SOUTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23953, 31 October 1939, Page 13

SOUTH OTAGO

BALCLUTHA Clutha River Trust The monthly meeting of the Clutha River Trust yesterday was attended by Messsr J. G. Weir (acting chairman), A. A. Jensen, Peter Dlpple, J. F. Bell.. E. B. Lothian. W. H. S. Willocks. The chairman said that in Inspecting the protective bank at the back of Balclutha he had noticed that It was overgrown with grass and could be improved by grazing off with sheep. Cattle wduld be no good. The matter of disposing of the up-river sheds, five In number, was held over to another meeting to be held this month. The district employment officer, Dunedin, advised that the sum of £637 had been allotted to cover the employment of 14 registered and eligible men on a weekly subsidy basis of £3 10s per man.— Received. The town clerk, Balclutha, wrote on the subject of the willows on the Barnego side of the river, that the Bruce County Council refused to recognise any liability In the matter. Although the mat- 1 ® ter might be outside the trust’s jurisdiction. the willows constituted a danger to the land under the trust’s control, and It was hoped that the trust might be able to take some effective action in the matter.— The chairman said there was no doubt the willows constituted a menace in flood time to the land that the trust controlled The Bruce County Council was definitely responsible under the Act. It was through the neglect of the Bruce County Council that the present situation had arisen.—Mr Lothian said It would cost £IOO to make a proper clearance. —On the motion of Messrs Lothian and Jensen It was decided to again approach Bruce County Council, pointing out their liability under the Act and the need for Immediate action. The Receiver of Land Revenue advised the payment Into the trust’s account of £597 15s 3d on account of endowment rents. Financial . . The finance report showed receipts for the month at £1146 2s 4d and expenditure £BO3 7s 4d, the latter sum including £234 16s 3d for petrol and lorry repairs and £SO Otanomomo flood contribution. The report was adopted and accounts amounting to £454 9s Id passed for payment. It was stated that an offer had been received from a local company for the .purchase of the two goods service lorries, and after discussion in committee It was decided to postpone a decision In the meantime. New Cut Blocked The chairman said the new cut at Port Molyneux was blocked up and It was a pity the Public Works Department had not completed the JoL and extended it to the Molyneux.—Other members agreed and said that If left they might have the same flood conditions next year.—lt was decided to approach the Minister of Public Works on the subject; also to thank him for the work his department had done in the late emergency.—lt was also decided to thank Mr J. Roy. M.P Site for Depot it was decided that the Finance Committee Inquire as to the site for the two sheds It was proposed to re-erect after their removal from up-river sites. The committee was given power to act. Waitepeka Canal The district engineer of railways, Invercargill, wrote In regard to the Waitepeka canal that he regretted he could not recommend to the chief engineer that permission be granted to raise the eastern embankment or spillway. He was, however, arranging for the assistant engineer to discuss the matter with the trust. —Received Engineer’s Report The engineer, In his report, said that the main Balclutha protective embankment required raising, and suggested enclosing with a sheep-proof fence In order to get rid of the surplus growths by sheep grazing. The report, which also covered the work done during the month, was adopted, also a report from Mr J. R. Copland on the damage done at Paretal by the recent flood, which he estimated at £II,BOO.