BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2155, 21 January 1881, Page 3

BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

The adjourned meeting of the Board was held at 3 p.m, yesterday. Present —Messrs J, L. Wilson (chairman), Jones, Atkinson, White, England, Lambert, Boag, Peryman, Atwood. A letter was road from Messrs E. M. Templer and others asking for an interview with the Board. These gentlemen, being in attendance, were introduced. Mr Templer said that he had waited on the Board with the other tenants of the reserves of the Board to ask them to offer the reserves first to the old tenants, at a rental to he fixed by a valuator appointed by the Board. If the old tenants did not accept the rental as fixed by the valuator, the reserves to be put up to auction, the present tenants having tho usual time allowed to pastoral tenants to remove their improvements after the auction. In reply to a remark from Mr Brabazon, The O. airman said that tho position of the tenants was as follows :—That so soon as the Grown grants wars handed over to the Board, the tenancy ceased. The Board, therefore, were free to deal with the matter as regorded the present tenants, subject to the consideration of their suggestion. The deputation having withdrawn, the Board proceeded to consider tho request made.

In reply to Mr Boag, The Chairman said that, under the Act, three months was the time allowed to pastoral tenants to remove their improvements. A desultory and conversational discussion ensued. Mr England was opposed to the valuation being taken, unless the tenants paid the cost of tho valuation. He should move— 44 That the reserves be put up to tender in convenient sized blocks.” Mr Lambert moved, as an amendment—- “ That the land be put up to auction. 4 ’ Mr Atkinson seconded the amendment. Mr White was opposed to the auction scheme. He would rather see the tender

system carried out, as it would result in a fair value being obtained for the reserves. By auction, if no one opposed him, a buyer, who perhaps would, if tendering, give 5s per acre would obtain it for Is per acre. He should suggest that the matter should be referred to the finance committee to report upon it. Mr Peryman supported the view taken by Mr White.

Mr Boag was in favor of letting the reserves by public auction, as being likely to bring in more revenue to the Board.

Some further discussion of a conversational character took place between the various members.

Mr England’s first motion not being seconded, fell through. Mr White moved—“ That the question of letting the reserves be referred to the works committee to report upon to the Board at its next meeting ” Mr Psryman seconded the amendment, which was carried by five to throe. The works committee’s report was then read respecting the visit of the Board to the works, the acceptance of a tender for cement, and the forwarding of woolpacks to work No. 14, &c.

The Chairman referred to the question of the groyne in Stewart’s Gully, and the encroachment at Chaney’s corner, as the representative of the Avon Boad Board, and suggested that they should have a conversation on the subject. The Chairman road the correspondence between the old Board and the Avon Road Board on the subject, in which suggestions were made that the Selwyn County Council should be asked to purchase land for a new road, as the most inexpensive method of dealing with the encroachments of the river at Chaney’s corner. The letter of Mr Bell on the subject was read. In reply to Mr Lambert, The Chairman said Mr Oowlishaw’s opinion to the Avon Road Board was that the groyne sending the water into Stewart’s Gully could be removed

Mr England said the examination of the works committee led them to endorse moat thoroughly what Mr Bell had stated in his report. Mr Jones also corroborated what Mr England had said, and stated that his opinion was that the groyne would not affect anything beyond the centre of the river, and that the groyne was a very harmless one. Mr Peryman said that Mr Smith had told him that he was losing land above the bridge owing to the cutting through the island. He thought that Mr Smith, as a ratepayer, was as much entitled to consideration as those in Christchurch or elsewhere.

Mr Lambert pointed out that the jurisdiction of the Board only extended to the centre of the south branch of the Waimakariri.

The report, after a desultory conversation, was adopted, recommending that no steps be taken by the Board with reference to the work at present. Mr Bosg moved—" That the overseer be requested to forward to the chairman of the Board and the works committee a weekly report of the state of the river and works required to be done, and that he be requested to inform the chairman of the Board when the river was in flood, so that the members might see it.” Mr Lambert seconded the motion, which was carried.

The report of the finance committee was read, giving a statement of the financial position of the Board and an estimate of receipts and expenditure for the year 1881. The receipts as estimated by the finance committee were stated as being £4487, the expenditure for the same period being put down as about £5200, leaving a deficit of some £713. This being so, the committee trusted the Board would consider their financial position. The Chairman of the finance committee, Mr Jones, suggested that soma alteration should be made in the matter of the payment of commission for collection of rates, and that the various local bodies should he asked to reduce their charge. If this were to ho paid, then they must increase the rate struck. The report concluded by expressing regret that the late Board should not have had their accounts made up and audited ready for the new Board, particularly as none of the old members wore on the new one. [Hear, hear]. The report was adopted. The report of the overseer was read.

Accounts to the amount of £238 4s lOd were passed for payment, A letter was read from the City Council, stating that the valuation for the city was £223,694, and asking what rate the Board intended to strike.

Mr Jones moved —“That the secretary jbo instructed to write to the several local bodies in the South Waimakariri Conservators’ District, asking them to forward their valuation rolls as speedily as possible.” Mr England seconded the motion, which was agreed to. It was resolved to request the local bodies to forward to the Board the balance of rates h

ield in hand by them, to furnish the amount of arrears outstanding at the end of 1880, and also that in future they be requested to pay over the rates monthly to the credit of the Board. The Board went into committee to consider the tenders for clerkship and office accommodation, and, ultimately, it was decided to refer the inspection of the offices and consideration of the candidates selected to a sub-committee, to report at an early meeting. After the transaction of some further business, the Board adjourned.