RIVER BOARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14590, 27 April 1918, Page 6

RIVER BOARD.

A meeting of the P.B. River Board was held this afternoon, there being present : Messrs. A. J. Cameron, W. Tucker, C. A. Fenwick, Mackay, and Smith.

Mr. H. Bright, representing the Wi Pere Trust Estate, waited upon the Board, Mr. Jackson also being present. Mr. Bright referred to the erosion taking place at Pukepapa, atid asked that a sub-committee be appointed to confer with tiho trustees on the ground as to the best steps to be taken. There was also a similar question elsewhere. Whilst protecting . other property, the trustees would be prepared to undertake the whole of the expense. Fully 50 • acres of Pukepapa had been washed away already as well as a portion of the public road. — The chairman remarked that he had been south recently and would be submitting a report to the Board. There M r as a possibility of Mr Laing Meason' visiting the district again. The Board would discuss the whole question fully this afternoon, and this matter could be considered at the same time. — Mr. Bright urged that it was a matter that required immediate attention.— Mr. Fenwick suggested that the Board should inspect the locality and other parts of the river to make themselves acquainted with the conditions.— The chairman said that was one of the matters that would bo discussed. — Mr. Bright said the trustees desired to protect the property, and m doing so thought it only right they should approach the Board and carry out the scheme m accordance with the engineer's advice.

The chairman reported the result of his recent visit to Hawke's Bay, having interviewed Mr. Nelson, Mr. Marsh, and the secretary of the H.B. River Board. The latter had explained the^ position respecting the payment by outside areas, the matter having been referred to Parliament and followed up by the subsequent Commission. , It was found that they were unable to enforce payment and the River Boards' Act was shelved by the necessity for further legislation. The- matter rested till 1917, when they had a big flood again, and a conference of different local bodies wag held to see what could be done. Various resolutions were arrived at. Nothing, however, was done.. A further flood took place and the local bodies moved again, and representations were made to Wellington, as the outcome of which . the recent Commission tinder the presidency of Sir Robert Stout was set up. The speaker referred at length to the find- ! ing of the Oo^nmission. The Commission was 6f opinion that the Government should "approve of the scheme and the amount to be borrowed, and the idea was to tdke it out of the hands of the ratepayers. JTe had seen the Hons. MacDonald and Russell at Wellington, but they ha 4 expressed the opinion that it* would be very difficult to take the matter out of the hands of the ratepayers. The whole thing hung on the ratepayers supporting the loan. The position of the Hawke's Bay Act at-nresent was that it was quite useless.— Members called attention,- to the section of the Act raised by theY secretary last meetings referring to the Government 'taking over such works.— The chairman said he had not discussed that matter because our trouble here was to obtain the loan. Their idea of the Ministers was they should promote a Bill and introduce it next session. Proceeding, Mr. Cameron said he had discussed matters with"' Mr. Nelson, who favored the; proposed "cut." He (the chairman) had referred this to Mr. Laing Meason, • who f-fiid he . did not think | there would be the dancer l»e (the chairman) had suggested. Before giving his opinion and advising the Board definitely he would, however, like to see the locality again. The. chairman said that whilst it was urgent to^ relieve Wae-reriga-a-hika and Makauri t^py had to consider the effect it have, upon the land lower down. He suggested that they should request the engineer to visit the locality again, it having been several years since he had; been here. The chairman said he had reeeivd considerable assistance from the Hons. Mac^ Donald and Russell and Sir Jas. Garroll, whilst the secretary of the H.B. River . Board had also made him conversant with the position down, there. Mr. Nelspn, with whom he also discussed the matter, did not consider there would be any great danger, although pome banking might be necessary. — Mr. Tucker said he would oppose any scheme which did not embody the two cuts, m the one lower down by Mr. J. Clark's. — The chairman said that was what Mr. Meason desired to consider.— 7 Mr. Tucker moved that they invite Mr. Laing M^ason to report -upon a modification of his original . scheme.— Mr. Smith suggested that Mr. Thompson, the Government engineer, should, be included if "they requited Government assistance. — Mr. Fenwick pointed out ■ the Board should first consider the question of funds before- they brought any engineers here. They would have to strike a rate and get some # money in.— The chairman said the v'sit of the «n---erineers would only cost JG3O to £40, and they might get a modified scheme going. Some discussion ensued' respecting the classification of the district, Mr. Fenwick urging the Board should get an independent man to unrjertake it.-r-The secretary produced Mr. Thompson's map showing the <irea affected by the flood, which -ho suggested- settled, ihe main classification.

An informal and exhaustive discussion ensued.

The chairman suggested that the report of Mr J. B*. Thompson, Government Drainage Engineer, ' should be printed. I—-This1 — -This was agreed to.— -The chairman recommended they should - obtain the services of an engineer and 1 m ,the meantime go into the question of extending the boundaries and re-classify-ing the area. — Mr Tucker moVed that the Board should, endeavor to obtain the services of Mr Thompson for a modified scheme, or failing him, Mr Laing Meason. — The ( chairman suggested they should not limit the engineer, but give him a free hand as to the urgent requirements. They should tell him that the putting into operation of the whole scheme -was impracticable at present, as the Board obuld not bring m all the rating area they desired, and. also the post of material, but the Board was being urfifpd to go on with/ a. scheme to cope with urgent present needs.— This was carried. ; •: