GREYMOUTH NATIVE RESERVE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 26 September 1901, Page 4

GREYMOUTH NATIVE RESERVE.

Meeting of Leaseholders.

A meeting of leasees of the above Reserve was hold in the Borough Council Chambers last night, the Mayor in the chair.

The Chairman explained that the meeting had been called to consider the present position of the native leases in Greymouth. and, if possible, devise a more se .ure tenure. The Borough were now going in for extensive improvements and something should be done. The Borough value of property was £174,500. To give some idea of the rateable values of property within the Borough he would put before them the following information : —Capital value, freehold property, £80,935 ; unimproved value, £22,000 ; improvements, £58,935. Capital value of leasehold property £232,311; unimproved value, £58,014; improvements, £174,297. Total capital value, £313,216 ; total unimproved value, £80,014; total improvements, £233,232. The number of Native leases issued by the Public Trustee amount to 520, representing approximately 400 leaseholders. The total number of ratepayers in the Borough amount to 607. He did not contend that the rents were excessive, but he did not want to see them raised. The amount of rent paid yearly to the natives was £3,600. He did not think the Government would consider any proposal to curtail the rents already being received by the Natives. He would move the following resolution :

“ That this meeting of leaseholders is of opinion that it is advisable to approach the Government in order to procure a fixity of rents to the individual holder by giving the Borough of Greymouth a lease in perpetuity of the Native Reserve at the aggregate rental which is paid at present by the lessees, say £3.500 per annu n, and that the Council bind itself through a poll of the ratepayers to pay the above rental at fixed periods to be determined on hereafter."

Mr. M'Meekin secon led pro forma In reply to Mr. Campbell, the Mayor said, the resolution was framed in accordance with resolution of Council.

Mr. Joyce was not aware that the Council had agreed to any resolution. The Mayor said the resolution had been framed by him'self, but the Council desired the meeting.

Mr Hopkins said he could not see why the Government could not give each leaseholder a lease in perpetuity, and objected to the Council acting as landlords. He moved as an amendment “ That only the first part of the resolution be given effect to, which would then read —‘ That this meeting of leaseholders is of opinion that it is advisable to approach fhe Government in order to procure a fixity of rents to the individual holder.’ ” Mr Ring in seconding the amendment, was of opinion that something was required to be done, seeing that if the native rent was raised on a landlord the tenant was made to bear the burden, as house rent was raised accordingly, His Worship explained that at the last auction of leases the rents were raised £3l.

Mr Joyce said he would support the amendment, seeing that it was not to bo under the Council control.

Mr Campbell said he was not in faver of dither resolution before the meeting, as he thought they would do no good. Under the present system he could take no objection. It was not the department that advanced the rent, but the people in Greymouth. He would not ask to bo under a better management than the Public Trustee. If it depended with him as to whether the reserves should be left to the Public Trustee or Borough Council, he would say 1 ' the Public Trustee. After the present leases were out auction sales would be done away with, and the rents would be fixed on the valuation of property.

TJie Mayor withdrew his resolution in favor of the amendment.

Mr. Sheedy said he had , no doubt the Mayor’s intentions were for the good of the leaseholders, but he thought the Public Trustee managed the affairs satisfactorily seeing that their would be no more auction sales, but only valuation, which would be fair. If the town increased ten times more before the leases were out, they would be fully satisfied with their tenure. , Mr Warnes said he had a section the lease expired on. He was paying £6 per annum. He made application on the same terms. The Public Trustee valued the ground at £l5O. Ho was offered £IOO a few days before. A stranger came to town and sent in a tender for £G 2s and got it, and he was deprived of his property, only receiving £SO.

Mr. Kettle wanted to know how much Mr. Warnes had paid for the ground, and how long had he held it.

Mr. Warnes said that had nothing to do with it.

■ Mr. Kettle thought it had. He reckoned Mr. Warnes had made about £SO out of the transaction.

Mr. Petrie did not favor the proposal, as it appeared impracticable.' The meeting was evidently against municipalising the reserve ; the Government were in the capacity of trustees, and had to act fairly to both parties. If a freehold was not desired, then an effort should be -made to get the State to purchase from the native owners, as there was always a danger of the Act being repealed and the estate being apportioned to individual natives.

A long discussion ensued/ after which Mr. Hopkins’s resolution was carried.

A committee consisting of the Major. Messrs. Hopkins, £ing, G. Smith, and Laing were appointed to take the necessary steps in the movement and get a petition signed by the leaseholders. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.