Are River Boards to be Abolished?

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 159, 8 July 1938, Page 8

Are River Boards to be Abolished?

POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OVER RATING Referring to newspaper reports of a statement by the Minister of Public Works that a national scheme of river control was under contemplation, that lands benefiting should contribute, and that river boards would have to go, Mr J. Callesen, chairman of tho Mana-watu-Oroua River Board, stated at a meeting of the board yesterday that, if this were so, the position might arise that local areas would have no control over rating at all. The River Board was the ratepayers’ safeguard against possible extravagant proposals. Air Callesen added that he thought the ratepayers should be warned of what was ahead, for the position might become serious for them. Air H. Seifert said he did not like tho idea of handing over control to a body which had unlimited rating powers. There should be some limit to the amount of rates.

Owing to the uncertainty of the position, the board decided not to go ahead with a proposal to have an aerial mosaic of the river made.

Obituary

MR. G. E. W. KOEHLER Another early pioneer of the Palmerston North district died last week in the person of Air. George Evald Waldemar Koehler, who was born in 1863 and came to New Zealand with his parents on the Gutenberg in 1875, landing at Wellington. The family then proceeded to Foxton where they remained for a few months. Then they came to Palmerston North where Mr. Koehler secured employment at Messrs. Richter and Nannestad’s sawmill, remaining with that firm for 15 years. He occupied the position of librarian at Palmerston North during Air. R. N. Keeling's term of office as town clerk, retaining the appointment until the old Town Hall, on the present Library site, was destroyed by fire. The late Captain Warburton, it may be mentioned, saved Air. Koehler from drowning in a heavy flood which visited this district in the late 'seventies. Air, Koehler, who was always interested in music, joined the volunteer band in the 'eighties. He also took a keen interest in Friendly Society work, being connected with the Masonic, Foresters' and Oddfellows' Lodges, and he often travelled long distances over rough country in connection with lodge matters. In 1894 ho purchased his wellknown Terrace End property, which was then in a bush state, from Sir Walter Buller and had resided there ever since. Mr. Koehler is survived by a widow, two sous (Alessrs. A. W. and P- V. Koehler, of Palmerston North), two daughters (Mrs. E. Blaremberg, o! Palmerston North and Airs. J. Chandler, of Wellington), and one granddaughter (Mrs. D. Slowey, of Palmers ton North). Air. Alfred Koehler, of Bunnythorpe, is the only surviving brother.