BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2135, 28 December 1880, Page 3

BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

The first meeting of the newly-elected Board of Conservators for the South Waimakariri district, was held at the City Council Chambers at noon. Present —Messrs England, Lambert, F. Jones. Pervman, J, L.Wilson, H, Atkinson, B(ag }i W. White, jan., W. Attwood.

Mr J. L. Wilson read an extract from the Government Gazette, constituting the South Waimakarari River District, and fixing the date of the first meeting for December 28th. He would now read the advertisement signed by the Mayor, in accordance with the Act, convening that meeting. [Bead.] Mr H. Atkinson said, as their first business was to appoint a chairman, he should move that Mr T. S. Lambert be appointed to that office for the current year. No one seconded this motion. The members present then seemed to be in a sort of a fix.

Ultimately Mr Murray, the assistant town clerk, was requested to occupy the chair, which he did.

Mr Atkinson thought the Mayor would hare opened the meeting, at any rate until they had appointed their chairman. Mr J. L. Wilson said that he might hare done so as a matter o£ courtesy, but he was not bound by law to do it. Mr Atkinson’s motion not being seconded fell through. The following nominations were then made for chairman, Mr Murray occupying the chair pro tem : Mr J. L. Wilson, proposed by Mr Peryman, seconded by Mr Boag. Mr W. White, junr., proposed by Mr Lambert, seconded by Mr Atkinson. Mr P. Jones was proposed by Mr Attwood, but there was no seconder.

A ballot was taken, which resulted as follows : Per Mr Wilson, 5 ; for Mr White, 4 Mr Wilson then assumed the chair, and said that he was not altogether ignorant of the Hirer Waimakariri, as it had been brought before him on the Aron Hoad Board, fie should be happy to place his knowledge of the subject at the dispssal of the Board, and be should feel it his duty to make himself still further acquainted with the work they had in hand. As far as their present meeting was concerned, he thought that the best way would be to adjourn for a week, the foreman of works being requested to attend and bring np a report on the subject. , A letter was here read from Mr E. J. S. Harman, stating that he should be willing to attend the Board to-day if required to give any information they might require. Mr P. Jones moved —"That Mr Harman be invited to attend to-day.” He felt sure that it was necessary, because they would then become acquainted with their position as to place of meeting, appointment of secretary, &o. Mr Lambert seconded the motion.

The Chairman thought it would be advisable to postpone the visit of Mr Harman. The chairman could in the meantime see him and get a written report of the state of the Board, &c. After soma little discussion Mr Jones’ motion was put and carried. Mr Jones said he thought it would be as well that the Board should fix some day for visiting the works, in order that members might bo able to form some idea of the way in which the work was being carried out. Mr England supported this view. The Chairman said that there were two things in connection with the Avon road district which he intended to bring before the Board ; these were the elbow near Chaney’s Comer and the groin which had been put in near White's Bridge diverting the stream into Stewart’s Gully. A report had, he believed, been made by Mr Ball, but put aside as as the old Board was going out of office. Mr Jones moved—“ That the members of the Board pay a series of official visits to the works at the Waimakariri, commencing on Friday next, December 31st.” He also wished the Board to visit the works on the Bakaia river, which he thought would give them a great deal of information. (Hear, hear.) He would add to his resolution — “ And also visit the wo.-ks on the Bakaia river prior to next meeting of the Board.” The resolution was seconded by Mr England. Mr Lambert objected to the waste of time involved in going to the Bakaia. The visiting the Waimakariri would take a great deal of time.

Mr Jones urged that they could not know too much, and they would receive a vast amount of information by visiting the works at the Bakaia.

The Chairman and Mr Boag spoke in favour of the Board going to see the works at the Bakaia, as likely to show them a good system of working at a moderate cost. The motion was then put and agreed to.

Mr Harman here entered the room. The Chairman said that the first matter was the finances of the Board. Mr Harman said he bad not brought up the bank-book, but there was a balance to the credit of the Board. If the Board would arrange for the supply of clerical assistance he would have the accounts closed up to the end of Dacember and _ a proper balance-sheet prepared. If the City Council would allow Mr Murray to act in this matter it could easily be arranged. The only matter pressing was the report of Mr Bell on a matter referred to the Board, which had not been entered into, as the Board was just going out of office. There are now some four men engaged, and no contracts were pending. As regarded their overseer, the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Board was the strongest recommendation in his favor. He was a thoroughly working overseer, and having lived on the river for many years, knew his duty thoroughly. With regard to the officers of the Board, he presumed they would still be officers. The securities for sinking fund investment were kept in the City Council safe, under the custody of the Mayor and the chairman. He might be pardoned if he called the attention of the Board to the fact that there was some 14,000 acres of reserves belonging to the Board which required dealing with as speedily as possible. These had been Crown granted, and the old Board did not deal with them because they felt that, going out of office, it would not be right for them to tie these reserves up by any arrangement they might make.

Mr White asked what was the tenure of the offices formerly occupied by the Board. Mr Harman stated that the tenure of the office was from year to year. The room perhaps was not large enough for the present Board, but if the Board liked the present situation his partner and himself would see if they could not meet the wishes of the Board. As regarded the secretary. Captain Armstrong, who was returning to England, he had resigned his office just before the late Board left office. He might say that if the Board -decided to stay in their present offices, an arrangement could be made which would enable the Board’s business to be done.

In reply to Mr Boag, Mr Harman said very likely the Road Board would have fixed a minimum rent for the reserves, and, like the Government parturage rents, that it should be paid in advance. It was contemplated that the farmers on the terrace would avail themselves of this land m a convenience for the jetty on the

river flat. He need hardly say that until the Board was fairly started he should only be too happy to (jive his services to the Board in the way of affording any information. The Chairman thanked Mr Harman, who then withdrew. Mr Peryman said that he wished before going further to make the suggestion that they should at once fix the quorum of the Board. It was not ho noticed provided for by the Act, and ho for one was most decidedly opposed to business being done, as ha saw in other Boards, by one or two. [Hear, hear.] Ho, therefore, begged to move “That the Board proceed at once to fix the quorum. The Chairman, in answer to Mr Peryman, said he thought the best method of doing business would be to adopt some standing orders for the conduct of their business. He would read them the standing orders of the Selwyn County Council, which he thought, with some alterations, might be adopted. Mr Jones moved—“ That the question of standing orders of the Board be remitted to a committee consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Lambert, White, England, and the mover; also that the same committee be requested to report upon the question of office accommodation and the appointment of a secretary,” Mr Atkinson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Chairman said, as it appeared to bo the wish of the Board to get to work properly before the next meeting, he would offer to supply them with a meeting room, and also with clerical assistance, leaving the remuneration to be fixed.

Mr Jones moved, “ That the chairman be requested to call a meeting of the Board at three p.m. on Thursday, January 6th. ” Mr White seconded the motion, which was carried. On the motion of Mr Lambert, it was resolved that the statement of acocunts since last audit be laid on the table at an early da*e, and that, if possible, the services of Mr Murray be obtained to make up such a statement.

Mr Attwood seconded the motion. Mr White thought the Board should ask the old Board to hand over the statements of accounts properly audited to them. Mr Jones agreed with Mr White, and he thought that it would be as well if Mr Murray were engaged, but that it should not be at the cost of the Board. _ Mr Lambert then altered his resolution so as to ask simply for the statement of accounts. Some discussion ensued, and ultimately the following resolution was agreed to—■“ That the late Board bo requested to furnish the present Board with a statement of accounts up to date.” It was resolved that copies of the various Acts connected with the work of the Board should be supplied to the members of the Board.

The Board then adjourned till Thursday, January 6th, at 3 p.m.