MATAURA TOWN BOARD.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 6, Issue 303, 2 November 1883, Page 2

MATAURA T OWN BOARD.

An onliunry meeting of this Board was' held at Cameron's Hotel. Mitaura, oil Wednesday evening. There were present — Commissioners Winning (chairman), Allison, C. Humphries, Connor, and Cameron. The clerk of the Lindhurst Road Board forwarded copy of resolution passed at last meeting to the effect that the Road Board recognised the interests of the Mataura Town Board ii* the Waimumu flood channel, but any' works' executed would have to be done at the Town T)isf ricts cost.— Eeceiyed. Eesolveti on the motion of ftjessvs Cameron and Connor, That the engineer be written to, asking him to fix the earliest date possible for laying off the works authorised at last meetiag, it being pointed put that the present time was a f ayorable one for exeouting the works. Ifesars P, McGowan and Goo. Crowe petitioned jbhe B.oard for .a ditch and culvert in block flj. on a road in £hejy lpcaUty } but th« former, who apptaTei before the Board, said lie would be satisfied with a culvert only.— Th« chairman felt oharyabout executing any drainage works in that block without reference to the engineer, because by putting in a culvert for one they might be 1 swamping pot another'— Mr Cameron moved that the culvert asked for be included in jwj contract for ivorkaon "MoNair'a Road,— lhw was agreed to, after being seconded by Mr Allison. The lease of section 3, block 9, Mataura, which had been reserved from sale Borne time ago oh the understanding that it would be a suitable site for Town Board offices, wa? applied for by Mr J. Balneaves, who was willing to take it at a nominal rent until the Board saw fit to use it. ' He merely required it for paddspking accommodation. The chairman stated that the resolution netting aside f,he j section-as a site for offices would hare to be rescinded before any lease could be grantea to i Mr Balneaves, tot it was eventually agreed on | th« motioa rf My Oawwon, secoadod b^ Mr I

Allison that the applicant be allowed to fence the section, such permission not to interfere with the Board's right to resume possession at any time, no rental to be charged. It was further agreed, on the motion of Mr Connor, seconded by Mr Humphries, " That the fence erected be the Board's property when the occupancy was determined. In compliance with a resolution of the Board, the solicitor (Mr W. Henderson) gave an opinion to the effect that Mr Allison was wrong in removing the fence from Ms municipal lease, and was liable for its value. The party interested having left the table", Mr Cameron moved that the Solicitor be instructed to recover the valule of the fence from Mr Allison. Mr Humphries seconded the motion,. which was earned. Mr Dolamore's account for L 3 3s lid was passed for payment. The clerk was also voted LlO, six month's salarr. Mr Cameron said the Government trert continuing the destruction of the quarry reserve by taking metal from it. There had bean a long discussion in the Legislative Council on the subject, and from the report in the Ehsiqn members of the Board would be aware that the site was considered a very valuable one, and the Government had given a promise that further destruction should not take place. They might be reminded of thU promise. He moved accordingly, the resolution inter alia,, setting forth that unless operations were speedily stopped nothing would be left of this valuable reserve. Mr Connor seconded the motion, with the purport of which Mr Allison disagreed, holding that it would be little use approaching the Government again. The motion was, b»wever, carried unanimously, and copies of it ordered to be forwarded to Captain Mackenzie, M.H.R.," and Dr Menzies, M.L.O, The Amending Town Districts Act, pasgai last session, allowing Boards constituted for two years t» have a membership of seven instead of five as at present, Mr Cameron gave notice that he would move at next meeting that the Governor be petitioned to increase the number to seven. Mr. Allison asked that the Waimumu reserve be opened at once instead of waiting Eor the map authentically defining the boundary, as had been agreed upon at \ rerious meeting. He moved that Messrs Balueaves, M'Kechnie and Co. be instructed to I remove all .obstructions between the Hokoj nui bridge and block VI L Mr Humphj ries seconded the resolution, whicL Mr | Cameron was about to discuss, when the | chairman reminded him that he was an interested party and was possibly liable to a penalty of £50 for taking part in the discussion. Mr Allison opposed Mr Cameron's discussingthemotion; butthat gentleman was willing to accept the responsibility, holding that he had a perfect right to speak oa this road, seeing that his land was boumded fey three other roads. It might as -well belaid that he was debarred from suggesting 'any improvements to the road alongside the building in which they were assembled. He spoke at some length against , the motion, holding that the. Board was not justified in making a road at a large expense. So long as gates were there no one,, had a right to complain. Mr Allison deniedj that a road was wanted ; all that afkedf • for was the opening of the reserre^ " : "' Mr Connor held that if one reserve opened all was ought to be, Mr Allison held that this shoald only be done when asked for. The . motion was carried, Messrs Cameron and Connor dissenting Mr Allison said Mr Cameron had so frequently transgressed that he shohld feel it his duty to take steps to unseat him. — Mr Cameron: You'll have to do it at your owa expense ! The Board rose at 9. 15 p.m.