MOUNT IDA WATER RACE TRUST.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 497, 23 January 1879, Page 3

MOUNT IDA WATER RACE TRUST.

f ; , The first'meeting bf'<l»fl Mount Idi Water Race Trust was ht-Id in the County ' .Council Chambers, Naac-by, on Monday] Jany. 20. Present: IT. W. Robinson, J. Ewing; 8- JVTCnlloagh, W. Inder, E. Glenn. Moved by R. Glenn, seconded by W. lader—"ThatH. W. Robinson he Chairman of the Mount Ida Water Race Trust for the ensuing 12 months." Carried. Mr. Robinson took the chair. * The Chairman observed that the first business to be considered by the Trust would bs the appointment of Secretary and Treasurer, procuring seal, necessary -boe4fs,-&etr and to probably memorialise the Government for a grant of money. .1 The Chairman read report from Mr. B-; -Johnstone, Manager of the- Works as -under:— I have the honour to submit, tor your "consideration, a statement of the affairs of the .Mount Ida Head Race. The first s.ilea of water commenced on the Ififch of August, 1877, btic very little busi- , ness was done until the following month. Since then the demand has gradually increased, so that daring the summer months we have not. had a sufficient supply—just the time when twice the ordinary demand exists. So that what has been done in the past mwhfc le doubled in the future, with an increased supply of water, and by extending the race to cover Main and Home Gullies. A sufficient supply to meet the increased demand in dry weather could be obtained by •erecting a reservoir in Western Eweburn. The Engineer of the works, Mr. R. H. Browne, reported to the Government upon the advisability of its being constructed, and who, I believe, if requested, could give definite information a3 to the cost of construction, storeage, &c. The extension of race to Main Gulby was levelled and estimated by the Engineer to cost about £I2OO, including a smaE reservoir at tbe head of Roach's Gully The immediate extention of thi3 portion of the race should be gone on with at once, to supply the demand in that direction, which we could not, at certain seasons of the year, with our present supply, and when"the demand on the flat falls off, which it is sure to do, there will be at least a prospect of keeping up a general average return. Daring the seventeen months since the first water w?s sold, there has been received | in cash. £1945 Bs. 24d., and thel|ontscanding aecounts at 31st December, 1878, to £1163 17s. 44d., making a total of £3114 ss. 7d, out of which amount, £6O lis. 6d. may be considered a bad debt, the person owing it being dead, without assets. A further sum of £199 lis 2d. of the outstanding accounts js very doubtful I aot judgment for the fi.ll amount owing, and under distress warrant recovered the sum of £9 178. 6d., which leaves the above -amount standing. Out of the seventeen months two at least might be considered lost, viz —the first, in getting a fair start, «nd July,'by frost. The cost of maintenance has b<*en and -will be about £2900 per annum, made- up as -follows V— ' ;•■■ Managers Salary ... ... £3OO 0 0 Do Forage allowance ... 100 0 0 "One Waterman, at £4 per week 208 0 0 ■One Foreman of Chnanel at £4 . per week 208 0 0 Two working Foremen at £3 per week : ... ... ... 312 0 0 Seven maintenance men. on Head Race, at £2 Bs. per week 873 12 0 One Blacksmith, at £2 14s per week ' ... 140 8 0 Two men on Channel, at £2 Ss. per week . One man on Flushing Race and - • Distributing Races, at £2 Ss. . per week 124 16.0 One horse on Channel, at £2 Bs. per week ... ...- ... 124 16 0 Office Rent ... 21 13 4 -Extra men employed cleaning out Tiace after winter, and sodding weak places in Race 237 2 8 £2900 0 0

The item of horse hire on Channel could be reduced by purchasing a horae and dra/, -wmch will be almost constantly required, and would soon pay for itself. R. Johnstone, Manager.

A lengthy conversation ensued in reference to reducing the number on the maintenance staff, and working the Eace more economically, so that the proposed revenue should be sufficient to meet the -expenditure. In reference to the proposed reservoir at Ewebnrn, the Chairman stated that the estimated cost of •construction would be about £9OOO or £IO,OOO. The opini n of the members was that this matter, in the meantime should not be urged upon the Govern-, menr. The appointment of Secretary and Treasurer was next considered, the nature of the duties, and the remuneration to be given. It was agreed to combine the offices of Secretary and T easurer. Moved by Mr. Ewing, seconded by Mr. Glenn —" That applications for the office of of Secretary and Treasurer be invited. The two offices to be combined, and salary to- be fixed at £75 per annum. Advertisement to state what duties are expected to be performed. Security required.. £250." Carried. The Manager was here called in. In reply to the Chairman, the Mana--ger remarked that, during the seventeen months the race had been open, they had to contend with the frosts of two winters. That the sale of water consequent on the extension of the Kace to Beach's Gully ■would, in his opinion, more than equalise the income and expenditure. He thought the number of men on the *Eace to maintain it was not more than was necessary to properly look after it. The Race was a long one, and one man stationed every eight miles was imperative; more would be gained than lost by . keeping the full number employed. The Eace, hut season, had to be cleaned out four times, and a good deal of clearing cut had to be done after frosts. The; extension of the race to Eoach's Giilly; would bring considerably more than £SOOI p> v r annum additional. To increasethe. supply, of water from the head would-, cost about £I2OO. In dry weather, twicej the quantity of water could be sold tothat coming in. When water is plenti-l fnl the whole could be sold by extending! the works. The recent goods increased j ine expenditure considerably. In anotherj twelvemonths or so/unless the Eace was extended, the Trust would be in a worse! position than at present. __ j After considerable argument in reference> to the proposed extension, in which it was agreed to recommend the extension: to Home Gaily, it was mored by Mr.; M'Cullmigh, seconded by Mr. Inder—- " That the Acting Secretary be requested: to report to the Government that the Trust i finds, on faking over, that the annual ex- ( pemliture for and maintenance cannot, at present, be reckoned at less than £2900, to mee' which there is > available only a probable revenue of £2400, thus showing a deficiency ot taOUper annum. That ;the revenue .could bee

"really increased, and lb™ deficiency probably done away with if the Race were extended to . Home Gully via Roach'j Gully and Main Gully, at a probable cosj of £3OOO, and the race were also extended at the head, so as to tap a farther Blreani by which (he supply of water iu dry weather could be kept up, at a further esf ii mated cost of £I4OO. That for these additional necessary works, Rnd to meet the deficiency of revenue under expenditure, it is necessary that the Trust have a sum of money at their disposal, and that the Government be requested to place at their disposal the sum of £5000." The appointment of Manager was next considered.. After jthe matters of salaiy, and competency. were discussed, it was! moved by Mr. Ewing, seconded by Mrj M'Oullougli, "and carried"—"That Sir! Robert Johnstone-be-appointed Manager; at the rate of ""£3oo"per : SUnuim< iwith forage .allowance at the rate pf;£l00 per| annum; the appointment to be; terminable at any titaie, by one month's: notice on either side." ' :' .1 ':' \

It was'agreed not-to disturb-.the other servants of the Trust in the meantime.

Moved by Mr. Ewing, seconded by Mr. : Inder, "and That the Regulations under which-water is now sold be continued a3 if made by the Trust, in sol far as they are applicable." zi Moved by Mr. Glenn, seconded by Mr. M'Cullough, and carried—" That Mr. H. Wilson be appointed interim Secretary and Treasurer, and that all moneys be paid into the Rank of New Zealand to the credit of tbe Trust." , Moved by Mr. M'Cullough, seconded by Mr Glenn, and carried—" That .the Chairmau be authorised to procure a seal for the Trust."

Moved by Mr.Glenn, Seconded by Mr. Inder, and carried —" That the Secretary write to the Chairman of the County Council asking for the use of the County Council Chambers for the Trust meetings!. Moved by Mr. Ewing, seconded by Mr. Glenn, and carried —" That the next meeting of "the Trust be held inithe County Office, on Thursday, 30th" inst., at 2 o'clock .p.m." After some further routine business, the meeting adjourned.