WATER-SUPPLY BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6727, 23 February 1900, Page 1

WATER-SUPPLY BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the WaimakanriAshley Water-Supply Board was held on Feb. 16 ; present— Messra O'Haflo-ran (chairman), Horrell and Dalley. . A letter was received from Mr Bishop, S.M., regarding visiting the main race ahd head works. It was decided to postpone the visit till the middle of March, to suit his convenience. The Engineer was instructed to report as to returning water to Carleton Boad raoe without entering Mr O'HaHoram's land ; arid if it is found advisable to enter his land to suggest a fair water charge under the circumstances. The Board resolved that in future •the upper head race should be> considered a main race through. Cooper's .and Tboinpsons's as far as the first branch race on the German Road, and that the existing by-law as to clearing races should not be enforced on this length — Messrs Cooper and Thompson to be advised accordingly, as they both had objected to this? length being considered a main race. Mr HorrelPs application for leave to make an alteration to race at his homestead was agreed to, subject to the Engineer's inspection and approval. The Engirieer was in-structed.-at the same time to take levels for the construction of a loop-race from M'Lauchlan's. The Engineer having reported as to the difficulty of supplying Mr Wood's seotion at the Cust, the Board decidad to remit all rates provided he gives written assurances that he will not use the water-race water on the road adjacent to his seotion, in accordance with the Water Supply Act. It was agreed that Mr Horrell and Mr Dalziel interview Mr Buss and come to a final settlement with him as to the question -in dispute between him and the Board ; also as to his unpaid rates. In reply to a letter from the Hon J. T. Peacock, it was decided that the Engineer should make a special inspection of his races, and, if in good order and the amount cliumed a reasonable one, that the sum be paid. Consideration of the latter portion of his letter to be postponed pending Mr Dixon's presence on the Board. It was decided to reply to Mr Pappnll, solicitor for Mr John Davis, that the Board cannot see their way to remit his rates, and request that they may be paid at once in order to avoid legal proceedings, as Mr Davis's iand on both sides of the river Eyre has been supplied, with every prospect of the .firpply being permanent. It was decided to reply to a letter from Mr Percy Johnson that, before commencing to extend the races in his country, the Board have been simply waiting for harvest operations to be easfcn off, and tha.t next Board day plans and specifications will be laid on the table, with the view of letting probaoly 35£ miles of races at tha following meeting. It was decided to write and inform Mr Foster that a raoe has been laid out which will supply tha hortht-west portion of his reserve at Starvation Hill, running on his property for about twenty-eight chains, also that the plans have been made,but, before letting a contract, the Board would like to know whether he will be willing to pay fivepence an acre on the reserve for his total water charges, if thie race is made. . The .Chairman and Mr Horrell reported that, after visiting Mrs * Gardiner's, Cust, with the Engineer, on Feb. 3, they had come to a final agreeihent with, her — that, in consideration of the altitude of five of her paddocks, containing seventy aores, on which no water-race could be brought, and of all other circumstances, including tho severance of her property on the Terrace by tha race, the Board would charge her half only of all the ordinary rates and charges on her one hundred-acre farmland would allow her the use of water foi* her stock from the said five back paddocks, if she requires it. The meeting then terminated.