BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2201, 16 March 1881, Page 3

BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

The ordinary meeting of the Board of Conservators for South Waimakariri was held yesterday. Present—Mr J. L. Wilson, chairman, and Messrs Atkinson, Boag, England, White, Jones, Attwood, Poryman. A report from the overseer was read as to the state of the river, and was considered satisfactory. A letter was read from Mr Isaac in reference to a groin at Stewart’s gully, referred to in a letter from this Board, saying that he believed it was on private property. A letter from the Waimakariri Harbor Board in reference to the same subject stated that the groin in question was not within its jurisdiction, Mr Peryman said ho had been informed by Mr Paecoe that the groin was on private property. The Chairman remarked that the letters confirmed the opinion generally held by the Board.

1 he letters were duly received. Two petitions, signed by ratepayers, were received, recommending the continued employment of an old servant of the Board as watchman on the protective works of the Waimakariri.

It was ascertained that Davis, the man in question, was of no service to the Board, although ho had been in receipt of 30s aweek.

Tho Board decided, on the motion of Mr England, to allow Davis to continue in occupation of tho house he was living in, but could not pay him a salary. A voluminous report from tho works committee was presented. They reported that they had two copies of tho plan of the Board’s reserves completed, on a scale of ten chains to the inch, and four plans on a scale of twenty chains to the inch. The committee had gone over the reserves in detail, and found that they consisted almost exclusively of pastoral land, contiguous to the Waimakariri for a length

of about twenty-five miles. Further particulars were given as to the names of the different reserves. The solicitors bad been instructed to draw up conditions for Icttii-'g the reserves, and arrangements had been made with Messrs Matson and Co, to sell the leases by auction.

The report of the committee was considered in committee to admit ot greater freedom of discussion. The auction ot the leases was duly considered, especially in reference to fencing the reserves, the works committee havirg recommended that tenants should be compelled to fence. The Board held that it was inadvisable to make fencing compulsory. It was ultimately resolved, on the motion of Mr Jones, as follows That any legal fences erected by the lessees and left in good condition at the end of the leases, will be taken over by the incoming tenants or the Board on payment ot half the value of the same.”

The report as a whole was approved. The finance committee’s report was read and approved ; that clause referring to the levying of the annual rates being deferred for further consideration.

A discussion took place on a motion by Mr Atkinson to reduce the wages of the men to 7s 6J and 6j for foreman and laborers respectively. Mr White moved an amendment—“ Thai the wages remain ns at present—Bs and 75.” He considered this rate of pay none too high. He paid all his men 8s a day. The amendment was lost on a division, and the motion carried.

After transacting some departmental busi ness, the Board adjourned.