BOARD OF WARDENS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 34, 3 October 1868, Page 2

BOARD OF WARDENS.

A meeting of the Board of "Wardens was held at Coghill's Hotel, "Waitahuna Bridge, on Tuesday, the 29th inst. Present — Messrs. Mackay (in the chair). Robertson, Eadie, Curregh, Browne, Poison, Gascoign, and G-rundy. The minutes of last meeting having

been read and approved, Mr. Poison stated that he had placed his resignation of the office of Secretary in the hands of the Chairman. He had not taken this step without carefully considering the matter, and he had come to the conclusion that it would be better for the Board to elect a Secretary whose views were more in accordance with those of the majority than his could be expected to be. As the Secretary would have to conduct the whole correspondence of the Board, he might often. find himself bound to further measures which he could not conscientiously approve. Messrs. Robertson and Browne , spoke, praising Mr. Poison's qualifications for the office, and begging him to reconsider his resolution.

On Mr. Poison assuring the Board that his mind was made up, his resignation was, on the motion of Mr. Eadie, seconded by Mr. Browne, received.

Mr? Eadie proposed Mr. Eobertsonas Secretary ; seconded by Mr. Poison. Mr. Robertson declined. Mr. €urregh proposed Mr. Grrundy; seconded by Mr. Poison. Mr. Grundy declined. Mr. Robertsonproposed Mr. Browne; seconded by Mr. Eadie.

After some pressing Mr. Browne consented, in spite of the loss of time consequent, to perform the duties of the office.

The map of the District with the boundaries fixed at last meeting was laid before the meeting. In respect to the unsettled boundary between Waitahuna and Duse's fence, Mr. Eadie said all, residents were against sheep being allowed into the main- gully, though a portion of them did not object to the top of the ridge being the boundary. Mr. Browne thought the interests of the mining population should be more consulted. There were numerous complaints from this quarter of tailracee being destroyed by the cattle. A good deal of conversation followed, in which Mr. Q-rundv took part. Mr. Robertson said he hoped their time would not be watted en it had been 0t last meeting. He thought there

should he standing orders, to prevent any one speaking qfiener than once on one motion. Mr Poison stated that if the bottom of the gully was taken as the boundary, he would at once remove his sheep from the other portions of ground on the Cattle Eeserve. Mr. Kob'ertson moved, "That the bottom of the gully be taken as the boundary." Mr. Browne seconded. Mr. Eadie moved, as an amendment, "That the top of the ridge be the bounMr. Gascoigne seconded. On a division, the following were the votes : : — For amendment — Messrs. Grascoigne, Curregh, Eadie, and Grundy, — 4. Tor motion— Messrs. Eobertson, •Browne, and Poison — 3. Majority for amendment — 1. Mr. Poison asked the Chairman if he had received any information from the Land Office about the bye-laws. The Chairman stated that he had received a communication from the Land Office regretting that, before framing a code of bye-laws, the Board had not studied more carefully the regulations in the " Gazette " of the 24th June, more especially the 7th and 20th sections. The duties of Wardens were confined to provisions for elections, the division of the district, and to the furnishing of an estimate of the carrying capacity of the ground. The bye-lrws were accordingly returned for revision. After some irrelevant conversation, in the course of which Mr. Grundy contended the regulations were illegal, and- contrary to the Goldfields Act, bhe bye-laws were read. Mr. Grundy said some alterations had been made. The Chairman explained that no material alterations had been made ; a good deal of bad English had been corrected, but that was all. Mr. Gascoigne moved, "That the I Secretary be directed to. write and- I request an explanation from the Land* Board of what they really wanted, and also that the boundaries as settled be pointed out to them. Mr. Browne seconded, and it was carried. The following applications to run, cattle were then granted : — TUAPEKA. WAITAHUNA^ T. Elliot 24 ' ...^jj I. Ponsonby 7 , M. Potts 10 '..'. A.. Campbell 4 S. "Williamson «... 2 D. Sheddon ... 10 J. B. Eeene 7 - ... Total 64 c Several applications from parties whose claim to the title of residents on bhe Goldfields was doubtful, were reperred to the Inspector for enquiry. The sheep applications were then taken up. Mr. Grundy moved " That Walter Miller's application be rejected on the bround of his being a non-resident." I Mr. Robertson seconded, and the application was accordingly rejected. Curregh moved, "That two i3ros to the sheep be takeu as the randard in estimating the carrying ( ipacity of the ground." Mr. Gascoigne seconded*, and the 1 otion was carried. . Mr. Grundy moved, " That priority o^ occupation be taken as the basis of selection between the several applicants." Mr. Brown moved, " That a proportion be allotted to each of the applicints." Mr. Grundy's motion was carried. Mr. Matherson was then granted liense to run 1500, and Sutherland aid' Poison 1500 on the 3000 acres bjronded by Bow Bell Creek and German Gully ; Poison and Sutherland also to run 4000 in the Table Hill district ; Thomas Lees to run 1500 on the ground occupied by him at present ; Mr. B. Sutherland to run 200 in Table Mount district f Mr. Dale's application being left over to next meeting, and thai; of Hogg arid Eae rejected, the only portion of the sheep reserve left peing 12000 acres towards Waipori, wbifch are covered with snow for six moiiths of the year. The meeting having lasted six hours, with every prospect of lasting six more, our reporter left. The following is an approximate estimate of the land reserved for Table Hill ... ... 10,000 Matheson's run ... 6000 Portion of run No. 52 15,500 Total 31,500