PUBLIC MEETING AT MAKARAKA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1198, 16 December 1880, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT MAKARAKA.

: Tse meeting called: by Mr. J. B. Poyntev to consider :tiie best means to prevent the flooding.of the QaXa from, an overflow. ol the Waipaoa Riyer,' took place last night. " There were not as many settlers present as we should have liked ; tp have s : eei],./bub."..Vthi? : ' ; .w'aß;'-iio; doubt due to the wet evening, JandJ the , coitnter attraction of the Horticultural' Show in Gisborne; .. : : 'J "''■'- '■ ■"■ -"- ' Major Westrupp having been -called to the chair, Mr. Ppynter briefly stated the bbjecb; of the meeting, and laid before it some plans .and a report very carefully prepared by Mr. R. J. Reynolds. A letter was read ]py the chairman'from Mr. W. L. Rees, apologising, for inability {to attend, but. suggesting the formation of a Committee and offering every assistance. ■ . . Mr^ W. 0. Wjilsh regretted that there was no attendance of the townspeople, who, equally with the country settlers were .'interested :in presenting the flooding of4he country^ and destruction to crops and property. There was ; some discussion as to Avhether the plan proposed could be carried out, without a special Act of the House,, which of course \yould cause a consi<derable : loss of time. The. number of acres liable to" flooding was-rou»hly estimated at about 4000. '■ "\ Mr. -/Reynolds informed the .;meetihg that the scheme, as laid-down in his plans, would, he_ thought, meet the desired oMect. i This was a river bank i extending' from Mr. Davis 1 property to Waerenga-a-hika. The bank to be four feet wide at the top,' and perfectly level throughout; making the greatest height j 6 feet.' He esfcimated I;he cost of this as follows :— ... <•

Mr. Reynolds alao stated that in his opinion there wonld be . no deposits of water formed by this bank, or at .any rate; if any, Vthey^puld ! be iii l -such a. positidn : as to be easily drained^ back irito the.riyer. " . . . ; .^'f . ■""'."' Mr." W. o.' Walsh,' propbsed that a Committee . be appointed : to ascertain the best plan to adopt to carry out the object- of j;he; nieeting, and to consider ways artd means. The Committee he would propose; .were .Major /Westrupp,. Messrs. Hardy, Poynter, Cameron King, Espie, M'Farlane, and Wv L. Rees, with power to add to their number. ;The\ proposition; was : seconded ,by Mr. "jj Wall^ahd'" carriiad unanimously.' •■■ v" , A vote of tlianVs- was accorded to Mr. J R. J. Reynolds for the great care and { time he had giyen;to;th.e preparation of i tlie plans 'and' report, - r; : ; ■■'- -j The usual vote, of thanks to the Chairman then terminated the meeting.

19.800 cubic yards, of earth ..at6d :.. : . ..,.\ .".... , \-r £495 0 0 Grass seed Yand solving db: .. 15 0 0 Contingenciea... ' .;.: ... 51 0 0 -':■•! -• - :•;'^.\ '-" --, ' ■ , • . £561 0 0 Engineer's charges, 10 per : - ■/-. • cent. 56 0; 0 :: i , £617 0 0