HAMILTON DOMAIN BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2229, 21 October 1886, Page 2

HAMILTON DOMAIN BOARD.

•3- — <*. __ The ordinary monthly meeting of the board wae hfcld at the 'Council Chambers lust night. Present : Messrs \V. A.' Graham, (chairman). Knox. Edgecumbe, Vuu Stunner, Tippen, Bell, Jones and Barton. Thk Domain Estate.— The Mayor reported that he had written to the Minister of Lands applying for a number of allotments still in the hands of the Government. Wkllinuton SriiKKT.— A number of leaseholders of domain lands wrote prayingthe board not to close Wellington-st., East, as it was the most convenient entrance to their lands. Two other letters were received asking the board not to close Brook-field-st.—Mr Tippen said, as regards Brookfiejki street, it was Aot hkoly to be much used, as before the land .vas cleared no one could . tell' where it was,— Mr Yon ,Stu,rmer agreed that the .street was of very little use. — A reference to the map 'disclosed the fact that the portion of Brookfield-street proposed to be shut up was not required. — It was resolved to accede to the petition re Wellington-street, and to decline the application in reference to the other. A Complaint.— Mr R. Edwards %rote stating that some few weeks ago he purohased a section of land at the back of Mr Northcrofts — three acres (more or less), and that the engineer had told him he could fence up to Mr Northcroft's boundary, but before he had time to complete his fencing Mr Northcroft shifted his back fenco ten foot on to the domain land, and he wished to know whether he was to follow out the engineer's orders or to leave Mr Northcroft in possession of the ten feet. He also stated that the strangest part of the affair was that for years the boundary fence had never been disputed, but as soon as he had bought the land Mr Northcroft found out that the boundary fence was wrong and shifted his fence. Ho also asked whether the board was going to allow Mr Northcroft to take the ten feet, in addition to the extra six feet of frontage which he always hud, and which Jie was not entitled to. — The Engineer said the fact was that there was a considerable portion of surplus land, and he supposed tho first to collar it would hold it. Neither Mr Northcroft nor Mr Edwards had any right to the land. — Mr Tippen wanted to know what was meant by surplus land. — Mr Sandea said the area was more than it was represented to bo.— Cr. Knox said he supposed the land was sold at so many acres, more or loss. Mr Northcroft was not a leasuholder and Mr Edwards was. The land belonged ■to the Domain Board, but if either of the two were entitled to the land it was Mr Edwards. — After some further discussion, Mr Edgecumbe suggested that the question should be allowed to stand over until a proper survey of the borough had been made. He understood that the Government were about to do thi*.— Mr Kno\ quite disagreed with this. The fact was, that a certain person had "jumped " a por tion of their land. He did not believe in waiting for a survey which had been promised and expected for years. He moved " That Mr Northcroft be requested to remove his fence back on to his own land, and that the alleged surplusage be handed over to the tenant, Mr Edwards who had bought tho allotment, more or less."— He did not think Mr Northcroft would take any Kind that did not belong to him. If he would, it would bo setting a very bad example. — Mr Yon Sturinei would be very gUd to second the tir,st part of the motion. Hti wished to know whether they had the power to compel Mr Xoithcroft to move the fence. — Mr Knox said in that case they should throw up the domain .and leave th.ifc clumber. It was a disgrace to Hamilton to find that theie was onr? law for the rich and another for the poor.— Mr Jones seconded the motion.— Mr Edgecumbe moved as an amendment, " That seeing a legal point is involved the matter be held over until a .survey of the borough has boon made, and that the attention of the Assistant Surveyor-General be drawn to the fact that a dispute in connection with boundaries has alieady arisen." — Mr Yon Stunner seconded the amendment.—The Chairman thought the amendment ought to come on as a sepaiate resolution. The board ought to at once resist any encroachments on the domoin lands. — Mr Knox said if the case had been that of a poor man he wouM have been dealt with very differently. The engineer had stated that Mr Noithcroft had " jumped" the- laud. — There voted for the amendment, Messrs Edgecumbe, Tippen, Yon Stunner and Bell. Against : Messrs Gralum, Knox, Barton and Jones. The Chainn.iu gave his casting vote against the amendment.— Mr Yon Stunner moved as a further amendment, ''That Mr Northci oft be requested to remove his fence, as he was in illegal occupation of the land.'" Ho was quite willing to censure Mr Nurthcioft, but he did not wish to land the boaid in a lawsuit, which the motion would result in if carried. — This was seconded by Mr Tippen. — Mr Knox withdrew his motion, and the amendment was then put and carried. Bokough Survey.— Mr Edgecumbe then moved that application be made to the Assistant Surveyor-General, asking to have the borough re-sun eyed, as disputes were arising. — Mr Yon Stunner seconded the motion. — [Cr. Scott here took his seat.] — The Chairman fully concurred in the necessity for haviner the borough re-surveyed. — Mr Barton understood that the matter was in contemplation, and tho Government only wanted a little" spurring.— [Mr Dey here took his seat. I— The motion was carried, Mr Knox only dissenting. Applications for Lands. —Several ap- ! plications were made for domain lands m Hamilton East.— Mr Knox moved that the lands be put up for sale, the upset puce to be the amount realised by adjacent lands. —Mr Tippen said the board had passed a resolution limiting the upset price to 15s per acre for improved lauds. As some of the hinds applied for were improved and some in a lough state they would have to deal with them separately. This was agreed to. The upset price for Loin 271 and 282 was fixed at 5s per acre ; allotment adjoining section 4, (near Seddon's drain) 15s per acre ; lot 50, 15s per acre. —Mr Knox moved that the land formerly in the occupation of Mr K. Bradley be put up to auction.— Mr Edgecumbe said Mr Knox seemed to forget that this land had been set aside for commonage purposes.— Mr Knox said he would at the j proper time give notice that the resolution setting the land aside be rescinded. He did not wiih to Icaso tho property for fourteen years, but only for a year. There would be £20 worth of hay on it.— Mr Tippen said the grass, was now being eaten down by cattle.— Mr Knox said the tact was discreditable.— Mr Tippen : Even tho cattle are "jumping" our lands. (Laughter.) Thk Ploughing Contract. —Mr R. Wayte, the contractor for ploughing the Lake (Park) reserve, applied for a month's extension of time.— Mr Edgecumbe said Wayte had met with an accident, and as the land was not required for grass this year, he would move that tho request be granted.— Mr Dey seconded. Aftor some discussion the motion was carried. Thk Knginkkk's Report. —The board went into committee. The Engineer reported on the progress of clearing, ploughing and fencing domain lands. The lands and commonages had been surveyed, and some small drainage woiks had been done. lie the big drain, tho work had not proceeded as fist as was expected. Tho ground had turned out very rotten, and the rain, particularly that which had fallen that day had done a great deal of damage. Tho drain would require supporting. He had had a portion sodded and more would require to be done. He suggested that a subcommittee be appointed to meet him on the ground.— Mr Jones s.iid several people were complaining that their acres had been fenced in by the board.— Mr Tippen said he was son-y ho was not so fortunate— ln reply to the Chairman, Mr Saudfig said tho commonage fmoing would be commoted \u about i\ week.—

Mr Edgeoumbo moved, and Mr Barton §econded, "That two gates bo provided for cfycli of tho commonage enclosures." -Thi» provoked a considerable amount of humour, MrKnox remarking that to put two gates on the West Common was like putting two pairs of trousers on a man, whereupon Mr Barton* daid that was not a very unusual thing.— Mr Bell moved as an aiuondment "That only one gate bo supplied to each of tho commonages."— Mr Kiiok seconded.— Mr Tippon snid two gates wero required on the Kast side. —Mr Yon Stunner s.iid they were wasting time over a very small matter. The commonage an alignment would nofc last long, j*nd the gates would coma in for some other purpose.— Mr Doyhad it on vpry ! good authority that twogatos wereoreottid. — Mr Knox protested against the prerogative of the bmard being usurped by the engineer. — Mr Jones said members could have seen the specifications which provided for two or three gates.— For tho amendment there voted only the mover and seconder. — The motion was then put and carried. —lt was resolved to erect throe gates on the Park reserve, one near Jolly's, one at the end of Collingwoodstreet, and one near the Ohaupo road.— [lt being now ten minutes to ten, Mr Knox moved that the business be continued after ten o'clock. — The board having resumed, the. motion was seconded by the chairman and carried, and the board lesnmed in committee.] Thk Big Drain.— The Chairman said they would next consider the question of the drain. — Mr Tippon asked how much the extras amounted to.— The Engineer : About £10. — Mr Tippen said it was a very unusual thing for a new drain to cost bo much in repairs. The council had had a burden thrown upon them in the Cookstreet drain by engineering blundeiing, and the board was likely now to have a similar burden.— Tho Mayor said he had visited tho drain. He had thought it would be required for the abattoirs, but he was now convinced the abattoirs would have to be drained in another way. Regarding the drain, it was certain it would co->t more than was anticipated, but it was made agreeably with the board's arrangement with the lessees. His opinion was that they should determine the contract and cai ry the pipes along Rosstrevor-street, instead of taking it up through the hill near Noithcroft's. He would suggest that the board meet on the ground and settle the matter.— Mr Tippen wanted to know who authorised the expenditure of the £10. He would voto against tho payment of that sum.— The Chairman said the money was wisely expended, a stitch in time saved nine. He certainly thought the open drain «as best, as the adjoining land was to be drained. He was of opinion the person who made the original survey w:vs to blame in making the angle in the road.— Mr Knox objected to anybody except the board spending money. Ho would move that unlo>B the landowners absolved the board tho drain should be filled up with ti-troc and covered over, — Mr Jones said they were under an obligation to drain the domain land-.— Mr Knox was convinced that the board would never have authorised the drain had it not been that they thought it would seivothe abbatoirs. — The Chairman said Mi Kn<>\ was in error, as the drain so far, up to Kosstrevor-street, would have to be made to drain the domain lamU. It wiat present only deep enough foi that purpose. — Several lnpirdxws blamed the engineer for not giving timely n <tico to the board of the damage 1 b'ing done. — Mr Tippen said the board had v»mo £70 woith of pipes utteily worthies*, a* the 12 moll pipes put under the erodings would not take the rush of water. He spokp st«onj?ly because he had seen so much m >nuy wasted on engineering blund »r~. -Aftei some discussion, Mr Barton said it was no use abusing the engineer, the land had to bo drained and this was the only scheme. The job had not turned out so satisfactory as they had hoped, They oould not toll what was ot the bottom of the dram. They must make up their minds to faco the question.—Mr Knox. said the boaid were to blame for tho peifunctory manner in which they did their work. He would move that the drain be filled in with ti-tree. — Mr Jones what will you do wi*h the tenants ?— Mr Knox :— We'll consider tnem afterwaids.— Mr Barton thought this would be a very perfunctory way of doing business. (Laughter.) — Mr Edgecumbe quite agreed with Mi Baiton. So far the repairs had not been very costly. If the engineer had spent a little more money in sodding, he would have done well. They must set them^ehe* to meet the difficulty. — In answer to the chairman, the engineer said he could not give an estimate of the cost of sodding until the water went down. — Mr Tippou sa,id he had never known a sodded drain stand. It was not what the repaii" would cost now, but what they would cost in the future. He seconded Mr Knoxs motion. — Mr Edgecumbe moved tint the drain be not canied farther than llosstievorstreet, and that a committee con-.istini» of Messrs Tippen, Jones, and the mover be appointed to confer with tiio engineei to determine the best way to secme the present drain. — There voted for the amendment Mfssrs Edgecumbe, Junes, Barton, Dey and the Chairman. Against Messrs Scott, Tippen, Yon Stunner, Bell and Knox. The Chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the amendment. For the resolution there voted only Mes-rs Knox and Tippen against all the other members. — Mr Edgcumbe moved that the committee have power to act. — Mr Knox protested against this motion. If thpy committed their interests to such acouunitteo he would resign. — Mr Jones said MrKnox could vote against tho motion and if he was n^ht it would not be earned. He seconded tho motion. — Mr Edgcumbe said his reason for moving the resolution was that time was an object. Mr Knox should give other people credit for punty of motive. He was quifcp confident that what the committee did would bo in the interests of the board. — Mr Barton Mippoiteri and Mr Yon Stunner opposed the motion. He would agree to attend a meeting the no\t clay rather than allow a large matter to be dealt with by a small committee.— Mr Edgecumbe said the board knew his object. He had no desire to take the responsibility ot the board on his shoulders, but he had heard Mr Yon Stunner object to too frequent meeting-. He was quite willing that thp whole boaid should form the committee. — The suggestion was agreed to, and a motion was carried that the board inspect the drain at <J a.m. this doy, and meet at the Council Chambers subsequently. Accounts.— The following accounts were presented and passed : — The Waikato Times, £3 0s ; S. Foulsham, (amended) 3s ; (Joodwin, £5 12s ; McCarthy, 3s ; Elliott, £1 12s ; Mason, £15 ; J. Coo.obes, £7 2s lOd ; A. Campbell, £34 Is ; J. A. Bradley, £18 8s Gd ; Lewis and Simpson, £28 2slod ; Campbell, £2 10s 4d ; Dixon and Crawford, £32 10s ; Vcnev, £72 .Is ; Goodwin, 17s ; R. C. Martin, £2C la, 3d j Freeman and Bi indie, £85; Soutei, t'27 11 3 ; Cochrane, £8 12s ;T. U. Sarnies fcl'.l 5s Gd, (referred back for particulars.)