cu to the most deserving scholars. The funds for the latter wore presented a few months ago by Mr T. Tanner.

The nomination for the new election for the Norse wood Licensing Committee takes place to-day. 1 will Avirc you the names in time for this issue. Mr Guy AA'as pressed to stand again, but declined for reasons outside the occasion.

Mr W. BroAvn has resigned his position as secretary to the managing committee of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr Somers has been appointed iv his place.

The WaipaAva Rivers Board is busy repairing damages caused to their protective Avorks near Air Avison's by recent freshes. Mr Dillon the chairman is personally superintending the Avorks. As it avas anticipated that some of tho piles Avould be carried a way before the groin had got fully established, an extra supply Avas procured and . Avere on the spot ready for use. J^ Over two months ago I mentioned that a quantity of posts floated do\A'n tho river from the Makttretu district. These posts are still on the river bed, or at least some of them, as two freshes have occurred in the meantime Avhich havo lessened their number ~ considerably. I am told that fheyrepro- 7 sent eight months' hard Avork, which is hardly credible in vieAV of the delay in shifting them out'of the way. This reminds mo i o say for the benefit of all concerned that this system of'floating timber is illegal and exposes the senders to heavy penalties,*a fact not generally knoAvn. Last session an Act was passed controlling the business. It provides a course by Avhich a license to float timber may be obtained, Avhich is very costly and difficult to Avork, but such licenso Avould enable the envner of tho timber to follow and remoA'c it from any private lands on Avhich it may have lodged. I copy section 15 to make good my first assertion. "Any person who without being the OAvner of a licenso under this Act shall raft, float, or drive or cause to be rafted, floated, or driven, either by himself or his servants or Avorkmen, any logs, timber, lumber, fireAvood, posts, rails, or other avooc! substances, or materials, doAvn or along tho course of any river, stream, or tidal creek; or without special authority in such license, shall construct thereon any dam iv any placo Avhere none previously existed, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than £'t for every day on which he shall raft, float or drive, or cause to bo rafted, floated, or driven " There is a further sub-section Avhich is also important, which says: —"Tho provisions of this section are Avithout prejudice to all the rights and remedies conferred by ibis Act upon the j OAvners, lessees, and occupiers of lands oiT* the banks or along the course of any such river," Sec I elo not think anyone is likely to lay an information under the Act to injure poor men, but it would bo the safest Avay to clear those posts at once.