MASTERTON TOWN LANDS TRUST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 894, 8 October 1881, Page 2

MASTERTON TOWN LANDS TRUST.

Thk ordinary monthly meeting of the Miistertnn Town Lands Trust, was held at the Council Chambers last evening. Pre--BKiit—Rlesera Feist (vhairman), Perry and Hare.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Masterton School Committee asking the Trust to reconsider its decision re grant to Public School.

The Chairman said, complying with the request of ihe Cummilteo would make no difference to the Trust, the only question waa whether it would he fair to withdraw the grant from Mr Waite. Mr Hare gave notice of motion for next mco'ing, that the former resolution of the Trust be rescinded so that the Trustees in the interim could make further inquiries. The question of the rent in arrear on town acre 42 was then considered. The Clerk reported thit Mr B. V. Smith had agreed to take the acre for 2 years, but after paying a half-year's rent refused to pay any more.

Ma Hare moved that proceedings be taken for the recovery of rent due. The Chairman thought this course undesirable, considering the poiitioti they were in with respect to this acre, Mr Hare said Mr Smith could not call in question their title, and it would not be expensive to try the case. Mr Worth, who, now occupied the acre declined, he understood, to acknowledge any one but Mr Eenall as landlord. The Chairman: We had better not act without lugal advice. Mr Hare: Very well, let the matter stand over. WINDERS. The following tenders were then opened :—F»r leasing acre No 111, J. Nicol, Lo si—accepted ; Sargt. McAl'dle, L4-4s; W. Bowry, L2 10s; E. M. Galloway, L2los. declined, For Town Acre No 106, \\ r ; Rtipp, L3—accepted. FINANCE, The question of income and expendifor tho cnrnine year was then considered. Mr Hare said they need not go into the question of raisin" the £4OO till an application was nnde for it. The Treasurer reported the overdraft to be i 94 15s 2d, the income for the ensuing year £250, and the expenditure £2lO, including a grant to the Library of £6O. Park £25, school £2O, and the Upper Plain sclmol £lO. He also called atten tion to the fact that the Trustees 'were paying ut larger grant to the Institute than they need do. £3O, not £6O, wa3 all the Institute now required to cover interest. The Chairman suggested that the que«tion phould he raised next time an applition for a payment was made. Mr Hare: If we are paying too much we had better stop doing so. The question of reducing the rent to the lessee of the Town Hall for the past two years was discussed. The Trustees agreed that considerable improvements had 'been made, and that the lessee had not, owin? to depressed times, been able to make anything out of the hall, Mr Hare proposed.that one quarter's rent in each year should be remitted, provided that all other , arrears were paid up within a month, but at the instance of Sir Perry it was decided to postpone the question: till the next meeting, when a larger number of Trus'tees;would probably be present. •,;

three in 1873, two in 1874, one in 1875, two in 1876, twelve in 1877, five in 1878, one in 1879, and one in 1881; five had lapsed, and two had not been executed. M On three no plans were marked, and on one an incorrect area iraa stated. Ooe^> : had been cancelled, and another (Tait'sfT was in process of cancellation/. The (, V\ covenants to erect buildin«s,had in many instances been disregarded by the lessees. i There were also covenants <t6/<p£otect the Trustees from losses by fire. The report recommended the appointment oft trustee to examine the leases before they were signed, and a book in which they ■ should be entered. ) Mr Hare' said the publication of 114 report would no doubt remind lessees thai; the covenants of the leases were not forgotten by them. Mr Perry supposed that " hard times" had stopped improvements. The building regulations of the borough wore an obstacle. . '

Mr Hare suggested that the Clerk should ascertain what building were uninsured, »nd to miike some arrangement fur insuring. This coursa was agreed to, Mr Hare was then appointed to assist Mr Brown in examining any leases which might be submitted to the Trust for execution, THE GREYTOWN RESERVE. Mr Hare stated that in 1867 he had been appointed to sign the leases for the Greytown belt. These leases dropped in next December, and he was told that the Greytown Trust propoied to give a portion of them to the school and cricket i club for recreation purposes. He. therefore proposed—l, that a return of all rents being Masterton's share of theaaid reserve be laid before the next meeting; 2, that two members of the Mastertou Trust be appointed to join in the execution (if any new leases granted of tho Greytown reserve; 3, That an application be made to the Greytown Trust to appoint a receiver of ren'i; i, that a tracing of the reserve be applied for at the office of the Crown Lauds Commissioner ; and 5, That a copy »f the resolutions be sent to the Greytown Trustees. Mr Hare said he anticipated some difficulty over the re-letting of this reserve, and perhaps his resolutions might lead up to some amicable arrangement, such as the one proposed on a former occasion, but which fell through. Mr Perry thought the leases ought to he let by auction. He seconded Mr Hare's resolutions, which were carried.

NEW MEMBER, Mr McCardle's resignation was then considered. The Chairman : Has Mr Gray resigned ? The Clerk; He ha* not. The Chairman ; I suppose we could reappoint Mr McCavdle if we thought proper? Mr Perry: 1 certainly would not agree to that ! On the motion ni" lirllare, Mr James Wrigley was appuimed to fill the vacancy caused by Mr McCardlo's retirement, ' Tliu meeting then adjourned,