Masterton Town Lands Trust.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4689, 7 April 1894, Page 2

Masterton Town Lands Trust.

Monthly Meeting,

The reuular monthly meeting of tho Masterton Town Lands Trust was hold last evening. Present - Messrs W, liowos (Chairman), C. E, Danioll, E. Feist, T. P, Lttti, S. E. Gappor, and A. W. Benall. Minutes, The minutes or tho last meeting were read and confirmed. TnmstißE&'s Report. The Treasurer's report showed a credit balauco nt dateof £27 Is BJ. CoBRESPOJiDEKCE. The Secretary of tho Park Trust for. warding tho following resolution, passed by the Park Trustees at last meeting : - "That if the Town Lands Trustees do not care to tatre over the Park, they be asked to grant tho Park Trust £6O a year for improvements." Tho Secretary of the School Committee wroto stating that a deputation would wait on tho Trust with regard to tho granting of a scholarship by tho Trust. The JUsTEHio.y Park. The Chairman, in the course tl a ' ffflgthy speeoh, said that taking the letter of February 26th from tho Park Trust, and that of April 6th, they really ' had nothing'before thorn. Tho first ' letter intimated that a deputation from the Park Trust would wait upon the ' Town Lands Trust, and only Mr Bunuy i appeared, distinctly stating that he did ' not represent tho Trust »b a whole, After ' waiting some time, Mr Bonny, in reply ' to a question by Mr Renall, gavo his personal view on tho matter, and it was ', decided to postpono the consideration of < the matter, in tho expectation that tho ' Park Trustees, as a deputation would wait on tho Town Lands Trustees at !

next meeting. Instead of this they were sent a seoond letter containing the resolution that if the Town Lands Trustees do not care to taho over the Park, they be asked to grant tho Park Trust £SO a year for improvements. It appeared to him that tho Park Trusteos'did not seem anxious to hand ovor their trust, or at anyrato wore lukewarm on the matter, and, such boing the case, there was redly no reason why the Town Lands Trust should move in the matter. It appeared to him that a want of sincerity had been shown, and he was certainly of opinion that the Park Trus. teos might have como forward in a more candid and open manner. The resolution passed at the last meeting of tho Park Trust wasaltogether too ambiguous, and as the Town Lands Trustees had novor been asltod to takeover tho Park, it was a wrong position to put them in. For the Park Trust to pass the second resolution re granliug £SO per anuum, without sending any deputation, oral, lowing tho Town Lands Trust an opportunity of discussin" the matter or passing any resolution, made it appoar as if it was intended to force the Trust, or else that tho Park Trustees wished to shelve tho matter and withdraw from the position at first taken up. Bo spoko plainly became newspaper correspondence had

cropped up, and he had occaeion to challenge certain statements niado. A return had been prepared by Mr Brown, which had borno him out in every particular except as regards £75 subscribed by tho public in which he admitted he had been in error. Tho figures recently published were near enough in tho expenditure of £1,600 or £1,(100. He believed that the Chairman of the Park Trustees was absolutely sincere in his wish to see the Park in such a position that it would really be useful to athletes and the public at largo, but at the same tmio ho did not think that the Chairman was backed up as he should bo by the other members of tho Trust. This was

how it appeared to him (Mr Lowes) and although he hal no desire to tread on anyone's toesliohad expressed himself frecly.nnd he wished every member of the Trust to do the same so that they might arnve at a satisfactory basis upon which to work, and arrive at an understanding which the public might be also able to comprehend. Mr Feist said that as far as he know Mr Lowes had given a very clear statement of the position of affairs, but as a member of the Park Trust bo thought he wightsay thattho Park trustees meant to wait on tho Trust when they-passed the resolution to do so. Ho had nnfor. tunatoly been absent from Masterton at the Mine, and as stated only Mr Bunny was present; Subsequent events had led the Park Trustoes to believe that tho Town Lands Trust would not be favorablo to the proposal to take over the management of the' Park. When tho question ot handing the Park over to tho Borough Council had first been raised ho had said {hat if tho amalgamation of tho two would be beneficial he 1 woulu support tho movement, but ho '■ had since concluded that no good ond would beobtainod by handing tho man- ' Bgemeiit of tho Park over to the Borough I Council. The Park Trustoes were car- : tainly entitled to credit for a deal of I good work which thoy had done, and *

they woro now hampered fur the want c funds to cany out several further uncos sary improvements, It was with thi object theyapproached the Town Land Trust, and ho considered that bod' would bo doing a proper thing, and on' which would give general satisfaction t< the public, if it granted a certain sun to enable tho Park Trustees to carry on tho good work contemplated. Ho woult liko to seo the matter fully and frceli discussed, for be believod that oven member of both Trusts was actuated bv a sincere desire for the welfare of Masterton generally. Being a mombet ol the Park Trust ho did not care to move that a grant be given, as it might appeat he was endeavouring to force the matter buMfsomeothor member would move in that direction ho would support tho motion.

) Mr Renall said it was hardly to bo tup. posed that they wore going to hand over M for the Park Trust toduaithey 1 liked with, Ho had nsvot yet understood ; that tno Park Trußt were unanimous id , wishing to ha'id over their Trust without ; certain conditions, but as ho hhd soyeral times pointed out, it was impossible to 1 bind any successions! body. Ho did not : believe m handing over the Park to tlie : Borough Council, because it would saddle - the ratepayers with a further liability I without asking thoir conaent. As far as ho was concornod ho would not mind handing the Park over to tho Town Lands Trust, but as to handing over to tho " bungling Borough Council" be would sooner hang himsolf, and he thought tho lattor would bo tho wiser ac< tiou. The Chairman said that as ho had before pointed out there was nothing before them, _ It would bo far better to out the discussion short, and ascortain whether tho deputation would cams before them n tho lirat letter suggested, They had novor yet been asked whether thoy were prepared to take over the Park, There was nothing to show that iho Park Trustees woro anxious to resign, to hand over their Trust, or to do anything else. Mr Foist said that perhaps tho best courso to take would be, seeing that tho proposal of the Park Trustees at last meeting did not moit with favor at the hands of theOhairman, to move that a deputation fiom the Park Trust bo roceivid,

Mr Darnell said theta'appeared to be some friction between tho two bodies, at least it appeared in tho minds of tho Park Trustees from tho remarks made, it would be better b deal with them in a conciliatory spirit, and with this end in I view ho should second Mr Feist's motion.' The Chairman said ho know nothing I of any friction, Far bo it from him to 'stand in the way at all of any arrangement. They had never di-cussed the I matter at all, He was sure evory mem- : ber ot the Trust was anxious that thoir ftinds should be spent on any worthy object. -..■... '

Mr Feist said that his remark that the Town Lands Trust did not appear favourable to the proposal to take over tho Park was mndp from the impression gained by the report of the reception of Mr Bunny at last meeting. The Chairman said llio real fact oi the matter was that tho Park Trustees were not taking the Town Lands Trustees Into their confidence as they should do, 'Mr Feist eaid he did not agree with this. y Mr'Feiat'a motion, that beloA dealing with tk motion of the Park Trustees contained ir/lheir letter of April W the

, Town Lauds Trustees are prepared to 'M meet, deputation of then put and carried. -, : ' .'> sohouhship/ Masse. Beard and, Easthope, as a ■ deputation from: the Mastetton School : Oodoi toe, waited on tfieTreatees to^ : Bkhaa,ch o l M ßh,pbflfouiidi)dout.of the funds of toa/ftutf, B^';: . ; ;' "••T, x \ • tiie object as one of primary imjiaHM They know that there were many sRHfI n the funds of the Trust; but primary objects should stand first. Thev ''" lid not propose to lay down any liues on ' ' ivhich a scholarship should ba granted JUt' merely wished to suggast that the ichoo Committee (as the body dealing •■ lireoty with local educational matters) ihouhl bo consulted. It was manifestly ■or the benefit of the less wealthy and vorking classes, to make the ohance of warning'higher education easier. The natters of detail wero Mi to the Trust • >U they wished to do was tn endeavour ogettho present Trustees to establish he principle by founding a scholarship. S."!' h .? u ii. h , th6y could . n °* ™ke

binding upon their successors, he did not tluuk it was likely that the privilege would ever be taken afc&. ' i Mtßenair aß kQd^ln)e B rdW c . aware- that the revenue of %*u W ijrii were set apart fofoducatj;: ,> j^jLmM The Chairmaneaid IffuadS*pOTmit™ a pchoJarship could be gtanted out of the revenuerfroin the three acres mentioned by Mr Renall, or tab money could be applied to subsidise other scholarships as the Trust thought fit. * ThoOlerk stated that for the present year there was nuw a sum of £6O to the credit of this particular fund, which was kept separate, MrKasthope (in reply to {he chairman) said he had nothing to add to Mr Beard's remarks except to suggest that he Trust ought supplement the fspecial tund from the general fund if they had aob auffiotent from the fomiorto found a scholarship. Tho fiev Father MoKenna, who was present, at the invitation of the Chair, nan remarked that he thoroughly indorsed the application of the .gentle. «en who had already spoken. No one iould bo bitter pleased than himself to !ee o scholarship established. He felt iuro that tho Trustees would deal with ;hiaiuiportant matter themselves as soon is tioir funds permitted, and he would iftvo been nuite content to leave the natter in the hands of the Trustees, scept that, he. understood that the Imputation wished to' cutout all other' han state schools from tho boupikK* ompotm? io granted. -Ai represonlfvTs.hool : rtmh was Bclf-supporting heNvas pleased '. osee that the statements reported to • wve been mode at the last school Coraiitteo meeting had not been borne out y the remarks of Messrs Beard and laslhope, and lie was pleasod at it ' He oped tho Trustees would du nothing to, Kludothoi'atholic, or any other deommational school, from competition )r the scholarship which he siuceroly oped to see soon established. ■• Mr Gapper said the establishment of b Jholarslup had been contemplated by the

Iruat for the past three years Mr Beard said that if ho mlpht be allowod to say another word, he'would add that lie did not propose to debar any clans or sect. Jt was a matter for the iruat to decide what schools should be entitled in the competition. Ihe Obamnan said he had been desirous of seoniEt tho matter of a scholarship carried out for some time past, and it had beon merely a question ol funds. Ho thought tint now the funds would permit the establishment of a scholarship, It would be a groat pleasure to him also to Beo greater advantage taken of their funds to BUbaidiHo scholarships gained The deputation might tost assmed that no matter should have tho oaroful and favourable consideration of the Trustees. Iho deputation then withdrew. «L Resolved that the to the leases as submitted'by MnPH wrote, on behalf of Mr E, Mould, asking that the present arrangements for renting the Union Boarding House bo allowed to remain, instead of calling tenders for tho leaso of the promises as suggested, , It was decided that Mr Pownall be informed that the present arrangements, jit 4 fortnightly tenancy bo continued, so> ong as the tort is regularly paid and the, house properly conducted. The arrangemont of re-loasing thiv property now occupied by AfrEwington was eft in tho hands of tho Chairman to grant a further term of 21 veara on i valuation basis.

Resolved that a price bo obtained for printing theVotors' List, to bo considorod at noxt meeting. Itesolvod that tendors bo called for th» ease of two cottages iu Hall street, and two m Chapel street, for a lease of seven years,

After consideration of tho' black liat' tho meeting adjourned.