GENERAL MEETING OF LAND-PURCHASERS AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 14, 12 April 1851, Page 2

GENERAL MEETING OF LAND-PUR-CHASERS AT CHRISTCHURCH.

The first Ordinary General Meeting of the Society of Land-Purchasers was held in the Land-Office at Christchurch, on Thursday April 3rd. It was resolved upon the motion of Mr. Dampier, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Dudley that, in the unavoidable absence of Mr. Beittan, Mr. Fjtzgeeald should take the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The chairman said the first business of the Meeting was to elect a President and Council, according to the 6th and 7th rules. The Society were aware that no member was eligible for election to any office, unless his name were publicly announced as a candidate at least fourteen days before the day of election. Mr, Brittan being the only candidate for the office of President, and the'late council for the offices of members of council, with the exception of Mr. Stuart Wortley, who had offered himself in the place of Mr. Cholmondely, who had resigned, those gentlemen were ipso facto elected without-opposition. AVith respect to the Council, it was generally understood that when they were elected a short time ago, they were to hold office for a year. They thought it better, however, to keep strictly to the new rules, and present themselves for re-election on the first quarterly General Meeting. If now the Society thought that they had been taken by surprise, the council would consent to the adjournment of the Meeting for a fortnight, in order to enable others to become candidates. Mr. Read moved, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Dudley, that the election of the late Council, with the substitution of Mr. Wortley's name for that of Mr. Chohnondeley, be confirmed. Some conversation followed, as to whether Mr. Stuart Wortley, being under age, was eligible for election. The Chairman reminded the meeting that the Society was competent to elect whom it pleased for its council. If any objection were made to Mr. Wortley's election, it could only be urged by taking advantage of the proposal to which the council would agree, that the Meeting should be adjourned for a fortnight, in order that some other cauditate might offer himself.

No such motion being made, Mr. Dampier moved, seconded by Mr.Ward, " That Mr.Stuart Wovtley, notwithstanding the fact of his being under age, if that should turn out to be so, be received as the representative of Lord Wharncliffe, and land-owner in this colony, and that his vote on all occasions be received accordingly." This motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Read's motion was then put and carried. The Chairman then read the First Quarterly Beport of the Council to the General Meeting* Quarterly Report of the. Council to the General Meeting. The Council have the honour to report that since the last General Meeting, several impor-*-------tant questions relating to the prosperity of the settlement have come before them. ■•"' 1. They have requested Mr. Godley to furnish them with an estimate of the expense of completing the whole road from Lyttelton to the Ferry over the Heath cote, and as soon as Mej'.:--shall have received that estimate, they propose applying themselves seriously to the task of ascertaining whether any plan'may be devised for completing the road as speedily as possible. The Society is aware that the amount of land hitherto sold by the Association has not supplied funds sufficient for the purpose: the council are of opinion that it would be highly impolitic to wait until funds may arise from that source, before making an effort to finish the road. The accomplishment of tins great work, so that there may be at all times a safe and certain communication between the port and the

• £$;iins, will probably exercise a more powerful "^Viifluence than anything else upon the rapid clevelopement of the resources of the colony. The council forbear at present to suggest any plan by which this may be effected ; but they conceive that the prospective land sales, which civrinot but be materially increased by the completion of the road, —the surplus of the public revenue above the expenditure, which the council have reason to believe is even already accumulating; with considerable rapidity ; and the tolls which may be imposed on the traffic passing along* the road when finished, offer three sources of security, all of which may be made collaterally available for the repayment of any sums of money which it may be necessary to borrow in order to finish the road. c4.s soon as the council are prepared with a definite plan, they will lose no time in laying it before the land-purchasers, and if necessary, will call a special meeting' for that purpose. 2. The council have also taken into their consideration the whole question of the pasturage regulations of the Association. They appointed a special committee to draw up a report on the subject. This report was adopted, and has been forwarded to Mr. Godley. The council now lay the report upon the table for the perusal of any of the members of the society, and especially invite the attention of those who are interested in the pasturage of the district, to the recommendations which the council have made to the Association. The council confidently anticipate that this report, having been prepared with great care, and with the advice of those who are most experienced in such matters, -will meet with general approval by the land-purchasers. Since, however, the carrying into effect these recommendations involves the passing of a new Act of Parliament for the purpose. Some time must necessarily elapse before the colonists can know the result. 3. The council having had their attention direced to the subject of the cutting of timber in the bushes belonging to theAssociation,thoug-htright to communicate with Mr. Godley on the subject, and the arrangements which have been made in consequence met with their approval. These arrangements provided in the first instance free license to all parties to cut timber for firewood and building purposes without any charge whatever. This was clone with the view of affording every assistance to the first body of settlers to get temporary dwellings erected with as little delay as possible. Three months free license seemed, however, sufficient for this purpose. The peculiar circumstances requiring it have now in a great measure passed; and it being found that the woods of the settlement, (which from their limited extent require great' care in their preservation,) were being cut to great waste, overrun by idle and dissolute characters, and the free licences becoming in a great measure monopolised by men who made a trade of them, realizing considerable profits, without in any material degree lessening the price'of timber to the consumei', it has been determined, and the council think wisely, to charge in future a moderate sum for such licenses. The council have been given to understand that this measure has already had a beneficial effect in clearing the woods of many bad characters, and in checking the wanton cutting and waste of timber; and whilst it has not been followed by any sensible increase in the market price of timber, it promises to afford a certain increase to the revenues and resources of the Association. It has been, however, matter for consideration whether the present charge made for the licenses, one pound per month for each man, be not too high, and the Council have reason to expect from representations which have been ■" made on this head, that after the present month tUe charge will be reduced to 10s. per month for each licence. 4. The question of the dues charged for wharfage by the Association also' came before the council. Dues were being levied upon all j'bocls landed or taken* to sea from any part of _™Jhe sea wall in front of the town of Lyttelton. The council were of opinion that it was right and necessary that some charge should be made sufficient to keep these public premises in repair, but that there should be one place at which persons should be able to land small goods free of any charge. Mr. Godley, upon a communication to this effect from the council, immediately set apart a place opposite one of the slips, as a public landing place, and the council ai'e satisfied that this is the best arrangement which can be made.

5. The next point which the council have had under their notice, is that of the ecclesiastical arrangements which have been made.

The council are commissioned to express on the part of the bishop designate of the settlement his great regret that he was unable to meet the society during his brief stay in the colony. A special meeting was called for the purpose on the 11th inst.,butthe violence of the weather, and the state of the roads, rendered it impossible to be held. The object, however, for which the bishop designate came out, has been accomplished. The school and college have been set on foot, with such temporary accomodation as could be obtained in so early a stage of the colony. Arrangements have been made for the performance of the Church Services in the most populous places, and above all, Dr. Jackson has concerted such measures with the Bishop of New Zealand, as it is confidently expected will "remove the difficulties which stood in the way of his consecration before he left England. 6. The council have taken such steps as will lead to the establishment of public reading rooms at Christchurch and at Lyttelton. They recommend that there should be public reading rooms which all subscribers shall be entitled to avail themselves. They will be supplied with newspapers and periodicals from England and the neighbouring colonies to the extent which the number of subscribers will admit of. Mr. Godley has placed rooms at the disposal of the council for the purpose. At Christchurch in the land offices, and at Lyttelton in that part of the Emigration Barracks which is about to be set apart for the college. It is hoped that the books {(presented to the colonists in London, which they gave to the' college^ library as well as those presented immediately to the College library will be placed in the reading r.)oms and be at the services of the subscribers ; Under such regulations, however, as the college authorities may consider it necessary to enforce, for the safe custody of the volumes committed to their trust.

The council have prepared, and annexed to this report, an account of the expences which they have incurred since the last general meeting, together with an estimate of those which it is thought they will have to meet during the next six months. In jjthis estimate the Society will perceive an item amounting to 12L 10s. for the services of a clerk. The council are of opinion that the appointment of such an office has become absolutely necessary. The secretaries have been compelled to resign, nor can any one be expected, without adequate remuneration, to give up his time upon which there is so large a demand at this active period, to attend efficiently to the business of the society. The council therefore recommend the appointment of a ,clerk to the council at a salary of 25/. a year, and they have reason to believe that they shall be able to obtain the services of a gentleman in every way-most competent for the task.

For this purpose the council recommend that a subscription of ss. be levied upon every member of the society for the expenses of the next six months.

The council in conclusion would press upon every member of the society that upon their active and regular attention to the public affairs ofthe society, will depend the influence which the colonists will be able to exercise in the attempt to gain a municipal government in the settlement. That the colonists have well and wisely managed all their affairs already within their control, and that they have cheerfully contributed the funds requisite for the purpose, will afford the strongest evidence of their ability to undertake the direction of all the local affairs of the colony. On behalf of the Council, W. G. Brittan, Chairman. Appendix.—Estimate of expenses of the Society for the six months ending October 3rd, 1851. £. s. d. Expenses incurred since the last General Meeting 1 11 0 Printing and Stationary ..500 Salary of Clerk to the Council 12 10 0 19 1 0 A long and interesting conversation then followed, respecting the state of the roads ; in the course of which the following resolutions were proposed.

Moved by Mr. Shand, seconded by Mr. Habjian. 1. That a communication be made to Mr. Godley, requesting that a practicable communication for foot passengers and horses only be made from the terminus of the new road to* the land-office in Christchurch. 2. That an adequate conveyance be provided for horses across the Ferry over the Heathcote. Moved by Mr. Fisher, seconded by Mr. Read. " That the bridle track be made practicable from the bridle-path to Christchurch." Moved by Mr. Burke, seconded by Mr Barkek, " That a recommendation be made to Mr. Godley, to make the road practicable to B,iccarton Bush from Christchurch, and that the making of this road should have the precedence of all others/ The two former of these were carred, the latter was negatived. The chairman then brought forward the Report upon the present pasturage regulations in the Settlement, which had been drawn up by a sub-committee of the council. Report of the select Committee appointed fo consider the subject of Pasturage Regulations. The general pasturage of the lands within the settlement of Canterbury, and the terms upon which licenses are proposed to be granted by the Canterbury Association, having been brought under the especial notice and consideration of the Commissioners of the society of colonists, and by them referred to a committee to investigate the whole subject; we have proceeded to make such enquiries and have given such mature consideration to the subject, as one so important to the interests and rapid developement of the resources of the colony seems peremptorily to demand, and we now submit the following report as the result of our deliberations. The main subject appears to resolve itself into two material points. First, the interest of the colony as affecting the greater or less sale of lands, and the second, the interest of the colonists and purchasers, by whose funds the colony has been first founded, to whom the Association and the Govermnentare equally boundbycontract and in good faith for carrying out the terms already pledged to them, in so far as their interests may be affected by the changes which appear to us to be necessary. We have directed our best attention to the consideration-of these questions, and venture to suggest the amended terms and conditions upon which we think these licenses should hereafter be granted, having regard to the main objects of the Association, the peculiar circumstances of the colony, and to the interests of the first body of colonists as founders of the settlement. In the first place, the whole country comprised within the boundaries of the Canterbury settlement is peculiarly adapted to the purposes of grazing and the depasture of cattle and sheep, not so much by reason of the extent, which to a certain degree is limited, but from the peculiar features of the country, the richness and fertility of the soil, its extent of level land, its temperate climate, and its abundant supply of water by the rivers and water courses with which it is interspersed ; the high lands and mountain slopes by which, it is enclosed, and which extend the whole length of the colony from Double Corner at the north east, to the southernmost part of the settlement, being highly fitted for sheep stations, whilst those large tracts of country which lie at the foot of the mountains, are of a flat, slightly undulating character, and affords pasturage ranges of the best description, as well for the breeding and propagation ofcattleasthemaintenance of sheep, and being upon lauds free from woods and bush, highly productive of herbage and well watered, are equally well calculated for agricultural purposes when occasion shall require them. This forms a distinguishing feature of the country comprised within the settlement of Canterbury and gives to it a decided advantage when compared with the far more extensive districts of Australia, which from time to time are visited by severe droughts destroying large quantities of stock, at all times rendering their herbage and pasturage precarious, and frequently involving the settlers of that country in vast and irretrievable loss, to which the district of Canterbury is not in like manner subject. The advantage's of the district within the Canterbury settlement in these respects are (Continued in the sixth page-)