MEETING OF LAND-PURCHASERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 5, 8 February 1851, Page 6

MEETING OF LAND-PURCHASERS.

On Tuesday the 4th instant, the adjourned General Meeting of the Society of Land-Pur-chasers, called for the purpose of considering and finally deciding the new Rules and Regulations for the Government of the Society, was held in the Association's store, at 1 o'clock. The meeting was well, though not fully attended.

Mr. W. G. Brittan took the Chair

The original draft of the proposed Rules appeared inthe Lvttelton Times of the 25tli ult. The consideration of each clause separately and in detail was the object of the present meeting1, and .was at once proceeded with. Clause 1 having been read, the Rev. Mr. Dudley inquired whether it was intended that purchasers, of land, other than from the Association originally, should be considered members. The question was put to the meeting and negatived. Clause 1 was then agreed to. Clause 2 having been read, the following alteration was proposed and agreed to, " That agents or persons holding written authorities or powers of attorney, be at liberty to exercise all the privileges of members ; their principals being at such time absent from the settlement." Mr. Wakd moved as an amendment, the insertion of the words "to vote" after the word "authorities." He thought a simple authority for other purposes was not sufficient warrant to an agent to vote on general questions for his principal. The Hon. J. Stuart Wortlet seconded the amendment.

The motion being put to the meeting, was negatived.

Clause 2 as altered, was then agreed to. Clauses 3 and 4 were agreed to. Clause 5 having been read, the Rev. W. Pcckle, in the absence of Mr. Kingdon, moved the amendment of which he had given notice, " That members should have the right of voting by proxy." Mr. Macfabline seconded the motion. The amendment was put to the meeting, and lost.

Mr. Perceval moved of the amendment which he had given notice. He, however, subsequently modified it as follows :—" That no member shall under any circumstances have more than one vote."

Mr. Fisher seconded the motion. The amendment in this shape was agreed to,

Clauses 6, 7, 8 were agreed to,

Clause 9 having been read, Mr. Pekceval withdrew the amendment of which he had given notice, understanding that the clause was about to be modified in accordance with his views.

Mr. Brittan said,tliat the Council had considered the effect of Mr. Perceval's amendment and its bearing upon the cause, and had determined to oppose the open publication of their minutes which the amendment contemplated ; he would, however, with Mr. Perceval's consent, move the following addition to the clause, " And shall present a report upon all such matter, to every ordinary general meeting of the Society."

Clause 9, thus amended, was then agreed to, Clause 10 and 11 were agreed to.

Mr. Brittan proposed the following as a 12th clause. "That a balance-sheet of the receipts and expenditure belaid before each quarterly general meeting of the Society. This was agreed to.

The general question of the adoption of the Rules as now amended, was put and carried unanimously, IJpon the motion of Mr. Fitzgehalb, seconded by Mr. Dampier, it was ordered " That a printed copy of the rules be sent to every member of the Society." The meeting separated at three o'clock. The following may be relied on as a correct copy of the wiles and regulations as amended and finally determined, Rules and Regulations of the Society of LandPurchasers in the Canterbury Settlement. 1. That the Society be composed solely of land-owners who shall have purchased land of the Canterbury Association,

•2. That agents, or persons holding written authorities, or powers of attorney, be at liberty to exercise all the privileges of' Members, their —l*cUicipuls-.-liciii<j._at™sucb—tiine.. 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 such 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 present; that no Member shall, under any circumstances, have more than one vote ; 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 conducted by a Council, consisting of twelve Members,' to be elected at the first ordinary General Meeting; in each year, who shall retain office until others be appointed ; and in case any vacancies occur from death, resignation, non-vesidence within the Settlement, ov 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 person 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-Pivrchasers, and shall present a report upon all such matters to every ordinary General Meeting of the Society.

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 by 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.

12. That a balance-sheet of the receipts and expenditure be laid before each Quarterly General Meeting of the Society.

The first ordinary general Meeting of the Society will be held on the first Thursday in April next, when the President will be elected, according to the foregoing rules.

On Tuesday evening last Mr. and Mrs. Godley entertained about a hundred of the gentry of Lyttelton and Christchurch, at a ball, in a set of large rooms in the Immigration Barracks, at present cleared of their late occupants in readiness for the long-expected " Castle-Eden." They were metamorphosed for the occasion into a really handsome suite of apartments. Those who are familiar with the normal condition of such buildings will readily guess that ingenuity and talent might well be tasked in vain attempts to make them attractive ; yet by simple but tasteful arrangements of flags, evergreens, and lights, not only was all unsightliness well screened, but even an exceedingly agreeable effect produced. Dancing commenced at ten o'clock, and was kept up till three, with a spirit unknown to our mother country ball-rooms, stimulated perhaps as much by the unexpectedness of the pleasure provided thus early for the dancers by the hos_4lUftlLt.y_of_MrsJGrod'■]ley;, as^ l»yjth e circumstance of rineteen^twentietbs at least oOEe company

being in their freshest" dancing days." Music excellently performed, supplied a rapid succds-' sion of the newest quadrilles, polkas,'and waltzes —the first, by the way, these valleys and rocks ever heard—and the thought of this lent no small zest to the enjoyment of the scene—and at intervals during the evening glees were performed in exquisite style by some amateurs of the party. Strange and pleasant it was to hear the Jinest works of our old glee composers amongst the hills of New Zealand —"Glorious Apollo," " Hark the Lark at Heaven's Gate Sings," " See the Chariot of Hand," "Oh, Happy Fair," and, which was decidedly the best performance during the evening, Calcott's well-known trio, " Poor Insect."

lii one room of the four, refreshments were laid out, where might be obtained a greater v variety of the lighter eatables than we had thought it possible to obtain in so new a town, adorned the tables, whilst more substantial food supplied an excellent supper for a later period of the evening.

Nevertheless, the peculiar source of enjoyment at this pleasant ball was that of reflection upon the constituents of the scene before us ; for there was nothing in what met the incurious eye to remind him that we were in any but a well-ap-pointed English ball-room—the accompaniments of good music, fashionable dress, elegance, and beauty, were the same; but if it were remembered that the youth and the beauty which seemed to be present, as of course and with ease, had to-day been, and would to-morrow be, sharing fatigues and anxiety which fall to the lot of few ball-room belles, the idea lent an especial interest to the group, and an especial beauty to the form, which at home might have run the risk of being disregarded. Courageous

daughters of England! our ornaments and aids alike—in ball-room or bivouac, —"it is good for ye to be here!"