NORTH RAKAIA BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6488, 13 December 1881, Page 6

NORTH RAKAIA BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

A meeting of the newly -elected Board woe held on Monday last j present—Messrs E. J. Lee, J. B. Campbell, 3. Osborne, W. Bishop, and S. ForsythThe Secretary read the Oautte notice and imtructions re the election, with molt, and called for the nomination of a Chairman. Mr Osborne proposed, and Mr Forsyth seconded, Mr Campbell. Mr Campbell thanked them for the honour, hot he bad not wished to occupy the chair whilst Mr Lee was sitting on the Board, and he moved, as an amendment —" That Mr E. J. Lae be placed in the chair.'' In the absence of a seconder, the motion of Mr Osborne wso declared carried, and Mr Campbell was duly installed. The Secretary read clause 7 of the Amendment Act, 1881, which provided that at this meeting a ballot should be taken which three members should go out of office on the first Tuesday in January, 1883, and that the two members remaining shall bold office till the first Tuesday in January, 1885. The ballot' resulted, as follows: —Mr Lee, Mr Campbell, and Mr Bishop to go out of office in 1883, and Mr Osborne and Mr Forsyth in 1885. Financial statements were produced, show* iug receipts and disbursements since the previous meeting, with cash balance, £451 17s 7d; assets and liabilities (general account), showing balance to credit of assets, £609 16s 4d; and sinking fund, fixed deposit, receipts amounting, with accrued interest, to £696 4s 4d { whilst the amount which actually should be set aside to provide for extinction of debt on maturity of debentures, as per table, was £120711s Sd.

The Secretary was instructed to give every publicity to the foregoing, and the Chairman was authorised to re-deposit the amount of sinking fond lately matured for a period of 18 months, and, further, to place on deposit for the same period from the general account, each sum as may be necessary to bring up the sinking fund to its proper dimensions, after ascertaining the best possible investment that can be found for the money. Mr Lee’s proposition, that a permanent trustee of the Trust Account be appointed, was deferred for future consideration.

List of reserves, with their tenants, rant owing, and general- report on their condition, was laid upon the table. It was unanimouily resolved— 1 " That the Foreman bo retained until after inspection of river works by the Board ; that the Secretary be instructed to insert a notice in the local paper to defaulting ratepayers that all outstanding rates most be paid at once," Correspondence was read :—From Mr Pitman, Steward of Reserves, making no objection to the Board subletting Be serve 1185—Prom Messrs Harper and Co,, stating that the lease of this reserve bad been duly executed.—From Mr W. L, Allan and bis solicitor, declining to pay bis rent, and threatening to file if pursued. The Secretary's replies and Mr Harper's opinion on the subject were fully considered, and the Board, although recognising the hardship not only of Mr Man's case, but also of the other tenants of the reserves in the river bod, considered that Mr Allan, as manager of the Land Company, was just as much bound in honour to fulfil the conditions of his lease as lessee as the Board were os lessors; and that any concession made Mr Allen would bo a precedent which would have to be conceded to almost all the other tenants It was resolved—- “ That Messrs Harper bo instructed to take legal proceedings for all arrears of rant in connection with these reserves."—From the Clerk of the (felwyn County Council, re removing fordsman from north bank of the Bakaia to Burnt Island. 'Jhe Secretary was directed to write to the County Council that at present the Board were not in a position to give a decisive answer.—From Mr Anderson, occupier of reserve leased to M’Keage and Co., applying to transfer his interest in Be serve 2381 a for a portion of Reserve 1376 adjoining the land he occupies, and for which he is prepared to pay the same rental per acre os he is now paying for the one he wishes to throw up. Decision was postponed until the reserves had been inspected,—From the agent of Union Bank of Australia, advising receipt of £386 6s 3d, subsidy from General Government on rates 1870-1680.

The Secretary's report, containing explanation of hie conduct at the time of the first election, on reviewing the action of the river during the past twelve months, and the work done by the Foreman during that time, at well at a general idea of the present state of the bank*, and where it was imperative that some works, if only for the .namtehWe of the groins, should be done j and at the same time pointing but the advantage likely to accrue from the lengthening of the Rakaia Bridge, which was now almost completed, by affording additional outlets for the flood water—-was read and adopted. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Leo, seconded by Mr Bishop—" That Mr L. V. Desborough be appointed by the Board to act as Steward of Reserves and Collector of Bents and Bates, and that the Chairman be authorised to attach the seal of tbo Board to such appointment. Mr DeaboroUgh's offer to accept £IOO iu I settlement of his claim for salary to Bov. 1, 11881, was accepted, and arrangements were made for ire continuing in ofSoo with the

same schedule of duUce «• a b*eis of agree* meat, and on Hie ram* tonne a* appeared ia the minute* of August 11,1870. It wa* resolved—" That the Board mrat al Seulhbridgs on Monday, Dec. 12, and make a careful Inspection of the banks of the river and the reserves, from Qoman’s to tbsSakala Bridge." Tha pay-eheet, amoundng to £lO4 Us 4d, and voucher for £IBO, Interest on debentures due Dec. 16, were examined nod passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.