AUCKLAND LAND ASSOCIATION.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 772, 7 September 1853, Page 2

AUCKLAND LAND ASSOCIATION.

On Monday evening (being the first Monday in September) the second General HalfYearly Meeting of the members was held in the Hall of the Mechanics’ Institute, l>r. Bennett, President of the Association, in the Chair. The Chairman having slated the purposes of the Meeting and read the Rule under which it was assembled, the Secretary, Mr. A. W. Hansard, proceeded to submit the several financial statements which the Laws of the Society require to be presented. These included detailed accounts of the monies received and expended on behalf of the Association, and a general statement of its funds and effects, specifying in whose hands the same are deposited; and wore respectively prepared by the Treasurer and Trustees,* attested by the Auditors, and countersigned by the Secretary. The various totals were almost exactly as we staled in an article on this and kindred Associations in our last, showing that the members of the Association number 78, holding 184 shares. The contributions from these members amounted to 18/. 18s, Od. for Entrance Fees, and 880/. 2s, Od. for Subscriptions. During the year 57 shares bad hoi n drawn by ballot, appropriating 740/. amongst the members to whose precedence in the privileges of the Society bad thus fallen. These were the general amounts as reported, and we mention then as affording evidence oftfie prosperity which has attended the operations o( the Association ; the minuter particulars need nut be quoted, as they can have little interest for any but the members themselves. The next business was the election of Officers for the ensuing year. The several ofiiecs were taken seriatim, but all the Officers of the past year were re-elected, except that three vacancies in the Committee (arising from absence from the colony or selling out) were to be supplied. The following is a list of the Officers for next year as chosen by the Meeting President, Dr. Bennett. Vice-President, Mr. J. T. Boylan. Treasurer , Mr. Arch. Clark. Trustees. Messrs. 1. Williamson, T. Russell, and J. Makepeace. Committee, Messrs. T. Canty, M. Dinnin, J. England, W. Griffin, W. Griffith, W. Hay, W. Hughes, T. Koighllcy, M. Keilley, P. A. Phillips, R. B. Sbalders, W. C. Wilson, C. Winch, F. R. Woodbam.

Secretary , Mr. A. W. Hansard. Auditors , Messrs. Geo. Graham, J. Fielding, and G. Smith.

It was then announced that a sufficient sum was available for the appropriation of the amount of six shares, and the usual ballot look place. The following members’ names were drawn as entitled lo the next participation in the benefits of the Society,— Mr. R. Bennett, (one share); Mr. IVAddis (one share); Mr. T. Keightley (threeshares); and Mr. 11. Webster (live shares). ’lbis concluded the proceedings of the Meeting. It is still competent for new members to join this Association, and be placed immediately on a level in every advantage with the original members, on their paying up the back subscriptions since the commencement of ils working. But, (as we noticed ou Saturday), in order to meet the circumstances of those who cannot.conveniently invest so much at once, another Association, —-in all respects the exact counterpart of the present—is in course of formation, into which the members will have no arrears lo pay, but, of course, may Have to wait longer for their chances of obtaining properties. As the benefits lo be derived by persons of limited means from these Societies become more generally understood—as they needs must bo when one after another shareholder is seen acquiring freeholds through their operation —we have no doubt that they will attract, still more rapidly and extensively the approbation and adherence of the prudent and industrious. Government Land Salk. —Pursuant to notice in the Gazette, a sale of Crown Lands was held on Monday last. Tho number of allotments offered on ibis occasion was not great however, consisting only of one small lot in Ujc Suburbs of Auckland, and eighteen .in the Hundred of Howick varying in size from six lo twenty-two acres. The suburban allotment (fourteen perches in Mechanics’ Bay) was put up at &. 2s. 6d. and sold tor 8/. Only four of the Howick allotments found purchasers at the public sale, and these

were knocked down at the upsei pnce ot w. per acre. The total amount realised at this sale was 107/. 4s. A more extensive Sale has been Gazetted, to be held on the 21st of this month, the particulars of which have already appeared in our columns. The Notice includes allotments in the City of Auckland, the Suburbs, the villages of Ouehunga and llowick, and East Tamaki. In the last-named fine district, several of the lots to be offered are of important size, four of them ranging from one hundred and sixty to one hundred and ninety-one acres severally. We anticipate, however, that — through the personal influence of the Governor, which, in unison with Mr. McLean's efforts as a negotiator, Ills Excellency has promised shall he employed to acquire additional tracts of land from the Native—we shall, at an early day have the pleasure of recording sales which will, more amply than these, meet the requirements of settlers who propose to farm on that extensive scale for which the Province of Auckland holds out so many, and such specially encouraging inducements. Fatal Accident. —Coroner’s I hottest. On Monday last tin Inquest was hold til the ‘•Mason’s Home” Inn, before Dr. Davies, Coroner, on the body of James Rawlings, Carpenter of Ii.M.S. Calliope, who was drowned on Saturday evening near the Wynyard Pier, in Official Bay. It appeared from the evidence of Thomas Guard, cooper of the Calliope, that at about seven o’clock on Saturday evening, about ten of the men, who had been on shore on ’eavo, wore goingolT in a shore boat to return to the ship after their liberty.” The forward part of the boat was resting on a step of the Pier, and most of the men bad got into her, when two of them stepped suddenly on the gunwale, whereupon she islantiy filled, and they were all precipitated into the water. They till, however, managed to get on to the steps of the Pier, with the exception of deceased. It was called out that a man was drowning. Guard immediately leaped off the Pier, and made towards his comrade, grasping him by the arm to support him ; but deceased clung round his body, and they bolii sunk, limy came to the surface again, and Guard still kept hold of deceased’s arms, and called out for more help. Another of the men swam ofl to them, and gavea sudden jerk to Guard’sarm intending to assist in bringing them lo shore. This jerk caused Guard to let go ins hold of deceased, who instantly sunk, and was seen no more. Immediate assistance was sent from the Calliope , with drags to search for the body, which, after about two hours, was found. * The verdict of the Jury was Accidentally Drowned.”