TE AROHA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2560, 6 December 1888, Page 2

TE AROHA.

Domain Board.—The monthly meeting of the Domain Board was held on Saturday, Ist December. Present: Messrs Gavin (chairman), Ahier and Ilott. The minutes of the last monthly meeting were read and confirmed ; also of the special meetings held 12th and 21st November. A letter was road from Mr Geo. Wilson, late member of the Board, stating that he had received information from the Government that his resignation had not as yet been accepted by them and that he was still recognised by them as a member. He therefore asked the Board's permission to resume his seat. —The Chairman said he had asked how he becuuo possessed of the information, the. Board not having received any intimation of the matter, or any definite reply to their communications nominating' Mr Wilsrn's successor.—Mr Wilson, who was in attendance, explained thiit lie had not replied to the Chairman's letter. as he intended being present at this meeting and giving the members full information. Some tmi'3 ag.i he asked Mr Northcroft it ho would allow himself to be nomiiuted as n member, but ho refused, and asked him (Mr Wilson) to retain his seat. Sine, then he has received this letter from the Government; and he felt that unless there was any objection from other members, he would like to have his resignation cancelled, and to resume working fur the Board. It was a pleasure to him to claim an interest in what the Board was doing.—The Chairman : " I do not wish to be discourteous to Mr Wilson, or olfer any objection to his resuming his seat, knowing that at all times he works disinterestedly for the good of the Board, but I do object to our communications to the Government being ignored, as 1 know that it is the underhand work of some members ot this hoard, who have managed all this and .several other matters which have placed the Board in a false position. I am certain that Mr Northcroft would not have interfered unless he had been influenced. Ido nut wish to blame Mr Wilson ; but the Government should treat the Board courteously, and reply to their communications, and not for the Board to only learn by a side wind, as in this instance, what they were doing. I would like Mr Wilson to refrain from resuming his seat, though I admit he has a perfect right to it, until we, as a Board, make enquiries and get officially the matter contained in Mr Novthcroft's letter-"—Mr Wilson : " I will willingly retire, rather than create any discord."—Mr Ilott: 't If Mr Wilson retires so will I. You need not think, Mr Chairman, to make me angry, as I came quite prepared for all this ? "—The Chairman : " I hope you won't get angry; you can do just as you please ; aud now I hope the Press will take a full report of what I am saying. You are the man who has c msed all the trouble, with influence at your back, causing the wishes of the Board to be set aside, and I, as Chairman, will not submit to it any longer to be in the position of having a minority ruling and humiliating the other members. In this instance the Board accepted your (Mr Wilson's) resignation, and a successor was nominated by a majority of the Board, and yet we learn that a second person has been nominated."—Mr Ilott : " You need not think to frighten me by asking the Press to take a full report."— The Chairman : " If the. Press had always reported fairly, all would have gone well, but when it only leported a part of the proceedings and suppressed the remainder, trouble ensued at once, and public meetings were called in reference to what appeared to be the action of the Board." —Mr Ilott: " I can publish just what I please." —The Chairman: " Certainly, and the public can tell you what they think of you for doing so as they did in a very emphatic manner at the last Town Board election."— Mr Ilott : "Yon made a nomination without my being consulted. Did I not ask for the telegram you sent?"— The Chairman: "Yes, aud it was at home. I brought it to the next meeting, and if you had asked for it again, you would have obtained it, and I would havo asked you to produce the correspondence yon had sent re nominating. Dr Wright.—Mr Ilott : "What I do as a private person has nothing to do with the Board. I never nominated Dr Wright."—Chairman : " No, you are too good a general for that."—Mr Ilott: "If I deny that I had anything to do with the matter, you would not believe me." —Chairman : " I would not. for we received a telegram from one of the Ministers saying that the successor we nominated should be appointed, and asking would it do to put Dr. Wright on also. You did not ask again at the next meeting for the telegram."—Mr Ilott: "No, lam not going to play second fiddle to you.— Chairman : "If you did you would be playing at any rate, toan honest man." Mr Ahier: "I think there can be no doubt that Mr Wilson is a member, and should keep his seat." —Chairman : " I have blamed Mr Wilson, and now apologise, as the explanation given is now quite satisfactory, but it only puts the other members the deeper in the mud. And now that the matter has been fully discussed, we had better write to the Government in regard to the matter."—lt was resolved that a letter be sent, saying that the Board were willing that Mr Wilson should resume his seat. —Earlier opening of the baths: Mr Ahier tho»eht it would bo advisable to return to the former plan of opening at (J a.m.—Agreed to.— Application from Allan Tracy, offering to erect a large advertising board at the Auckland railway station. Accepted in terms of his letter. The rules for the Tennis Court were submitted and approved. Takings for the month amounted to £31; Accounts passed, £23 lls; debit balance, £9 13s Bd.—The Chairman stated he had inquired if the Board could get an overdraft of £100, and the banker informed him that he could have £500 if required.—A special meeting was called for Saturday, the Bth, to consider the matter of erecting a library building.—The meeting closed at 10.40.