BOARD OF WARDENS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 94, 27 November 1869, Page 3

BOARD OF WARDENS.

A special meeting of -the. Board of "Wardens for the Tuapeka depasturing •district was held in the Commercial Assembly Eooms on Tuesday evening. ftesent- I—Messrs.1 — Messrs. Browne (Chairman), Ityans, Robertson, Poison, Dewes, and Gkscoigne (Secretary). Che minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. T4r< secretary read a letter from Gjbvetyment, defining the duties of the Inspector. His onice, according to ti|e letter, consists in looking after the revenue and protecting the interests of Government, and has nothing whatever to do with preserving the boundaries betweed sheep and cattle counry. The letter was received. A letter from the Land and Works Office was also read, requesting an •explanation of the Board's refusal to ■deal with such applications for the depasturage of cattle as had been sent in after the dale of their last meeting. The letter was received. • Mr. Dewes said it was too much to -expect the Board to dance attendance •whenever it might suit the convenience of applicants. The proper time for sending applications had been du'y .notified, and if people were too careless to attend to their own interests, he did not think the Board could be vexpected do it for them. He .strongly condemned the manner in .which the Government had treated the Board; indeed their sole object appeared to be to turn the Wardens into a -laughing-stock. He referred to the bye-laws as an instance of the way they had been treatud, and proposed to .answer Mr. lieid's question by another question in reference to these byelaws. Mr. Gascoigne said the resolution ,of the Board to entertain no applications sent in after a certain date referred to persons who had ample warning, and was not intended to .apply to those who might hereafter acquire the right to depasture cattle. An extension of .time iad been already granted, and be might state that the Inspector had threatened to summons him unless that additional time had .been allowed. Mr. Eoberteon moved, ''That the Secretary bs instructed to reply to the Secretary of Land and Works, stating distinctly that the time appointed for the receiving of applications was duly published, and that even after the expiry of that time an extension of fourteen days was granted and duly notified ; further, that it was not tlie

business of the Board to dance attendance whenever any careless applicant might find it convenient to forward bis application.." Mr. Poison seconded. He called attention to the clause in the Eegulations which provided for a return being made by each cattleowner. He might, add that this condition had not been complied with by. the disappointed applicants. _4'TjLconversation followed as to the beJK^neans of dealing with cattle "brought on the commonage after the time appointed for receiving applications. Two modes were suggested — one to appoint a sub-committee with power to receive applications ; the other to hold quarterly meetings. The latter appeared to the majority of the members the more satisfactory course. Mr. Eobertson's motion was then put and carried. Mr. Dewes called attention to the . promise made by Mr. Poison at last meeting to keep his sheep bae£ from the Black Gruily. Mr. Dewes alleged that this promise had not been kept. Mr. Poison thought it would have been more courteous on the part of Mr. Dewes to have called his attention privately to the grievance. Either Mr. Sutherland or the speaker had gons daily and turned the sheep, and he ; b,ad"written to Mr. Allan to engage a ', shepherd. The delay in putting on a man was entirely caused by the great scarcity of shepherds at the present time. The Chairman testified to tlie efforts made by Mr. Poison to keep back the sheep. He had only seen them once twice on the disputed ground. Mr. Dewes proposed, "That the Government be requested to grant £20 to •"the Board for expenses, in order to enable them to meet frequently." As none of the members appeared to have as great faith in the liberality of Government as Mr. Dewes, the motion lapsed, and the meeting shortly after broke up.