SPRING CREEK RIVER BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 262, 5 November 1912, Page 2

SPRING CREEK RIVER BOARD.

The Spring Creek River Board met at Marlboroughtown yesterday afternoon, the following members being present:—Messrs-J. Gane (chairman), H. C. Cheesman. J. Watson, and W. Gifford. Leave' of absence was granted to Mr C. Reeves-.

The secretary'reported upon the result of the poll taken in the Spring Creek district in connection with the amalgamation scheme. He also intimated that rates totalling £39 2s 9d had been collected during the month.

PROTECTIVE WORKS. A request was received from, the Blenheim branch of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited and Reduced, acting in behalf of Mr J. H. Redwood, to have the banks repaired and raised along the Spring Creek from the flaxmill down about half-way to its confluence with the" Wairau River—not a very costly work. It was stated that when-

ever .there has been a fresh in the Wairau River, the water in the Spring Creek dammed'back right up to the Peninsula flaxmill, and the banks for some distance down the creek have been broken or scoured so that the water has covered Mr Redwood's land known as the Peninsula block for some months past, and had seriously interfered with the selling of the property. The Chairman remarked that the Board could not at present entertain the request owing to its impecunious state. There were other works contemplated that should be given precedence. A deputation comprising Messrs J. Reid and R. H. Smale later waited upon the Board in support of the request. Mr Reid represented that the matter was of a serious nature, and_ he considered that it would be advisable for the Board to view the locality. It would be only fair for the Board to bear some share of the cost of carrying out the proposed work, as Mr Redwood had paid rates for the last 30 to 40 years, and had never appealed to the Board for as-

sistance. Urgency was needed in the case. The fact that the property had , been subject to floods had been an j embargo to the selling .of the' pro- \ perty. "■■ - ■ ■ \ ';- ■ < Mr Smale supported Mr Reid's ; statements. He also suggested that; the whole Board visit the locality. j The Chairman mentioned that the ! Board Was in a measure sympathetic, but it could not at this juncture consider the proposal. Mr Reid asked if in the event of Mr Redwood's carrying out the proposed work at his own expense the Board, when in funds, would contribute half the cost. The situation was so serious that the work must be im- j mediately carried out. The answer was non-committal. It was finally decided to visit the place on the 18th inst. at 2.30 p.m. The matter of prosecuting the protective work at Wheadon's was discussed, and it was decided to view the locality to-day (Tuesday) at 9 o'clock. It was considered by some members that the work at Grovetown should be expeditiously carried out; but Mr Watson was emphatically in favor of giving precedence to the work higher up the river at Wheadon's. GENERAL. Owing to there not being a full attendance consideration of Mr Jones's request for compensation as a result of loss incurred through the recent inundation of Grovetown was held over.

Accounts amounting to £56 16s 3d were passed for payment, and the Board rose.