RIVERBED OBSTRUCTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 7569, 23 May 1914, Page 2

RIVERBED OBSTRUCTIONS.

AMKXR.IiKNT TO* 'DRAIN'AtIJO ACT. RAT I,PAYERS’ d.IARIUT V. At tiiy meeting oi the Upper: Urari ui>. or Roar'd, held .yesterday in. the otiice.i cl the Tuwudui Road Hoard, tiiy foil.twin;/ opinion was received from iir E. ■). Roleston, the Boards solicitor, iv hi I ire 10 riverbed obstrucliojis : "< re,>;tvi: that I sliaU be unable to .'Ulead tin; me. Ring of the Hoard this aft. moon. 1 understand the business is I o be in connection with the orders Unit, were made by the Rout'd last year for I'm removal of growths, etc. Ironi riverbeds. Von will remember that at the lime the orders wereon ad? 1 advised the Rout'd that there was a Snjirc.ne C'udrt do ision to Liu; effect (lia;‘ the obstructions, which the Hoard n.leuvu to, had been held to bo weeds, R'.iwih and refuse, and would ml inKmc trues ami obs.-r,idioms of that bind. “i’l'O bably in co;ise:'|Uenee of this Supreme Court decision, the Land

l.r.nua.g-0 Act, uncL-r -which y-pii l Board made (lie orders, was amended last year, and section 7 of “The Land Dm mage Amendment Act, I 1 .)Id” gives a nt\y fielinition lo the word “obslrucliou” as follows : •‘'UbslruclioiH includes earth, stone, limber, and material of all kinds, and tree:--, plant;, weeds and growths of all kinds.” “if the Board is contemplating taking action against • the ratepayers who have not’ obeyed the order made last year, I think it would he far better that before any action is taken a new order should bo made under the now s. ction of last year’s Act. This would then take away a possible dofence which any ratepayer might have

in regard to the removal of obstructions of tlie major kind. ‘•'.lf the- Hoard decided on making a hc'.v order under last year’s Act, it will he necessary to comply with the procedure that was followed when the previous order was made, and it could bo necessary to notify the various ratepayers of the intention of the Hoard to make the order.” dir [•'row remarked that the advice sunned good. JVI i- Mc.lve,r.:i|> said Unit illr ’Holiestons opinion scorned to indicate a chance of attitude on his part. tV'hat was (ho chairman’s opinion. Thu chairman was not inclined to discuss -Mr llollostons opinion. Ha thought they should defer consideration until they had a 1 personal chat with .Mr Hollcstou on the 26th. The chairman said he had asked Air Uu]lesion (o ho present at this meeting, but lie was unable to do so. The cl Tie said Mr I 1011-cs Lou could meet the Hoard at 2 p.m. on the :16th. Mr Mason urged Mr .Aapinnll to live thorn am opinion as chairman, apart from liis legal mind. Mr Aspin-ill did not accept the in- i vit al ion, and after a brief d -sens.-mra, ! the 'Hoard deferred con.sidiT.it ion of • t!io whole subnet until 2 pan. onTuesday, ilia 2 ,L!i instant, when. Mr j I’oll stun could bo present. 1