WEST TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 17312, 27 March 1920, Page 2

WEST TAIERI DRAINAGE BOARD

The monthly meeting at the above board was held yesterday, Mr Jas. Miller (chairman) presiding. A deputation consisting of Messrs M'Neil, Bremner, Snell, Patrick (accompanied by Mr S. Solomon, K.C.) waited on tha board. Mr Solomon said he was present on behalf of the petitioners, who con-/ sidered they had a legal grievance againstf the board; as to which he, after consideri'•: ing the question, had been compelled tq \ advise them that they had a legal claim.' The board's works had caused a greater quantity of water to. gather than Nature would, have done. The Bruce County Council had found themselves in the same position. The gentlemen present had to pay for the use of the pumps, yet they were taxed for the pumps. It was understood the board paid for working pumps < in some localities. He (Mr Solomon) waa not antagonistic, and trusted the board would meet them amicably, as his clients were not anxious to go to law. They wanted to know why the pumps were not worked by the board, and why Mr Patrick had to pay lor the working of the pumps. He (the speaker) had inspected the ditches, and thero was no doubt they were in a very bad state of repair.—The chairman said Mr Solomon was wrong as to the contour channel causing trouble; it was principally surface water. He did not think it the - board's duty to provide pumps. Although they subsidised the working of pumps in some instances, they recognised no liability in the matter.

A general discussion between the petitioners and members of the board then ensued, and after a lengthy exchange of views, sometimes rather heatedly, the deputation thanked the board and withdrew. 'Mr Wylie considered the board should endeavor to get more men to clean out the ditches. The drains were in a very bad state, and people who were paying taxes would not object if the ditches and drains were kept in good order. Mr Reid strongly objected to some of the statements made by the deputation, as the board were there to do their best for the whole district and not for individuals. It was decided that no action be taken, other than that the drains in question be cleaned out, and that Kirk's drain be attended to as soon as possible. In regard to the application of A. J. Stewart for permission to float a dredge on Taieri River at Outrani, the board had received legal advice that they had no control, as their boundary was the "righthand side of the river." Accounts amounting to £3,142 15s 3d were passed for payment.