RANGITATA AND ORARI WATER SUPPLY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 7927, 2 August 1886, Page 3

RANGITATA AND ORARI WATER SUPPLY.

«, _ A meeting of settlers and others interested in the irrigation of the Bangitata and Orari Plains was held on Friday afternoon at the Crowu Hotel, Temuka. Mr P. W. Badham was voted to the chair, and stated that the object for which the meeting was called was to receive the Committee's report. He regretted that the attendance was not larger. The following report was submitted:— "The reason we have asked you to meet us is because we have not succeeded in obtaining what we were elected for, and we wish to state what we believe are the reasons for our failure, and also to tender our resignation,, so that this meeting can come to some decision as to what ought to be done for the future, and, if it thinks fit, elect a fresh Committee to carry out its wishes. In the first place, we may say that we fulfilled our duties, did everything that was required, and the district was proclaimed by the County Council, but, to our astonishment, a short time afterwards, the Council did what they had no legal right to do: they unproclaimed the district, thus attempting to throw on a few of us the burden of going all over the work again. The reason of the Council unproclaiming the district is, we believe, because they found that they had omitted to leave plans, boundaries, &c, of the district at the Mount Peel Road Board office. It is now over three years since a petition was signed by the inhabitants of the Bangitata district, praying the Council to proceed with these water-races, and since we were elected a fresh petition has been sent in, and now the Council want another. This, together with some remarks that fell from the Chairman of the County Council at a public meeting, will.show you that through having no Councillors personally interested in this scheme it is very uphill work. Hwe just cross the Bangitata river where the Councillors are interested, we see water-races in all directions, and yet the landowners north of the Bangitata had these water-races made without their lands being specially rated, whilst south of the Bangitata, where we are willing to be specially rated, we cannot get it done. In concluding, we do not know what to advise this meeting to do; but we believe, until we get a Bill passed in the House enabling us to raise the money and carry out the works ourselves, we shall never get satisfaction &b long as it is in the hands of the County Council and managed at Timaru. " (Signed.) " Andbkw Grant. "P. W. Badham. "D.Shaw." After some discussion, in which Mr Talbot, as Chairman of the County Council, defended their action, reference was made to the report, and Mr Talbot stated that there were at present two Bills before the JHouse with reference to loanß to local bodies. In the present instance, he felt sure that the boundaries would have to be altered, as several landowners were wrongfully included. The Council desired to push forward the work, but could not do so legally, as the matter stood at present; In reference to one landowner, Mr Threw, who was included in the present boundary, it was suggested by Mr Badham that his rates could be remitted. Mr Talbot said the Council had no power to remit rates. . In reply to Mr Badham, Mr Talbot said that the Council were proceeding as fast as possible, and that there was no doubt but that the work would, be carried out. It would be better to wait until the Acts above referred to had been passed. Meanwhile, a new petition could be signed, and the boundaries amended. Ultimately it was resolved to proceed no further with the matter at present, except that Messrs Badham and Shaw were requested to re-adjust the boundaries and obtain the signatures to the new petition. Messrs Shiers and Bay were elected to the Committee. The meeting then adjourned.