DOMAIN BOARD.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 119, 12 September 1885, Page 2

DOMAIN BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting meeting of the above was held on Saturday after* noon last in the Board's office. Present : Messrs G. Wilson (chairman), C. Ahier (sec), Hy. Buttle, G. Lipsey, and T. Gavin. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read, Mr Buttle said before they were confirmed, as he was not present at the last meeting, he would ask the Secretary (Mr Ahier), to explain what took place relative to the granting of the sole right to the overflow from the springs to Mr Robson for a number of jears. He considered it would have been wiser if the Board had deferred the matter on that occasion to a later meeting, and wished to know why the right asked for had been granted so hastily He was aware of Mr Peel having sent in an application, but was quite igncrunt ' of Mr Robson's application until after the meeting was over. He heard from outsiders that it was generally considered the matter ohould have been h<iid over to a later meeting, and also the term for which the right had been granted was too long. So far he considered himself that such was the case, but would not wish t*> express a definite opinion until he knew more. After listening to Mr Ahier's explanations Mr Buttle said it put the matter m quite a different light, and as the matter was now represented to him he should certainly have acted in accord with the other members had he been present on the occasion referred to. The Chairman also approve 1 of what had been done, and the minutes were duly confirmed. The Chairman remarked he did not think the Board could give a lease of the waters to any one, the right to do so being res-Tved by the Governor under the Public Domains Act, they could only support Mr Robson's application for the right, and grai:t as far as the Act permitted. If Mr ilobson agreed to advertise the mineral waters it meant advertising* the. baths as Well, and would be a good! thing for j the district. Mr Lipsey said he considered Mr liobson'ft offer a grand one,,

The Cjmirmati referral to the special m f' e *l ng ,M} m] com 'ened in conaequ^nco of Mr Peel's letter in the local paper, and read the decision the members present at that Meeting arrived at; and the minutes of that meeting were also confirmed. The Chairman said ho hid wired to Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R,, asking what sum would probably be allocated for Te Aroha from tHe amount voted this session for developing thermal spring*. Mr Whyte had replied informing him it would depend on the report Mr Gordon sent in. The Chairman stated that on the oc* casiou of Mr Gordon's recent visit of inspection, he and the secretary had gone round with him and pointed out t ie work and improvements which mo^fe urgently needed carrying out. Mr Gordon had expressed great satisfaction with the manner in which the monoy given by Government had been expended since his lasfc visit, and said they were already far in advance of Kotorua in many ways. Mr Gavin remarked that complaints had been made to him to the effect that persons had been prevented from crossing the Domain grounds, and that the side-gate near the chapel had been closed. 1 he Chair-nan said the reports spread about on this matter were utterly false ; the side-gate referred to had never been closed up nor people prevented from crossing the grounds, and the only instructions issued to the caretaker were to request those passing that way not to | make beaten tracks, as the giound was about to be sown down and a proper ptithvtay laid off. Mr Robson was in attendance with an agreement drawn up by a solicitor as between himself and the Board re the granting to him of the overflow for ten years, with a clause giving him the rig'it to terminate the contract at the end of tive years, in the event of his considering the royalty (which is nt that time to be re- fixe iby tne iio-ird) too high. Resolved — That f,h- document be submitted to Mr ,^jAl> Miller, solicitor, on this Board's bgfifelf, and that the Cuairman, on receiving Mr Miller's opinion, convene a special meeting nth reference to the matter. The meeting then separated.