SURVEYORS’ CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19257, 22 August 1924, Page 7

SURVEYORS’ CONFERENCE.

DENUDATION OF FOREST LAND. POWERS OF BOROUGH COUNCILS, ’ (Pee United Press Association.) . NELSON, August 2L A paper dealing witn the denudation of forest on the higher levels as affecting river encroachments and other engineering’ problems was read at the Surveyors' Conference by Mr J. E. Menzies. He doubted; if Hie revenue derived for the next 100, years from the sale or lease of all land in. the sources of rivers in Nelson would pay for the protective work already done and which would have to bo done in the next 10 years. It was a serious thing it the back country, which in many cases was worth very littl© per acre, were to :be settled at the cost of the more valuable,: iow-lying areas. . . . ; Mr Sladden (New Plymouth) said a mistake had been made in the past in felling, bush in the high country. All the beds of streams in Taranaki had risen considerably, in one instance the rise being as much as 12ft.

A hearty vole of thanks was accorded toi Mr Menzies for his paper. Mr Trosidcr. on benalf of the Dunedin branch, brought up the question of the powers of borough councils under the Municipal Corporations Act regarding the sub-,; division, of land. In the course of the discussion Messrs H. Bridge and Seddon expressed the opinion that the Act needed amending to define mor© clearly what were the powers of borough councils under the Act.

The Chairman did not think anything could be done in the matter, but stated that the Minister had been approached on, the subject. No doubt it would be covered in the Town Planning Bill. ' . It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Cooke, that it bo a recommendation to tha Surveyor-general to simplify the method; of closing roads. _ A resolution approving of the institution of dayligh*. saving in New Zealand waa unanimously adopted on the motion of Mr ; Cooke.

On iJic motion of Mr Wilkinson, it was resolved that the council be recommended fittingly to recognise the services to> the institute and the profession generally rendered by Mr Thomas Ward, of Wellington. The following motion was carried af the instance of Mr Littlejohn:—“That it be an instruction to the council to take all possiblo stops to secure the passing of a Street Alignment Act whereby street boundaries established by standard survey shall become legal street lines.” ‘ The visitors were entertained at dinner last evening, and to-day visited Nelson College. To-morrow they will be taken for a drive to Cable Bay, and the Cawthron lastituto will also be visited.