BOARD OF WARDENS CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 702, 1 October 1875, Page 3

BOARD OF WARDENS CLYDE.

—o — A meeting of the above body was held in the Council Chambers, Clyde, on Tuesday evening last. Prerent; B. Naylor, Esq., (Chairman) and Messrs Welsford, Bock, G. Faohe, Joss, and A. Moore. ■ This being the first meeting of the present Board, its duties were explained, and the Bye Laws were read. The first clause—- “ The Board may set aside any portion of the Commonage for the grazing of sheep," being particularly pointed out. The Clerk now read the following applications. 1. From Messrs Attfield and Welsford, to depasture 500 sheep on the extreme northern portion of the Commanage, from Italian Gully, applicants to fence off said portion with sheep proof fence. 2. From Mr R. M'Morran, to depasture 500 sheep on portion of Commonage, from Adams's Gully to the northern boundary ; applicant to fence off said portion, and offering a bonus of LSO per annum for right independently of paying Government tubsidy.

it. From Mr T. Crawford, to depasture 1000 sheep and 16 head of cattle on the Commonage. Objections from several farmers nnd settlers on the Commonage to the applications! We re also read. “"Mr Welsford, who was present, supported his application by saying that the portion of the Commonage his firm applied for was totally unfitted for, nnd never used by large cattle, it being at too great an elevation ; in fact, they would not stop on it, consequently it was of no benefit to the owners of large cattle ; and expressed his surprise at the other applications not only being received, but being considered by the Board, before his was,{finally dealt with, as he understood the meeting was convened to consider his application alone, which had been beforefltho Board for' nearly three weeks. He said had his firm not made an application, there would have been no others, and he considered they were entitled to be dealt with irrespective of the others. A long and animated discussion ensued, some members of the Board averring that the portion of the Commonage applied for was used by great cattle, and held that by granting it for sheep a great injustice would be done the farmers and other holders of great cattle living on the Commonago. It was also urged against the application that if the part of the Commonage applied for was at the present J not suited for great cattle, the time was not far distant when it would be made so, as the people would tail their cattle and make them stop on it., Mr Pache said he (Ud.'aot soe how the application could be dealt with. As a matter of course, some guarantee of length of tenure would be required before any person would go to the cost of erecting an expensive sheep fence, and the Board had no power to grant permission for a longcrterm than six months. He, however, was firmly of the impression that no injustice would be done to anyone. In feet, he thought the district in general would be benefitted if not only the application was granted, but if the whole of the higher parts of the Commonage were fenced off and set aside as small sheep holdings. As tin re was apparently no likelihood, after two hours meeting, of a motion being tabled by any other member of the Board who was better acquainted with or more interested in the Commonage, he would propose, That this Board does not feel justified in accepting any of’ the applications.—The motion was seconded and carried. Resolved, That the Clerk ascertain from the Inspector the names of owners of horses and cattle running on the Commonage, the number owned by each, and the date of expiry cf their licenses. The question of funds to defray the expenses for stationary, &c., arose. It was understood that the Government had promised L 5 per annum for the purpose. The Clerk was instructed to make application, and on the receipt of same to purchase a minute book and other necessary stationary. A vote of thanks to the Chair concluded