S.E. Forest Conservators.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 39, 13 November 1894, Page 2

S.E. Forest Conservators.

"A-t a meeting held at Kaponga on Friday, there were present:—Messrs Canning (chairman), Forsyth (aschairman of county), Heslop, F. W. Wilbie A Hurley. . The chairman .upon Mr Heslop'S suggestion welcomed the two new members of the Board, Messrs Wilkio and Hurley. Mr Strauchon wrote apologising for absence, but enclosing a guinea and a half subscription. Mr Hornby also apologised for his absence.. Subscriptions received to date £7 4s 6d and accounts passed, £8 18s 2d. The Chairman then read a subleader from the Star written by the Manaia Correspondent and moved, That a vote of censure be passed upon the Manaia correspondent for his article in the Star. He said that a member of this Board had written that letter.

Mr Hurley objecting to a private conversation being made use of, the Chairman withdrew the statement. The Chairman said that the article was most uncalled for and unjust to a body of men, who had during last season done a great deal to open up the track and as regards the delayhrcalhing a meeting for this season he had although frequently requested, declined to do so until there was some business. It was useless calling a meeting for the middle of winter and he would not give members the trouble of attending. Efforts had been made by Mr Hornby and by himself in getting the vote placed upon the Estimates and no more could have been reasonably expected to have been done. He would characterise the correspondent as a puppy.

Mr Forsyth thought the article a very strong one, and rather inclined to treat the Board unjustly, after what they had done last year, but at the same time regretted that the chairman should have used the last sentence in his speech. Mr Heslop thought the article uncalled for and premature. He could not, however, second the Chairman's resolution. The Board had pushed Dawson's track through last season, and had applied to Government for a grant, to carry on his functions. He was very sorry the chairman had made the personal remark he had about the correspondent. Mr Wilkie thought the article too strong. . The Chairman said he wished to withdraw his remark. Mr Hurley said that the Manaia correspondent would no doubt take care of himself, but as the letter had .. been read he considered that the Board had greatly laoked foresight in not meeting two months ago and arranging a systematic canvass for subscriptions. Had it not been for the £IOO voted by Government there would have bee|£' no funds now available, although the' time for doing the work required was fast passing. Practically he thought the Board had done nothing since the end of last season in getting ready for this. The Chairman said the statement was false. He himself had written to Wellington, and the Secretary had also written. Mr Hurley said that unless the Chairman withdrew that objectionable word he would decline to sit on the Board. - He reiterated the statement that the Board had done practically nothing. But for Mr McGuire looking after the interests of the Board he thought the public would have had little to thank the conservators for with respect to the £IOO. " Messrs Heslop and Forsyth thought that the Chairman should. certainly withdraw the word used. It would be easy for him to say that the statement was not true, which was not so objectionable a form. The Chairman withdrew the word false and apologised to the conservators for its use. He said that he would then say that the statement was not in accordance with fact. He would be quite prepared if desired to repeat the objectionable word in the yard. Mr Hurley regretted his inability to see that its repetition would prove or disprove anything. • ; The matter then dropped and 1 the conservators settled down to business. Resolved, That an iron accomadation house of the dimensions of sQff£X 20ft, 9ft walls be erected on a site, 'to be hereafter decided upon, consisting of three rooms, viz, two sleeping compartments and a 12ft kitchen in the centre, and that Dawson's track be improved; and that the committee, consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Dingle, Wilkie and Hurley, be appointed with power to carry out the proposed works, at a cost not exceeding available funds. [Heslop•Forsyth.] Resolved, That this Board at its rising, do adjourn until November 9th at Dawson's Falls at noon. [WilkieHurley.] • Resolved, That Mr J. R. Stewart be asked kindly to accompany the conservators, he having promised his assistance. [Canning-Forsyth.] Resolved, That the Stratford County Council fee asked to repair that part of the Manaia Road adjoining Forest Reserve. [Canning-Wilkie.] ... ** Resolved, That the North and East' Egmont Forest Conservator's and the Taranaki and climatisation Societies be with a view of combining with this Board to obtain a few deer and any other game suitable for the Forest Reserve. [Hurley-Forsyth.]* A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Richard Dingle for his past services as forest rauger. It is intended to appoint three or four other rangers.—Witness. . ;