BOARD OF CONSERVATORS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3896, 12 October 1880, Page 3

BOARD OF CONSERVATORS

An ordinary meeting of the Board of Conservators of the South Waimakariri district was held in their office, Hereford street, at noon to-day ; present — Messra Harman (chairman), Tosswill, O'Callaghan, and fche Mayor of Christchurch.

The Chairman stated thafc he had seen a letter from Mr Marshman fco the Government concerning tho division of the district into nine sub-diatricta as required by the Act jusfc passed. Five of these districts wero already defined, and the division of the remaining four was the subject of tho letter. Ho might cay thafc as the letter was nofc officially communicated to him, but was senfc to tho Government, he did nofc consider himsalf afc liberty to give particulars of it, but ho could assure them that the division of the assessment waa very equitable between the four sections. One advantage of the proposed division was that the boundaries of tho subdistricts would be mostly co-terminous with those of the existing Boad districts. He himself wai perfectly satisfied that the arrangement was a good one. Ho had received the Crown grantß for about 13,6000 acres. Tho grant for ono small block had been omitted, but evidently by itcndent. The contract for the new embankment had been satisfactorily completed. In accordance with authority granted on May 20, ho had issued a debenture for the sum of £1000, and wished to know whether it was tho wish of the Board that tho remaining debenture for a similar amount should be issued afc once. The debtor balance afc the Bank was £551, but the Board wag. entitled to a subsidy of £654, being 7s 6d in the £ on £1744, amount of general rates collected up to March 31. By issuing the debenture, they would be enabled to put tho in-coming Board in funds.

In anawer to Mr Tosswill, the Chairman said ho had no doubt but thafc tho new Board wonld be elected immediately.

Mr Tosswill pointed out thafc they had to {irovide for paymenb of interest on their oan, which with other expenses would bring them about £ICQO in dobt by the time they resigned. He thought they had better iaauo the debentures, so as to start the now Board in funds.

The Chairman said fchafc the rates yet unpaid would no doubt reduce the deficiency materially.

Some further discussion ensued, from which it appeared that arrangements had been made to obtain the monoy from Mr Stevens At a time when fche prico of money was much higher than at preaent, and that tho Board -were in honour bound to carry oufc fche original agreement, even though the price had since fallen, and it was finally decided to issuo the debenture oa tho torms previously agreed upon. The Chairman read a lctler from Mr J. L. "Wilson, Chairman of tho Avon Boad Board, etating that Beveral ownei b of proporty were anxious for the safety of their land, owing to a groin in the Waimakariri, near Stewart's gully. He (Mr Harman) had proceeded to the spot, and found that the work referred to waß a willow groin on the north side of the river below White's bridge, and apparently intended to forco the vufer down Stewart's gully. Ho had ascertained the namo of the man constructing the groin, but could not say by whoso authority he was acting. He was not sure whether the. work was completed or not. He would like instruotions from the Boar.l as to tho action to be taken. He himself thought thafc the proper course would bo to get an opinion from some engineer of good standing on the subject of the probable effect s of the groin, ob an unprofessional opinion like his own would bo of no valuo in case of legal proceedings.

Mr Tosawill remarked that as tho groin was on the north sido of tho river, ifc was oufc of the Board's jurisdiction. Tho Chairman thought fchafc nevertheless it would bo well to get a professional engineering opinion as to tho groin, and would suggest that they apply to Mr Napier Bell, as they required a first-rate opinion. Mr Tosswill concurred. Though they were guardians of the aouth sido of tho river only, jefc if any worka wero eroded on tho other aide which tended to damago the lands on their side, thoy ought to tuko action in the matter.

In reply to Mr O'Callaghan, tho Chairman etatod that there wero no works of their own higher up the river which would tend to force the water on to tho land on either side.

After a discussion n? to tho probable cosfc of obtaining a professional opinion, tho Chairman was authorised to mako arrangements with Mr Napier Bell. Tho overseer applied for fifty casks of cement for concrete to repair Protective Work No. 5, ur.d reported that Philpott'a embankment was finished satisfactorily.

Tho Board authorised tho overseer to procure the cenir3nt required.

A letter wus read from Mr A. Duncan, resigning his seat on the Board on account of ill-health.

It was resolved, on the motion of the Mayor of Christchurch. eojended by Mr Tosswill—" That tho Board regrets tho causo of Mr Dunean's resignation, and sincerely hopes that he will shortly be roslored to his usual health."

After passing somo accounts the meeting .adjourned..