SOCIETY OF LAND PURCHASERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume 1, Issue 3, 25 January 1851, Page 6

SOCIETY OF LAND PURCHASERS.

On Tuesday the 28 inst, a Meeting of Laudpurchasers called, by public advertisement, " for the purpose of receiving the report of the Council on the rules and regulations for the government of the Society," was held in the Association's store, at one o,'clock. The Meeting was numerously attended. Mr. Brittan took the chair. The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read, and the report of the SubCommittee appointed to examine into the vo-ting-papers for the Council, having been received and adopted,—

The Chairman said, he would, without further preface, read to the Meeting the draft of the rules and regulations which had been prepared by the Council. He wished it to be understood that they were, in their present form, only a rough outline, but they had been attentively considered and discussed at several meetings of the Council, and would, he thought, be sufficient to point the attention of Members to the subjects which most required discussion. He might tell them that the Council were by no means unanimous on one or two of the contemplated rules : several Members were prepared to oppose them in the final debate, and suggest amendments to those clauses to which they were opposed. He therefore invited every one who objected to any clause of the series he was about to read, to give notice of his intention to move an amendment to it on the day which might be appointed for the final consideration of the question. He then read the following

Draft of Rules and Regulations of the Society of Land-purchasers in the Canterbury Settlement.

I. That the Society be composed solely of land-owners who have purchased land of the Canterbury Association.

2. That agents, or persons holding written authorities, or powers of attorney, be at liberty to represent their principals at all General Meetings of the Society, and to vote on all matters canvassed at such Meetings, their principals being at such time absent from the Settlement.

3. That all Members register their names with the Secretary before they can take any part in the proceedings of the Society.

4. That a general Meeting of the Members be held four times at the least in every year, that is to say, on the first Thursday in the months of January, April, July, and October: and that Special-General Meetings may be called by the President, the Council, or by the Secretaries, upon a written requisition signed by ten Members of the Society. That 14 days' public notice of any such Special General Meeting be given in the Colony; and that the subjects for which svich Meeting is called, be specified in such Notice ; and that no other business be brought before such Meeting.

5. That at all General Meetings, fifteen Members shall form a quorum; that all questions shall be decided by a majority of the Members, or their representatives, present; and that--the Chairman shall have the casting vote. *~ „

6. That at the First Ordinary General Meeting in each year, a President shall be elected, who shall hold office for one year, and shall be ex officio Chairman of the Council and of the General Meetings. 7. That the proceedings of the Society be con- j ducted by a Council, consisting of twelve \ Members,, to be elected at the first ordinary \ General Meeting, who shall retain office until | others be appointed ; and in case any vacancies a occur from death, resignation, non-residence within the Settlement, or from any other cause, that such vacancies shall be filled up at the next ordinary General Meeting. 8. That the President and the Council be elected by open voting, or by written votingpapers signed and witnessed ; and that no per- ; son shall be eligible for election, whose name

shall not have been publicly announced at least fourteen days before the day of election.

9. That the Council be empowered to conduct all negotiations on the part of the Land-Pur-chasers, with the Canterbury Association, and with the Government, and become the organ of all communications in their behalf, expressing the collective views and sentiments of the Land-Purchasers.

10. That Meetings of the Council be held once a week, and that three be a quorum ; and that a Special Meeting of the Council may be called £>y the President, or by any two of its Members: three days' notice of such Meeting having been given, either by circular letter left at the ordinary place of residence, or by public advertisement in the Journals.

11. That all expenses of the Society be paid by a Rate to be voted at a General Meeting, and that any Member not having paid his share of the rate so voted, shall be, disqualified from taking any part in the proceedings of the Society.

. Clause 5 having been read, the Rev. G. B.T. Kingdon gave notice that he should move as an amendment, " That Members should have the right of voting by proxy."

Mr. Perceval gave notice that he should move as an amendment, "That no representative of Absentee Land-Purchasers shall have, under any circumstances, more than one vote."

Mr. Fitzgerald said it had been his intention to move a similar amendment. He would now give notice that in the event of Mr. Perceval's motion being negatived, and an agent being consequently allowed to record a separate vote for each absentee land-purchaser whom he might represent, he would move a clause to the effect that " land-purchasers should have a vote for each separate 50 acre section which they had bought."

On clause 9 being read, Mr. Pehceva:l gave notice that he would move that the following words be added, " That the minutes of the .Council..be. laid before, the General Meeting next following their adoption by the Council."

Mr. Read was of opinion that ample time and 'means should be given to the land-pur-chasers at large, to consider'the effect andbearing of the questions treated of in the document " just read. He would suggest that the meeting af'ifs rising~should stand a'djourned'lill the"4th* of February, which would allow every one a fortnight's consideration previous to the final discussion of the subject. He would therefore propose a resolution to that effect. The motion having been seconded by Mr. Fisher, was passed.

A desultory conversation followed on some subjects of no particularly public interest, and the Meeting adjourned until Tuesday, the 4th of February, at one o'clock.