ONE-TREE HILL DOMAIN BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7539, 19 January 1886, Page 6

ONE-TREE HILL DOMAIN BOARD.

The first meeting of tjiis Board was held in the Onehttng* Borough Counoil Chambers on Wednesday, January 13, fl>t three o'clock p.m. . Present:; Sir G, M. 0'Borfc?» M,H,$. (Manukau), Dr. Scott (Mayor of Onehunga), J. W. Oarr (Chairman of Mount Roskjll Road District), and Messrs. R, Hall and F. Lawry ; (Chairmen of One-tree Hill and Epsorp Road Boards respectively). Mr, Hall moved "That Sir G.M. O'Rorke be Chairman of the meeting," and, in doing so, reviewed at considerable length the course of aotion which had been pursued relative to the reserve constituted the One-tree Bill Domain by the Onehunga Borough Council, and also by the residents and property'owners of the whole districts, including and surrounding that in which the reserve is situated. The latter was emphatically expressed at a large and representative meeting held to consider it in the Epsom Hall a few months previously. At that meeting it was unanimously resolved that threu permanent members, resident in the district where the reserve is situated, should be appointed, but in lien of one of these, he (Mr. Hall) felt that he gave expression to the belief of all concerned when he accepted the member for Manukau as an improvement, though only an ex-offioio member, in the plaoe of one of the proposed permanent members; and bo further expressed the belief that, had the Epsom meeting named the gentlemen whom they were desirous to have appointed, in addition to those who wore required as exofficio members, the Government would have constituted the Board aooordingly. But a mistake had been made, which he thought could be easily rectified. He, therefore, con* sidored the only course open for them was to adjourn until the Government had been requested to appoint two additional members resident in the One-tree Hill district to be permanent members of the Board. Mr. Lawry seconded the motion. Sir G. M. O'Rorke said that it was imperative under the provisions of the Act that at that meeting a Chairman should be appointed for the year. Mr. Hall's motion was then amended in aocordauoe with Sir G. M. O'Rorke's statement, and the latter gentleman was appointed Chairman for the year. In accepting the position, the Chairman said he baa much rather the Mayor of Onehunga had been appointed, but he would do his best to make the administration of the Hoard harmonious and successful. Mr. Hutchinson, Town Clerk of Onehung#, who was present, kindly consented to act as hon. Secretary to the Board for a time. This generous offer was accepted with expressions of gratitude from nil members of the Board. Mr. Lawry then moved "That'the names of Messrs. William Gardner and Alexander Aitken be submitted to the Government as two gentlemen highly eigible to be appointed as two permanent members of the One-tree HiH Domain Board." In supporting the motion,the mover showed that he knew of no precedent for such a constituted Board as theirs, where every member was "ex officio," and where the possibility existed of every one leaving office at exactly the same time. It was manifestly a mistake to have an administrative body so constituted as to leave a possibility of all retiring at one time. With Mr. Hall, be approved of the appointment of the member for Manukau, but he was bound to give effect to the wishes of the people he represented, more especially as it would result m beneficial administration. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The Chairman saw no necessity for the motion, as both himself and Mr. Hall were residents ot One-tree Hill district, hence its adequate representation. Of course he had no objection to the gentlemen named, and should be very pleased to rooeive them on the Board. Dr. Scott moved, "That the consideration of the appointments be adjourned until the next meeting of the Board." Sir G. M. O'Rorke seconded the amendment. After some farther discussion the amendment was put and lost, the Chairman and Dr. Scott voting for it, and Messrs. Hall, Carr, and Lawry against. The original motion was then agreed to, and the Chairman was requested to forward to the Government the names of Messrs. Gardner and Aitken as members of the Board. Sir G. M. O'JKorkb: then gave notice of the following resolutions, that at the next meeting of the Board he would move — "That a post-and-rail fence with a gate in the centre be at onoe erected between the One-tree Hill Domain and the One-tree Hill Education Reserve, and the former offered for lease for three years, and that a Bill be prepared and introduced into Parliament next session vesting in the Board the rent accruing from the One-tree Hill Education Reserve, and that arrangements be made with the lessee to allow portions of the reserve to be planted with trees next season, and that the Bill contain provisions for converting the whole of the said reserve into a public park, including botanical and horticultural gardens. The meeting then adjourned by resolution until Saturday, February 13.