TAIERI DRAIN AGE BILE

Evening Star, Issue 14513, 3 November 1910, Page 1

TAIERI DRAIN AGE BILE

[l-T.om Odr Paeuamkntakv Retoeteb.]

WELLINGTON, November 3,

The Taieri Land Drainage Amendment Bill went through committee of the whole in the House last night. In answer to a question by Mr Allen', the Minister (Hon. T. Mackenzie) said that £20,000 had been borrowed from one of tire Government departments within the last few months. .Mr .Allen asked what were the liabilities of the Taieri County Council on behalf of East Taieri.

The Minister said he had not the information, but the County Council were satisfied with the clause.

Mr Allen,: What is intended in regard to tho East Taieri ? Will the County Council act as a drainage board? Mr Mackenzie: No; they have powers for the purpose of miring sufficient to pay their quota of the present responsibility. Then there is a work required to be done consisting of opening tho Silverstroam to allow tho flood waters to escape into the main river. The County Council would do the work.

Mr G. M. Thomson made an attempt to get the land on the east side of the river from Alianton southwards excluded from the district liable to be rated, as it really is a tail rat© for every flood in tho river and is seriously damaged by deposits of silt. The Minister said the lands referred to were not to be rated.

Mr Wilford moved a now clause as follows :

The Board of the district hereby constituted may from lime to lime, without any poll of the ratepayers, borrow for the purpose of completing the drainage works in the course of construction on tiro passing of this Act such sum as may be necessary, not. exceeding in the whoie- the- sum of £20,000. lire Minister said he could not accept the clause, and it was rejected by 45 to 22.