RIVER ENCROACHMENT.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1138, 20 January 1903, Page 2

RIVER ENCROACHMENT.

MEETING AT OTAMA. The meeting called for Saturday at Otama regarding the river encroachment at Otamita was fairly well attended by settlers intetested. Mr Gavin Dickson presided. The secretary (Mr T. B. Carroll) reported that on the day following the previous meeting the committee had examined the soene of the trouble, acquainting themselves thoroughly with the state of affairs which was to be laid before the Southland County Council. A letter had been received from Councillor Green, who stated that he would be pleased to take charge of the denotation. He thought that the matter should be looked into without delay, and said that the spot should be visited at onoe, and the surfaceman put on to execute temporary repairs. Councillor McQueen also wrote stating that he would see the county engineer (Mr Howortb) and endeavor to induce him to view the locality. Mr MoNab, M.H.8., in answer to his letter, wrote stating that he would do wnat he oould to get a vote for the Counoil. He did not know whether an application was to be made to the Council or not, but hoped that one would. During the past the Council had had control of the river and had made a bungle of things; but if they declined to move at this juncture difficulties would be raised. He hoped matters would be put before them in the strongest light. Continuing, the secretary said that he deputation had been well received by the Council, and were invited to make suggestions as to the best mode of saving the road and bridge. One of the Councillors stated that the Council was at its wit's end, and Mr Dickson folly explained the situation. Nearly all the Councillors had something to say on the matter, and the final result had been satisfactory. On the following day the County Chairman and the inspeotor visited the locality, and later the surfaceman commenced repairing the groin with his team. He had spent the week there, and the groin was at present in a pretty safe state, and the bank had been faced for upwards of a chain with heavy stones. He had learned that the County had applied to the Government for £SOO. On wiring to Mr Fraser, M.H.8., he* had received a reply to the effect that that gentleman had interviewed the Minister of Lands, and that a competent engineer would be sent down at onoe to confer with the district engineer, and they would consider the best means of dealing with the matter. The secretary stated that he then again wired Mr Fraser, thanking him and asking him to urge immediate action, because since writing the river was in high flood and oausing extraordinary damage ; also that the bridge was threatened and that the settlers were desirous

that he should urge the Minister to support the County Council's application for a grant, otherwise all the Otama Bettlers would be cut off from the dairy factory and the railway. Mr Fraser, in reply, stated that Mr Wither, road surveyor, of Christchurch, had been instructed to attend to the matter at once, and that nothing could be done until his report was received at Wellington. The speaker then wired Mr Wither asking him to acquaint him of the date when he would arrive, and he received a reply from that gentleman's office that he was absent, and that advice had not been received from Wellington up to that time. Later, however, another telegram came to hand giving the date of Mr Wither's arrival, and that he expected to meet Mr Treseder. In the meantime he had communicated with Mr Thomson, M.H.R. for Ciutha, asking him to back up Messrs McNab and Frasor, and Mr Thomson replied stating that he would be pleased to write to the Minister of Lands on their behalf, and this was all he could do. When Mr Wither arrived it was discovered that Mr Treseder was at the West Coast, and it was thought advisable to try and obtain Mr Howorth's services on this account, to make any suggestions he thought prudent. Mr Howorth did not come in his official capacity. Mr Wither said he was proud of Mr Howorth's presence, but at the same time his written instructions were to confer with Mr Treseder, and in the latter's absence, he would have to make the report single-handed. The river was explored on both banks to a considerable disance. On the morning following Mr Wither again resumed the inspection, and also met and conferred with Mr McNab, M.H.8., and in the course of a short discussion, Mr McNab asked him if he thought there was cause for immediate action. Mr Wither replied that there certainly was, although he declined to make his report public. No doubt they would hear of the report shortly, Mr McNab and the County Council officials had rendered every assistance possible in connection with this matter, and all were of the opinion that the matter would be speedily remedied. They might congratulate themselves upon the good result of their prompt action in the matter.

The Chairman said that that was as far as they had been authorised to prooeed. He considered that the matter was one that should not be lost sight of. There required to be always someone to keep their interests in view.

Mr A. MoNab thought that the secretary had attended to his work very thoroughly. From one of the telegrams read referring to the application to the members of Parliament to support the County Council in their application to the Government for a grant, he was of the opinion that the members had applied to the Government, and the County Council had not made any application as yet. The Seoretary said that the County Council had advised them that they bad made the application on the morning following the meeting by urgent telegram, also drawing attention to the damage. Tbe Council asked the deputation to communicate with members, asking them to back up the application.

Mr MeHab said that the Council had plaoed themselves in such a position that if the Government gave a £ for £ subsidy, they (the Council) might say that they had never asked for such a thing. The Chairman said he understood from the engineer that £SOO had been asked for. Mr McNab asked when this ' had been done. The Secretary snid that it had been done on the Saturday morning following tbe meeting. Mr McNab asked if he was to understand that the Council had forwarded a telegram for a grant from the Government after they saw a report of the meeting. Tbe Chairman said that according to the dates on the correspondence read, the only I letter reoeived prior to the deputation visit- ! ing the Counoil was from Mr McNab. The Secretary said that the County meeting was on the 9th inst, and on the 10th Mr Fraset's reply came to hand, he being in Wellington. His letter had been posted on the sth. Mr McNab's reply came to band on the 10th, while the engineer and Chairman of the Council were at Otamita, together with members of tbe committee. The speaker was aware at this time that the Council had asked for £SOO, and immediately be ascertained the fact be had communicated with members, as he had stated. Mr MoNab said he was pleased and satiswith what had been done. In answer to Mr McLauchlan, the seoretary said that the County's application had no connection with Mr Fraser's wire. Whether the message from the Counoil had any influence on the matter he was not in a position to say. He did not think it bad. Mr McNab said they would like tc know who got the money. The Secretary said he was vain enough to think that it was on account of their prompt action, and the help received from members. The Council had been glad of tbe delegates' assistance in the matter, without which they would have stood a poor chance of getting the money. Mr MoNab moved—"That the committee appointed previously act as a vigilance committee to have power to act in the settlers' interests."—Mr McLauchlan seconded the motion, whioh was carried. Mr McLauohlan moved that Messrs Archibald, Dillon, and himself be a finance committee.—Seconded by Mr Kobertson and oarried. The proceedings closed with a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Carroll for his assistance.