OHINEMURI RIVER CLAIMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12069, 12 September 1902, Page 7

OHINEMURI RIVER CLAIMS.

APPLICATION REFUSED. [ST TELEGRAPH.OW.Y CORRESPONDENT.]

Paeroa, Thursday. & MEETING of the Ohinemuri River Board was held to-day, there being present: Messrs. Poland (chairman), Barry, Dowler, Draffin, Casrells, and Marrimm.

A letter was read from Messrs. Moresby 4ud Jackson, solicitors, stating that they had teen instructed by Messrs. Rich and Brown, the applicants in the Warden's Court for teight special river claims extending up the Ohinemuri River from Mr. Clayton's boatshed, near the junction of the Ohinerauri and W»ihou Rivers, to the boundary of Mr. ■Marsh's property on the Karangahako side, to apply for the consent of the Board to those claims being granted by the Warden. The Warden, after hearing legal argument. liad decided that the rirer was Crown land covered with water and within the boundaries of the goldfields, and further intimated that lie was quite prepared to grant the applications provided the consent of the Board was first obtained. The treating of the sands of the river might" be the means of starting a new industry neat Paeroa, which, in addition to employing a number of workmen, would considerably augment the revenue of the .county from the gold duty derivable; and also that the navigation of the river would be in no way impeded; that there would bo no increase whatever to the quantity of sand coming down the river, but, if anything, that quantity would be lessened ; that the applicants would add or put into the river no fresh sand, but would treat that which was now deposited; that the actual banks and bed of the river would in no way be damaged, as the applicants were prepared to bind themselves to work only with a suction pump in order to lift the sands. In replacing the eands sucked up they would bo allowed to run quietly on to the bottom, so that they would not by the treatment bo shifted down the river more than a chain at the most, and it is probable that to shift them this distance it would take ten years.. The applicants were quite prepared to submit to any reasonable conditions the Board might deem necessary to im]o?e. A3 the Warden has adjourned the applications in order to give an opportunity ci applying for the Board's consent, the Boa d was asked to favourably consider the same, and to deal with the matter at the earliest convenience.

Mr. Moresby and Messrs. Rich and Brown •were present. Mr, Barry favoured the granting of the application bo long as en agreement was signed to the effect that the operations proposed to be conducted did not in any way interfere with the foundations of bridges or roads abutting on the river. The debatable question of depositing tailings into the river was removed, and he thought that the Board would be justified in helping this industry ijy giving the necessary permission to treat the tailings in the river. Messrs. Draffin and Marrinan also spoke in favour of granting the application. Mr. Casrells strongly oL cted to any such consent being given, as he thought the Board ■»J<ruld be helping on the destruction of the farming industry in Ohinemuri, which just now gave great promise. lie believed that if the Board agreed to the application they need never approach the Government again asking for the proclamation of the river as a sludge channel to be set aside. Tho farming industry was making great progress here, and yet, if the river was allowed to keep on fiilting up, it would mean an irreparable loss to the large number of settlers on the banks of the river. Deposits of tailings were now carried over the land during freshes, and destroyed the fertility of the soil, and as a consequence the settlers were suffering. He Would vote against the application. The Chairman opposed the application. The river should never have been declared a sludge channel, and on the ground that any permit given, as askeu by Messrs. Rich »nd Brown, might possibly prejudice the removal of the sludge channel conditions, he .Would :>ppose the application. Mr. Bowler considered that, had it not been for the present agitation respecting the silting up of the river, the applications would have been granted without any reference of ' the subject to the Board. He thought it would be inconsistent to grant the application, and then solicit the Government to stop the river being used as a sludge channel. Mr. Barry could not see what harm could result, especially it the Board's solicitor provided in the agreement- that the Board could safeguard its own interests. He moved, "That the application be granted, subject to the insertion of any conditions that the Board's solicitor may deem fit in order that no injury should be done to the foundations of bridge--, etc., also reserving the right to undertake any work in the river for the roaoval of silt," or for the erection of a dam, or the carrying ov of any protective operations deemed necessary by the authorities."

Mr. Draffin seconded. Before the motion wa.=i put, Sir. Moresby personally appealed to the Board to grant the application and lis pointed out that tho applicants would bo prepared to surrender the license: when called upon. He thought that nothing could lie fairer. Eventually the proposition that the application be granted *-as put to the meeting, »nd lost on tho casting vote of the chairman. The Chairman then moved, "That the Board, whilst sympathising with the applicants, believe that the granting of the application would prejudicially affect the Board's effort* to have the proclamation declaring the river a sludge channel removed, and Would interfere with any effort being made to mitigate the easting evil." Mr. Oasrells seconded, and the motion was tarried. . Or tho motion of Mr. Barry, seconded by Mr. DrafEn, it was then resolved, " That if at any future time the Board deemed it expedient to remove their objections the pre«ent applicants should receive priority in , their application."