POWER BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1932, Page 4

POWER BOARD

WESTLAND MEETING HELD. The Board met at 7.5 p.m. Present— Messrs J. A. Murdoch (voted to- ythe '~" M ‘ chair), T. W. Duff, F. W. Selby, D. P. Stuart, T. R- Chesterman, B. Ward. Apologies for absence were received from Mee-srs R. Whiley and T. W. Bruce. - .

THE LATE CHAIRMAN. Before the business- of the meeting was taken up,;, the Chairman referfhd . to the repent death of Mr W. J. Butler ■ ‘J) their esteemed chairman. Mr Butler fA had been chairman of the Board its inception, and his work in thatefnorn capacity was well known. He was /a;b od tower of strength, and the Boards poii-‘ tion to-day was due largely to the time and care Mr;Butler had devoted to his duties. The. Chairman referred to. the negotiations at Wellington with ‘ -the Government relative to the purchase of the Kumara water races, and the favourable terms of the purchase agreement were attributable to the foresight of Mr Butler which placed the Board and the ratepayers of the district in a secure position. Mr.-Butler had been a kindly and generous; administrator. He was a pioneer, sawmiller and after he went to the ■ North Island and N J amassed considerable wealth, foe return- . ed to this district and again threw In { his lot with the .people. It Was • happy day for ,'Btokitika. when (Mr But* ler returned and directed the entf>rprises which did so much to advance the industrial .and productive interei-.ts of the district. 'Personally., Mr Butler vriiwas a splendid host and a thorough ; gentleman whom it was a pleasure always to meet, ' His demise was a loss t 0 the district. To, the bereaved widow, a lady of kindly and : dis-i. imposition, they could but express their condolence in her sad loss. ' He moved that a letter be forwarded to Mrs Butler expressive of the sympathy of . the members of the. Board and the people, in the loss sustained by the death of her husband. < >

Mr B. Ward said he could not' let the opportunty pass without endorsing the remarks of the Chairman. Mr Ward said he had been impressed always with the honesty of purpo se , of the late Mr Butler. Their.. departed Chairman had a wide knowledge of business matter.?, and his talents had been used for the benefit of the Board. Mr Butler was admired, too, for the way he had worked himself up—the result of hard work and close application. He had made his power felt on the Board, and he was the strength of the Board. ... Mr Ward concluded by expressing his. deep sympathy with Mr.s Butler. Mr T. R. Chesterman endorsed the kindly isentimerits expressed by the previous ispeakers, and the motion, of (sympathy was carried in silence, mem- - hoi’s \expressing their sympathy standing. . ■ ' •• ' The Board then adjourned fqr an interval as a mark .of sympathy to the. late Chairman. ORDINARY MEETING. When the ordinary meeting resumed," Mr Murdoch wc 6 elected unanimously to the position of Chairman of the Board, and took the chair. _ j The minutes, of previous meetings were confirmed, and the outward correspondence approved. .... , Notification. was received of the formal election of'members.. The Controller and Auditor-General returned the' balance sheet certified as correct. —Received*.. -- ■ .Correspondence was read from the Mines Department asking the approval of the Board to certain interest and instalments of capital due on the purchase of water-races being deferred to the Ist February, 1933. The correspondence was approved' and the request agreed to subject to a condition to be notified to Westland Power Ltd. Accounts to the amount of £sl la were passed for payment. , 'lt was TesoVed to ask the County Council to appoint a represen-- s tative to the Board in the 1 place of-.n the late Mr Butler. The meeting then concluded.