EGMONT NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 43, 27 February 1901, Page 2

EGMONT NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

*__ INAUGUKAL MEETING. The first meeting of the Egmont National Paik Board was held on Tu-sday at the Borough Council Chambers, N-iw Plymouth. Present: Meaare Straucloi, Percy Smith, R. Dingle (nominated by Government), R Okey (Tnram ki Courty Oiuncil), A. W. ■CjIIw (Boough of Ne«r Plymou hj), E. Burgess (Borough of Stratford), C. E. Maj jr (Bn-ough of Hawern), H. Wilkie (Hawora County Council). The chair was taken by Mr J. Striuchon, by virtue of his pofehion as Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr Strauchoß s id he must ask in future that members be punctual. A plan was on the ttble showing the Egmont National Park and the divisions which bad formerly been worked by the loc 11 Boards, He hoped that all the mrinbei'B would disabuse their minds of any local feeling and that all woald work harmoniously for the good of the Park as a whole, and they would then get on well together. He had been a momhor of all tho other Boards and the best of foeling bad always prevai'ed araangst the members. He, thought be'oro doing anything the,y should go th)ough the Act their position.

Mr A. H. Palm'-r whoaotsd as secre' t w then read tho act.

Oa the motion of Mr Smith, teconde 1 by Mr M<j r, it was decided to procure aud s'rd to members cop'esof the Acts u <d' r which tha Bmrd wascoasti'utei.

Messrv. Maxwell (Opuuaka Towo. B mrd) nnd Marchant(Btratford County Couici) wrote apoligising for their uftavoicla'jla absence. On tho motion of ih,e Ckpirman leave qf «bs w&8 granted. j itr Smith thought in selecting thsseci ot ry tb.9 convenience of tho Oh arman lio'dd be considered aud hi suggested 111 t Mr A. (I. Palmpr should no ap- \> )i"ted. The funds of the B mr.l would in it aliiiib of a large eata'y, p ob,\,Wy i.£lo for a timf*, ar>d he. won:?, wo.'e to that effect.

Mr AJ .jt»> siccoocteJ i he mo ion which wa.4 . arriuil unanimously. Mr D'nglo proposed and Mr Wilkie ancndod *.h,t Mr Percy Smith bo requested to net as Treasurer, Mr "-'mi h said ho would do all in, his. power to advance tho intoie,,ts of the 80.r.1.

The motion, was carried unanimously. QoU'iili.atiln diswusoii en'uel oa Oio (ju vt'on of appo nting Rangers av.d en tho motion of Mr Ding e, so OMled by Mr M<j'>r, the Cha : rwm of the 10.-al <■ 'r(imi,t;o-i to bn »pp, iutcd wore nib tho Crown Lands Rtngwr ap pointed rangers, their jurisdiction to extend over tho who!e Park. The Oliaiim n'henwal the report of th? North For ( .t Board and the East Forest Board, now defunct. Mo said tho South Board meeting had unfortu- ' ately fallen throuyh. In reply :o Mr Major, iheQha'rmaia wot the Board took over all the assets afld li.b li'ies. Mi Dingle made a verbal atitement showi.'e roighly tho position of th) South 80-ird, Th-s Chairman s.iid as regards th" Wet Brard they prac ically had no as eUand liabiliiitg. Thy Oi.airman said the heal Bards, had prac ically been defuuot spine time ! but hn bad, delayed tailing this Board together so as to enable them to get rid of their l'abilitio-. UQfjrtuuate'y the weati er In d • en against them. Considerable dis.usson e>sued as to the appointment of h al eommittets. la reply to Mr Okey the Chairman

said lio considered tho Board was /(>• sponsible and hiid to psea all funds lor expenditure by the local commit* e js Mr Smith concurred, Sir Cu'lin jjointed out Hut t,io appointment of Coniwittess was nut eoaa-puls-cry. Mr Okey said in that case tho co:u----mitU-e i would have to submit all p'pus for n.vpendif.urs to the Bo'iH, Mr Map,' prop-aed that a committees cons'f-tiivp- or >ho OhaiiT.vin \!'i .ihsui'ii - . and Mr Oin;»i;? ba appofntfi' 1 . :,'j drf.nt the pov/orn t-> be delegated to the sovftiti) local committ'es end draw up regulations for the establishment of the sevcnl relationships between the Bsard and its committees.

On th» motion of Mr Okey a subcommittee consisting of tho Oi'.airrv.au, Mr Oiliis and the mover was appointed to draft standing order* regulating tbo conduct of the Board's meetings.

On the motion of Mr Collis, seconded by Mr Wilkie, it was resolved that tho momhers of the late Fores'; Revive Boards be nsked to cmtinue office till 31st March next so ns to carry out all works now in hand, and that the appointment of permanent new commit-1 sees be held over to the annual mee'ing to ba held during April next. On the motion of Mr Smith, sfcondrd by Mr Wilkie it was resolved that Messrs Okey, Collis, Strauchoti and t ha mover be appointed to draft by-laws for tho management and control of the Park on the terms of sections 10 tj 18. Oq the motion of Mr Oollis secsnded by Mr Burgess, it was resolved that the Chief Suiveyor ewry on the necessary works under votes and that Mr John Brown and other members be instructed to cirry on the track to Grayling's clearing under £ for £ subsidy.

On the motion of Mr Oollis. seonde.l by Mr Okey, it was resolved that the sum of £125 granted bi allocated as under: Egmont National Park Board, £45. East Egmont Bcnrd, £3O. West Egmont Board, £SO.

On the motion of Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Okey, it was resolved that applies ion be made to the Government for a free pass available for return on the day of issue or on the folllowing cUy to be issued to any member of the Board on bin producing to the stationmaster a fiotice duly signed by the Chairman if the Board calling on him to attend a meeting thereof.

Mr Burgess brought up the question, of the Boaid acquiring the strip of laud between the East Egmont t-ack ard the Patea river. Mr Burgess explained that tbis piece of lind was resumed possession from its former ownor, Mr ' Holloway. It wns lying idle and he thought it should be in the hands (f I the Board. He moved that stops be taken to acquire it.

Afror some dJ6oussion in tho courne of which My Strauchon pointed out an Act of Parliament was necessary, the motion was seconded by Mr Major and cartißd.

Mr Wilkie moved that the Government be approached and asked to erect a sanatorium on Mouut Egmont. The Chairmtsn thought that would complicate matters and he feared legis-, latum would be necessary. Mr Major seconded the motion and painted out the advantages of having such an institution.

The motion was supported by Messrs Dingle, Oollis and Burgese, and carried, Oa the motion of Mr Majw it was res lived that the annual mining of tho Bo ird be huld at New Plymouth on Thursday, 4th April, an 11.SO a.m.