A meeting of the Hoard of "Works wns hold at the Council Chamber, Tinnmi, on Thursday last. There were present the Chairman (Mr Luxmoorc), Messry Perry, Perring, Msudonald, Kimbell, and the Secretary. The minutes of the previous meeting were coniiruied. TIMAUU WATKB-HACE. The Chairman said that at the Inst meet ing a resolution was passed authorising the Board to call for lenders for the survey and marking out of the proposed water-race from Pareora to Timaru, but the Board not haying an engineer m its employ, had applied to the Provincial Government for proper specifications, which had just been received, lie had asked Mr Hewlings to look at the specifications, and Mr Hewlings had sent m a letter making one or two suggestions. He then read the letter from the Provincial Engineer, and also the following letter from Mr Uewliugs : — Timaru, February 3, 18C9. My dear Sir, — The perusal of the specifi cation for the survey of the water-nice from Pan-orn to Timaru, as furni.--hed to you by the Provincial Engineer of Canterbury, and dated 18th January proximo, leaves me the impression that he lias not attached sutlicient importance to the primary object of the undertaking ; that is, the course of the race. This is tlio only portion of the -work really requiring engineering skill. It should be borne m mind that the reserve once adopted will be permanently established ; that doubt less the whole of the frontage on this reserve, with the exception of the precipitous sides of Mount Horrible, will be quickly purchased, and thus prevent any deviation, excepting by heavy payments for compensation for en croachment on freehold land, whenever the formation of the race may be undertaken. It will also have to be determined whether it is most expedient to bring water the whole distance from the Pareora m an open race, or m some instances to carry the water across the valleys, at the general level, by fluming. Also, attention should be pr.id to the stratification, so that a gradient may be adopted to prevent undue absorption or damage to the floor of the race by scour. 