RATE STRUCK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23215, 31 May 1945, Page 4

RATE STRUCK

Catchment Board Estimates Adopted

On the motion of the chairman (Dr. P. R. Woodhouse), the South Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday struck a rate of one twentyfifth of a penny in the £ on the capital value of £28,610,456 of the property within its boundaries for the financial year ending March 31. 1946.

A decision to establish the Board’s headquarters in Timaru was carried on the casting- vote of the chairman.

Estimates for the year ending March 31, 1946, which were approved, showed that £4768 would be required as follows:—Head office, clerk (last year) £3OO, and typist (last year) £l5O, rent and accommodation £250, office equipment and furniture £3OO, total £1000; collection of information and maps £lOO, photographs £lOO, and hydrological data £2OO, total £400; research £2OO, conservation staff salary (last year) £450, travelling £l5O, equipment £lOO, total £700; engineering staff, engineer £6OO, assistant engineer £3OO, draughtsman (last year) £250. travelling- £3OO, car £5OO, and sundry £3OO, total £2250; chairman's and members’ expenses: chairman’s honorarium £l5O, members’ travelling expenses £2OO, total £350; sundry: cost of collecting rates £2OO, outstanding rates £2OO, sundry expenditure £l6B. total £568; credit at April 1, 1945, £7OO, a grand total of £4768. The amounts to be contributed by the various local bodies are as follows: Counties: Ashburton (part of) £1450, Geraldine £505, Levels £479, Mackenzie (part of) £2BO, Waimate (part of) £619. Boroughs: Ashburton £324, Geraldine £32, Temuka £62, Timaru £893, Waimate £B2. Town Boards: Pleasant Point £l6, Tinwald £22. Flood Ramage Problems The Soil Conservation Council advised that a subsidy' of £lBO (£2 for £1) had been approved for protective works in the Opihi River at Mr A. C. Shaw’s frontage at Kerrytown. The chairman said that Messrs Shaw, V. W. Wilson and W. M. G. Davidson had each contributed £3O as their share of the cost of the work. Mr R. Mclntyre, Public Works Engineer, Temuka, advised that the machinery would be available to commence the job as soon as.the Pleasant Point saleyards bridge work was completed. Messrs Perry, Hudson and Gresson wrote that they had received instructions from Mr G. E. Jones, of Ashwick Flat, to write regarding damage to his property in February last by flood, and to point out the danger to the whole of his locality as the result of the flood. The Opuha River broke its banks in two places north of the homestead and followed, in one instance, a course across the farm in front of the homestead, and, in the other, washed out the lower end of the farm. The area of land washed away was approximately 35 acres, with very considerable damage to fences. The g-ravest danger was what might happen in the future, not only to Mr Jones’ property, but to the whole settlement. The floods which occurred on May 19 almost broke the banks again in one dangerous spot, endangering a large part of the district. As the Lands Department -would not move in the matter, it was urgent that something should be done without delay in other directions in order to prevent further damage to the locality and, accordingly, they requested the Board to investigate the position at the earliest moment.

On the motion of Mi- D. Jeune, it was agreed that the engineer, on his appointment, investigate the matter and that it be given priority.

The Geraldine County Clerk (Mr A. A. Readdie) forwarded a copy of a letter from Mr W. Cole, Woodbury, whose property was damaged by the flooding of the Waihi River in February. Mr Cole was prepared to contribute toward the cost of repairs. The property was outside the River District rating- area and the damage done did not affect county property. In his letter Mr Cole said that the flood four years ago had cost him more than £l5O and the recent flood had caused far more damage. The County Engineer (Mr J. R. A. Hawcridge) reported that the estimated cost of repairs would be £llO. On the motion of Mr H. G. Kemp, it was decided that application be made to the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council for a subsidy, Mr Cole to be then asked if lie would be willing to contribute the balance of cost of the work. Question of Research Replying to the Board's letter dealr tag with the question of research, Mr W. N. Newnham, chairman of the Soil Conservation and River Control Council, wrote:—“The Council has Itself given particular attention to this matter and while very little actual work can be done at the present time due to shortage of trained personnel, yet, the Coucil has put forward a general plan to the forthcoming conference as to ways and means of carrying it out. These proposals 'generally agree with the proposals put forward in your letter, and, as such, would' be acceptable to the Council. It is considered that Catchment Broads should confine their research essentially to matters of local interest and should also advise the Central Council and obtain their on all research matters in oßier to avoid duplication. It would also be satisfactory, Indeed highly desirable, that your Board should communicate direct with the Scientific and Industrial Research Department in any matters which concern that Department and vonr Board and it is further considered that this course should be adopted with all other Departments affected.”

The chairman expressed satisfaction at the reply. Referring to a letter from the Mt. Hutt Flood Water and General Irrigation Problems Association, the Ashburton County Council advised that it had considered the matter and was endeavouring to arrange a conference with the Minister of Works (the Hon. R. Semple) to inspect the district and discuss the problems. The Association wrote thanking the Board f.or attention to its representations. Writing in regard to a letter from |Mr J. Chisholm, Ma Waro, the Mackenzie County Council advised that he had now been provided with the water he desired.