PUBLIC MEETING AT MALVERN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5661, 18 April 1879, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING AT MALVERN.

: A meeting of the ratepayers of this.district was held at the Road Board office, on Wednesday, at 7.30 p.m., Mr J. M’llraith in the chair.

; The Chairman read the following petition,, showing the reason of the meeting being called

i “We, the undersigned ratepayers of the East Malvem Road. District, .haying been informed that the Board, at its last sitting, passed a resolution to the effect that a large sum of money should, be expended by the Board during.the current year on the planting of. forest trees, request you to call a public meeting of ratepayers to consider the matter before further action is taken therein.

“We are under the impression that the bourse the Board proposes to adopt will eventually lead tb a .large amount of money being raised by rates to maintain the plantations, or the abandonment of the project after a large amount of preliminary expenses have been incurred. In either cose it is worth the Serious consideration of the ratepayers of the district, and we request you to call a meeting without delay ' tb ’consider the matter.’’— Signed by W. Waddingtpn and 20 others. Mr M'Nae then asked the amount of money proposed to be spent in plantations, and how it was to be appropriated ? Mr Coltbart, Clerk to the Board, then read the minutep of the meeting of the Board referring thereto. Moved by Mr Rbssiter—“ That the East Malvern Board having no reserves available for plantations, application be. made to the E roper authorities for suitable grants, pf ihd for planting, and that if such application be successful the sum of £3OO be expended during the-current year on the planting of forest trees.” ;

Mr Brown askedyhow much money the Board had: spent during the two preceding years, andhow'muchwaathen in hand. . ; After cohaiderable ]■ discussion, Mr G. B. Willis called the attention of ibe meeting to the fact that they had .not , met to go into the figures Of the Bohrd/bitt to consider the planting of .forest .trees. The Chairman Stated that a balance of £7OOO was to the Credit of the jEfoard, and they expected £2OOO more. . ...

Mi- Pease asked for information as to the reserve on the road to Gorge Hill. Mr Bossiter considered that he was called on to make epme explanation, as he was the mover of the resolution at the Board meeting. . Be was very glad to sea the ratepayers coming forward and taking an interest in the matter. It was hot fair to pick out ~ a single item in the plantation schemej and discuss it only, but the scheme should bo i taken; as a whole, The scheme was for a number of five chain belts being planted in the district, and if the Government will give us these belts to plants lay from the river' across to. the hills, they, would have a very beneficial effect on the climate of, the place, and .would make very good shelters and fcreakwinds. If every |toad Board in the, Colony would carry out! such a scheme, we would be very unlikely to

Boe Bu °h bad'effects as the lasteummeWseasCh bad caused, and’he had in hie hand sin estimate of the Cost of planting, which had been pre* pared by, a practical man : of considerable eicr -' perience, and which he would now'foadtb the meeting;—“ Estimate of planting w> acres plantations (in tussock), viz 1 ., 60 chains long by wide—lßo chains, 3 sod and’ 3 wire-fencing, at 7s, £45 , 650 tapes pe* acre, P 1 ! nt 1 e 1 K?or efc a P al ? i digging^, 600S’ f^ fc w | de by 18 inches’deep, at 1 id) £lO9 2s 6d; planting ditto' at Id. £6B 15s ! total, £216 17s 8d. g Estimated cosfol subsoihploughing instead of planting in pot holes—s horses, each' 80 days at 4s, £15,. 2 men, each ,80i days, at 7s, £2l; 1 boy, 30days, a* 2s 6d, £3' 15s, blacksmith’s wear and tear, £3 16a j sundry expensed, £9, planting 16,500 trees at vd, £84,7s 6d; cost Of fencing* £4B j total; £131174 6d, The I 'great ai rantage of ‘adopting«h6 sVstem !Of s ploughing, as ‘'%finkt ; old-foshioned pot-bolr-sj-stem, 1$; 1 that the whole' of the land is cultivated tO j a uniform depth; of IS inches, which allows the tiefes to' extend' their roots easilyin any direction id stiaroh of ; ' food, consequently a muohmore iraaidf and rigorous growth takes place 'than, when the foots are confined in the harrOw likaita rf a small hole which, in A' dfyseason, would be ,as imperviout to the fobWas'abnrntpot ; alfo,. the land When subsoiled'willrctairimoistnre for a mnchlotigeiipeHodina seisOg/ ■ and supply all with "a tiOn, and consequently jjivei-trees » EOfo-uni-form growth.’’ cbnsidefod that the fortgoiflg' ! rOte^^ r showed that ,the cost'of thV'plantaliOfa' Wohld not be such as to frighted* thy He would be glad'td answer dpy qdfotiohi' " Mr WiUis, wn.j-wdidd’ ißke-to Rossitor'would- Khe? t& dotlio rtrbrFdtf.'thp price stated.- 1 i .»?' '. :,.<;roiyt| in , Mr Soisiter did not wishtc siy his figures were faultless, but'they were the estimateof a man-of^practical'experience, and who, had done planting both ways; 1 ’ i > i Considerable f discussion : ensued,; ‘when 1 Mr Taylor spoke at tome length, !an thought the .promoters of- the petition'' shpuld . now have their say. -'/■‘ j Mr Heigh way said no doubt the ; figufos appeared shall,but if the'plantations COstdOhhie, the ainoiint, he Considered fbe benefit to be derived from them would be more- than i: worthit. r He would movie—“ That this iHCeting approvcs of the aeiion takeri by the Board in regard tn.the planting of forest trees;”' Mr M'Nao seconded. ,; i ■ : •

■' Mr Rossiter wished the meetihg to understand that the scheme was entirely dependent onthq Government giving the landi for the purpose. - A long discussion then ensubd, in which Mr Jebaon and the'Chairman took the principal part, arid Mr Oolthart read a letter from the County Council in’ regard to : the West Coast road, which the Chairman complained of, as being' very.! bad. treatment at their hands. It wrs as follows: , ,i G.ffice'pf-County Council, - . “ Christchurch. : “ Sir,—ln reply to ypnr letter of April 8, I am directed to,.inform you that the roadway referred to appears to he part' of A tramway reserve, and I aua to requeat you to be good enough to state, for the information of the Qeunco, hy what authority any part of it is claimed as a road, and as under the control of the Road Board.-rH am, .&0,, • “ W. Jameson, Clerk totbe Council ” A discussion on the roads of the district was then continued for some time;, when the original question of the planting of trees was reverted'to. : ■ ; Ai r, Taylor'. thought, that: Mr ; Rossiter do - served great credit for the manner in whichhe had brought this matter forward, but deprecated the expense which would be. incurred in keeping .up the pla,ntations. .He, would rather, advocate the Board purchasing trees and giving them ,to. private, settlers tp plant. ,■ ■;;* ; Mr. Rossiter’s motion in the Board .was then read, and Mr fleighway’s..f,esolution was put and carried. . - - r , . ; • I Mr Jehson spoke at some length, pointing out that the • Board had not done its duty in not forming other roads, and in not. obtaining more than £39 as its share from .thq bounty Council! also that, the Board had,-the power to purchase private lands for the purpose of making roads; that the pieqe pf landwhich was formerly a road known as leading through Dean’s Cully might have been bought. Mr Brown proposed, and Mr M'Hae seconded—“ That the Road Board take s( eps to open the road from th? I, ow - er "VVaimakariri rOiu to the river through Dean’s,Gully.” Carried.

It was then proposed and seconded—“ That this meeting be adjourned to the second Wednesday in June nett, which was carried unanimously.” A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings;