TAIERI DRAINAGE MATTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13449, 24 November 1905, Page 12

TAIERI DRAINAGE MATTERS

A conference of the members of the Otokia and AVcst Taieri Drainage Boards, held on Tuesday was attended by the following:—Otokia Board: Messrs J. ST. Gibson (chairman;, A. Souncss, J. B. Rcid; West Taieri Board members: Messrs Jno. Campbell (chairman), Jno. Bathgate, J. M'Ncill, Jno. Dow, Thos. Leo. On the motion of Mr Campbell, seconded bj Mr Dow, Mr Gibson was voted to the chair. Sir Gibson stated that their object in ask. ing the West Taieri Board to meet them in conference was that, seeing there was now a now board for the West Taieri, it might be possible to amalgamate or unite the two districts into one, with a view to extending tho district, and getting a better system of drainage. Mr Dow said that Sounness's dam and the claims against tlie Otokia Board for compensation seemed to be the only difficulty in the way. The chairman, said that as far as tlie Otokia Board was concerned, they had no objection to the removal of the dam, provided thero >«is provision made lor the water. Mr Campbell said that the dam seemed to be the great obstacle in' the way, and also the claim; for compensation. It was freely rumoured that if the dam was removed there would be no claims for compensation. and he would move—"That the Land Board and the School Commissioners be written to stating that it is rumoured in the district that if the two boards amalgamated and a better sjstem of drainago

was devised and earned out. the cases pending against tha Otokia Beard would not be gone on with; if such is the ease, the "West Taieri Board would willincly amalgamate or unite with the Otokia, Board, as thoso claims arc the only hindrance to amalgamation." The motion was seconded by Mr Dow, and carried unanimously, every member voting [or it.