The Lake Domain Board.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 February 1912, Page 2

The Lake Domain Board.

-**> - * ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. IMPORTANT DISCUSSION ON THE LAKE. The annual meeting of the Lake Domain Board was held at the offices of the Levin Borough Council on Saturday. Those present were: Major Burlinson (in the chair), Messrs J. R. Macdonald, B. R. 'Gardener, P. Bartholomew. Hanata, and Paki.

Mr B. P. Gardener proposed the re-election of Major Burlinson as chairman for a further period, and said that the office was not such an easy one .as some people thought. A great deal of work had to be done in the clerical line, and a great deal of responsibility rested with the chairman. Major Burlinson had held the chair on several occasions, and he (the Mayor) could safely say that no one could have carried out the duties of that office more conscientiously than Major Burlinson had done. The motion was .seconded, in appreciative terms, bv Mr Bartholomew. and carried unanimously. The chairman, in re pi v. thankerl the members for their kind remarks, and said that Mr Gardener was quite correct when he mentioned that a good deal of responsibility rested with his office. Tact had to be exercised, more especially with the natives, so as to secure their co-operation, and at ti;e same time more satisfactory results in the future. He would endeavour to carry out the duties of his office ill the future as conscientiously as he had endeavoured in the past.

The principal business of the meeting, which led to an interesting dis- . eussion, was a motion, which was nnssed, to hold °a conference of the different bodies interested in the welfare of the lake. Tn proposing that a conference should be held, Mr Gardener stated that- he thought it was only fair that the natives, independent of those on the Board, should be represented, and he opined that it would be necessary to invite the tribe interested to select three delegates to attend a conference to be held on "Wednesday, March 13. He was also of opinion that other organisations, such as the Acclimatisation Society, should be represented, and the views of their meeting that day could be. placed before them, more particularly the natives with tbe purpose of their representatives placing the wants of the. conference before their people. He thought it was better to act in a conciliating spirit than to approach tbe. Government before tbe views of the natives were ascer-

tained. Tbe motion was seconded by the chairman, who agreed with the re-

marks of the previous speaker. He said that there w>as a great want on behalf of the Acclimatisation Society to have the rights to fish in the lake, and he felt sure if the concession could be granted it would popularise the lake to a marked extent, and it was their business as m board to work in the best of spirits with the natives, who had, so far, always met the .genci'il public in a proper manner. * Mr J K. Macdonald thought the suggestion was a. good one, but recognised that a great deal of tact liiad, and would have, to be used in connection with the matter. Still he felt tbat the natives, so long as they wore fairly treated, would be willing to assist the popularising of the lake. Mr Bartholomew also supported the motion. lie thought the question of fishing was a very important matter, und be also thought the question of cleaning the lake could be discussal. He felt sure that some step,? must be taken if the lake was going to be of any great benefit in tlhc future. The native members stated that they wore quite willing to transmit the motion to the tribe, and they thought within a month that delegates could be appointed and attend the conference. They expressed the opinion that it was the best thing to have the representatives of the tribe present at the conference.

Natives, other than those who aro members of the Board, attended the meeting. Tho discussion was translated to them by Mr Maedonald. and they oppressed the opinion thafi the steps proposed to ho taken weW5 the test that could be done.