WAITANGI SITE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 11 February 1933, Page 8

WAITANGI SITE

MEETING OF TRUST BOARD APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES , At the first, meeting of (tie Waitangi National Trust Board held at Govern- ' rnont House, Wellington, on the lGtli December, the Governor-General, at the , special request of the Board, consented to act as its chairman for the first year. Mr Vernon 11. Reed was appointed deputy chairman, honorary secretary and treasurer, and Mr A. It. Sclandcrs, public accountant, of Wellington, honorary auditor.

The following honorary advisory committees were appointed, subject to the appointees being willing to serve upon them which they have all since consented to doArchitectural Advisory Committee : Messrs W. 11. Gummer and W. M. Page. Historical and Maori Life and Customs Advisory Committee: Messrs T. Lindsay Bu:ck, G. Arehey, 11. E. Vaile, F. C. Mappin, Tail Henare, M.P., the Rev. A. B. Chappell, Mrs A. Buchanan. Farm Advisory Committee: Messrs L. W. Nelson, J. W. McAulay, H. H. Mountain. Forestry and Scenic Preservation Advisory Committee: Messrs E. Phillips Turner. A. B. Williams. Golf Committee: Messrs W. A. .Kiely and J. W. Mawson. The Governor-General expressed keen appreciation of the generous offer of the Maori people to erect a handsome carved Runanga (or assembly hall) to mark the centenary in 1940 of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Ilis Excellency also vpiced the hope that some interesting relies and lifelike pictures of the chief dramatis personae at the signing of the treaty may be available for a small local museum in oije of the (rooms of the treaty house. Votes of thanks were passed by the Foard to the Lands and Survey Department for preparing surveys of the Waitangi property, to the Solicitor-General for revision and preparation of the Deed of Trust; and to the Crown Law Office for the preparation of the transfer of the property. It was also resolved that the thanks of the board be conveyed to the Bank of New South Wales for its generous donation of £SOO towards the expenses of the trust. A report presented by Mr Vernon U■ freed to the board stated that the old British residency formerly occupied by Mr James Busby and now known as the treaty bouse, will need repair and reinstatement, that the) formation of two short roads on the trust, property is desirable, that the clearing of a portion of land now overgrown bv corse and scrub will be necessary, and that about two miles of fencing'will be required. Much of this work can be carried out with the help of the unemployed. It is proposed to lay out a 9-bole golf course for use as from next winter, and arrangements are being made whereby it is expected that it will become self-supporting. The rehabilitation -of the old British residency, or treaty house, is the most urgent need in connection with the Waitangi property. In order to conform to the originnl plan, the north-east wing, removed many years ago, will have to lie. replaced, and extensive restoration and repairs are required forthwith if further deterioration of this historic building is to be avoided. Towards the cost of restoration of this buildng and the general re-establishment of the Waitangi estate, which is in a somewhat dilapidated condition, no money is at present available beyond the £I.OOO promised by Their Excellencies and the £SOO promised by the Government, but it is felt that many New Zealanders may be disposed to identify themselves with what is now national property bv contributing to the cost of this undertaking. Those who are willing to do so should send their contributions to the Bank of New Zealand at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin, marked ‘'Waitangi Renovation and Improvement Fund.” They will bo most gratefully received and will be acknowledged in due course by the Governor-General ns chairman of the Waitangi National Trust Board.