IRRIGATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1539, 31 July 1886, Page 3

IRRIGATION.

A meeting was held yesterday in-the Crown Hbtel, Terauka, to consider the question of irrigation for the Rangitata District. Mr Badham occupied the chair, and read the following report of the subcommittee appointed to carry out the project ‘‘ Gentlemen, —The reason we have asked you to meet ua ia because we have not ■ucceeded in obtaining what we were elected for, and we wish to stale what we believe are tbe reasons for our failure, and also to tender our resignation, bo that this meeting can tome to come decision as to what ought to be done for the future, and, if it thinks fit, elect a fresh Committee to carry out i r s wishes. In tbe first place we may say that we have fulfilled our duties, did everything that was required, and tbe district was proclaimed by the County Council, but, to our astonishment, a short time afterwards, tbe Council did what they had no legal right to do.—they unproclaimed the district, thus attempting to throw on a few of as tbe burden of going all over tbe work again. The reason of the Council unproclaiming the district is, we believe, because they found they bad omitted to leave plans, boundaries, etc., of the district at Mount Peel Road Board, Office. It is now over three years since a petition was first signed by the inhabitants of tbe Rangitata diglrict, praying the Council io proceed with these water-races, and since we were elected a fresh petition has been sent |n, and now the Council want another. This, '■'together with some of the remarks that fell from the Chairman of the County Council at a public meeting, will show yeu that through having no Councillors personally interested in this scheme it is a very up-hill work. If we just cross the Rangitata River, where the Pouncjlloys are interested, we see water-races in all directions, and yet the landowners north pf the.Eangitata bad these waterirsoes made without their lands being specially rated, while south of the Rangitata,. where we are willing to be specially rated, we cannot get it done. In concluding,.we do not know what to advise this meeting to do, but we believe until we get a Rill passed In the House enabling ns to raise the money, and carry out the work ourselves, we shall aever

get satisfaction ai long as it is in the hands of the County Council and managed at Timaru. “ Andbrw Grant. “ F. W. Badham. “ Datid SHayr.” Mr Talbot said it was wrong to say the district had been nn proclaimed. It was not, but the boundaries needed altering. Land had h en included ahich ought wot to have been included. Messrs Tbew and Dennistoun had been included and they objected, and the Council found that unless the district was altered they could not go on. Mr Grant said both Mr Danniatouo and Mr Thew had giyen in. Mr Talbot said the Council never knew of it. It was said that it was three years since the matter was first taken in hand hut he did not think it was so long. The Levels was no further ahead than Rangittia yet. They had got a new Bill to work, but it was found that no power was *i»en under it to make by-laws, and it was hoped this would be remedied this •ession. They could borrow money from the Government Insurance Company at per cent, snd 2 per cent sinking fund, ... iking in all 8J per cent. Under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill, winch had just passed the Lower Hoaso, 4ii d which was declared a Money Bill by rhe Upper House, they would be able to borrow from Government at 3 per cent and 2 per cent sinking fund. It was probable, therefore, that nolhing had been lost by delays. The Council were only anxious to push the matter ahead. A special Bill had been prepared by the Council to give power to deal with irrigation, but the Government introduced another Bill instead and it was found unworkable.

Mr Badham said Mr Talbot had stated ibat he did not wantßangitata done until •he Levels had been irrigated. Mr Talbot said that was not what he meant. Certain mistakes had been made in connection with the Levels district, and he did not think it advisable to take in band another district until he aaw that properly put through. He wished to avoid making more mistakes. Mr Grant: Could not the two places he done at once ? Mr Bsdham said it was now three years since they started the scheme, and according to the way they wore going on they wonld be grey-headed before they could get the water. He saw on the other side of the river, in tha Ashburton County, how landowners there got water without any special rating, and here, where they were willing to pay a special rate, they could not get it. Mr Talbot had no hesitation in saying the Road Board ought to contribute to the Waitohi Water-supply, but he would not extend the same privilege to tha Rangitata. Mr Talbot said the Council were ’eady to do anything they could legally do. If the Rangitsta peopl' would work under the advice of a solicitor the Council would do anything pointed out to be legally correct.

Mr Badham; We have done that, and he thinks we are right and the Council wrong. Mr Talbot said Mr Aspinall took up a position which the Council would not. The Council would not force Mr Thew into the district, for it would be unfair. Mr Thew was giving ihe land for nothing, the water would be of no earthly use to him, and it would be unfair to include him in the district. Mr Badham said that Mr Thew must be in the district, a* on some future occasion he might sell, and bis succesor might refuse to let the water run through his land. It became necessary, as it was from h'S land they got the water. His rate could be remitted.

Mr Talbot said there was no power to remit rates, and if he wereio the district Mr Thew would have to pay. It was not necessary to have his land included in the district, as the water-race could be transferred to the County Council and then no one would have power to stop the water-race. Mr Thew was acting most generously in giving the land for nothing. The people must persevere. They must g«t up another petition. Mr Badham said they had bean advised that that was not necessary ; the Council could niter the boundary. Mr Talbot read clause 35 of the Act, and pointed out that what could be done under it must be sabject to the previous clause, which meant that the petition would have to be signed again. Mr Shaw said Government gave aasist» aiice to goldfields: why should they not got assistance the same way t Mr Talbot aaid there was do chance of getting money that w ay. The only way was to borrow it under the new Bill. The new Hill supplied the place of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, but it was more favorable. The Council was paying 9 per cent for money under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, whereas under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill they would get it at 5 per cent. Mr Badham said that Mr Talbit had aaid something about a lawyer, but when they got one’s adfice he said he was prejudiced. Mr Talbot said no. Mr Aspinall took the view of it that the lands of Messrs Thew and Dsnnistoun could be included in the area, and so they could, but the Council thought in equity this wruld not be fair. In the course of some further conversation Mr Talbot said that as soon as the new Lnaos Bills passed he would call a special meeting of the Council, and make every effort to push these matters ahead. Ultimately, after a long discussion, Mr Shaw ipoved—“ That the Committee keep in existence, and that Measrs Badham and Shaw re-adjust the boundary, and obtain signatures to a petition praying that the district be reconstituted in accordance with the altered boundary.” The (potion was seconded br Mr J. M. Naughton and enriied unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.