CAPTAIN MORRIS AND THE NATIVE DEPARTMENT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 199, 1 August 1874, Page 3

CAPTAIN MORRIS AND THE NATIVE DEPARTMENT.

TO THE EDITOK. SiK, —I notice in the report of my address to the electorson Saturdaylast I am made to denounce the Native Department as a bar to progress and settlement. The fact of the matter is, that the head of the department has been our staunch friend in the way of settlement. In some respects a little " go " would no doubt be creditable to the department, and beneacial to the district. Can you oblige me by inserting this correction of an otherwise excellent report of the proceedings ? I am, etc., G. B. Mo&Bia. Tauranga, July 31.

tauranga to win board. A meeting of the Town Board was held at Mr Norris’s store on Thursday morning last. Present: Messrs Bodell (chairman). Firth Wrigley, Cc nway, and Norris. BOUTINS. The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed, and the outward correspondence passed in due course. Ob the motion of Mr Norris the secretary was instructed to take over from Me Henshaw, the late secretary, all papers, books &0., belonging to the Board, The appointment of Mr Bradley as secretary was confirmed, two sureties to be obtained in usual course. ENGINEER. Mr R. C. Jordan, by Mr Norris, offered his services as engineer to the Board gratuitously for the ensuing year, Mr Firth Wrigley proposed, and Mr Norris seconded, that Mr Jordan’s kind offer be accepted with thanks. LEVELS OF THE TOWN. Mr Firth Wrigley gave notice of bringing forward this matter before the first full meeting of the Board. LIABILITIES. Replying to Mr Firtli Wrigley, the financial position of the Board was approximated as follows :—Liabilities, £4B ; assets, £33. Deficit, £l2. TAURANGA WHARF. The following letter was read :—Public Works Office, Auckland, 25th July, 1874 —Sir, —l have the honour to call your attention to the present state of the wharf at Tauranga, and to point out the necessity of your Board taking immediate steps to have the piles and braces scraped and tarred, to prevent the decay of the structure. 'lhe Wools of the timber formerly tarred and painted should receive at least a fresh coat (taking care not to remove the bark from the piles). The wharf having been banded over to your Board under certain conditions, and the revenue derived from it expended by the Board, I am induced to make the above known to you in the hope that you will at once attend to the matter, and keep the wharf in repair, failing which it will be roy duty to report the matter to bis Honor the Superintendent, and it will be for him to decide whether he shall resume possession of the wharf or not on behalf of the province.—l have, &c., H. Allright, District Engineer.—The Chairman of the Tauranga North Township District Board, Tauranga.” The Chairman thought immediate action should be taken in the matter. Mr Norris said there were no funds. The Chairman : Then funds must bo obtained. Mr Firth Wrigley thought this matter should not be delayed, or the slightest risk incurred of having the wharf taken out of the hands of the Board. No doubt an overdraft could be obtained to meet the expense. He would propose that the engineer be requested to draw out specifications, and the work be advertised for by tender without delay. Mr Conway seconded the motion, which was carried unanimouslyIt was agreed that the Chairman and Treasurer should wait upon the manager of the Bank of New Zealand to arrange an overdraft for current requirements : SURPLUS EARTH. The Chairman read the following letter from the District Engineer; “Public Works Office, Tauranga, 28th July, 1874,—dir, —In reply to your favour of the 25th instant, requesting that, should there be any surplus earth from the excavation surrounding the Government Building, that the ■ oad Board bo allowed the use of the material for improving certain streets in the township, I have the honour to inform you that the overplus will be at the disposal of the Road Board, provided the distance for hauling does not exceed that stated in the specification. Should the Board require the material delivered beyond said limit, I have no objections to its arranging with the contractor for such extra work. —I have. &0., A. O. Turner, District Engineer.—J. Bodell, Esq, Chairman Tauranga North Highway Board, Tauranga.” THE WHARF GOODS SHED. The following letter was laid before the Board , —“Superintendent’s Office, Auckland, 7th July. 1874.—Sir, —I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letters dated the 29th April and the June, calling the attention of the Provincial Government to the fact that the goods shed erected at the end of the Tauranga wharf has been employed for purposes other than those for which the permission to grant it was given, and the legitimate use of the shed is thereby obstructed and prevented. Tbs Provincial Government recognise the right and competency of the Board to insist on the shed in question being utilised lor its legitimate purposes, or else to cause its removal ; and your Board is fully empowered to give a month’s notice to the occupants of the shed, and then, if necessary, remove it, I would, therefore, recommend your Board to proceed in this manner,— I have, &0., P. Dignan, for the Superintendent.—The Chairman of the Tauranga North Township District Board, Tauranga.”

After some discussion the Secretary was authorised to write to Captain Sellars giving him 14 days notice to comply with the conditions under which he held the goods shed, and further informing him that unless these conditions are complied with ha would receive the month’s notice referred to in his Honor’s letter. UJaP OH WHARF. The Chairman drew attention to the fact that the wharf lamps had not been lighted for a uonai* derable time. The Secretary was instructed to write to the lessee calling upon him to light the lamp regularly in conditions with the terms of his agreement for renting wharf. The Chairman said that the lessee was to all intents and purposes wharfinger also, and he must be compelled to keep the wharf clear of lumber for the future. IMMIGRANTS. Tbe Chairman thought it would be advisable to take steps to obtain some of the immigrants now in Auckland. Labour was exceedingly scarce— indeed scarcely a man could be obtained for a day’s work. He would suggest that the

Superintendent be communicat .1 w t requen*ing him to send to Tauranga sav twevtv imnii gr nts to be rationed here instead of at Auckland He merely brought the matter forward in order that iho members of the B »ard might consider over the subject, and he would bring it forward again upon an early opportunity. RATES. The Secretary was instructed to collect al rates due to the Board. MS HOPKINS CLA.RKK’B BATES Mr Norris alluded to the non-payment of Mr Hopkin’s Clarke’s rates. He should like to obtain the opinion of the Colonial Secretary upon Ihe matter. Mr Hopkins Clarke was morally, if not legally, liable for the rates. It was probable after the late decision in the Resident Magistrate'Court that Major Roberts would decline to ptj his rates. The old Board had passed a resoiu tron requesting the Secretary to write to the Colonial Secretary on the subject, but he (Mr Norris) now found that the letter had not been to warded. Mr Firth Wrigley thought it was useless taking furt her action in the matter. The Board could only appeal, and that course would not be advisable. The matter then dropped. ASSESSMENT BOLL. Mr Norris hoped no time would bo lost in preparing the new Assessment Roll. The Board then adjourned.