OCEAN BEACH DOMAIN BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9797, 22 July 1893, Page 6 (Supplement)

OCEAN BEACH DOMAIN BOARD.

A meeting of the Ocean Beach Domain Board was held yesterday afternoon, and was attended by Messrs R. Rutherford (chairman), W. Swan, J. Horsburgh, P. M'Gregor, and C. Fisher.

Lettsrs were received from the St. Kilda, South Dunedin, Mornington, and Roslyn Councils, and Mr W. Earnshaw, M.H.R., expressing approval of the Ocean Beach Domain Act Amendment Bill.

The committee (consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Horsburgh and Swan) appointed to prepare the amendment bill reported as follows:—

As the committee of the board appointed to prepare a draft amendment bill to."The Ocean Beach Domain Act 1892," we have to report that the draft bill as approved by the board at its meeting of the 2nd June has been printed and circulated, after having been finally perused and approved by Sir Robert Stout. A copy of the bill was sent to each borough council represented on the board, to each Otago member of the House of Representatives, and to each Otago member of the Legislative Council, accompanied in each case by a letter bespeaking for the bill the active assistance of the member or body addressed. Numerous letters have been received approving the principle of the bill. The bill was specially entrusted to Mr Pinkerton, M.H.R., with a request that he would- undertake the pilotage of the same through the House, which that gentleman kindly undertook to do. We may report to the board that through the kind offices of Mr Robert Wilson we have become possessed of about lewt of marram grass. This is a sand-staying grass, and bears a very high charaoter for the uses for which we require it, and is said to be virtually indestructible. It will not destroy by burning or by feeding, and when once it has firmly taken hold of the sand is, as before said, practically indestructible. We have Been the same carefully planted, and shall now watch on behalf of the board the results.

Mr Fisher moved the adoption of the report. Mr M'Gbegob seconded the motion, though he thought the committee had exceeded their instructions. The Chairman : In planting the grass ? Mr M'Gbegob : Yes. The Chairman said their justification was that they got the grass for nothing; they planted it; themselves for nothing, and there was no charge to be made for it. Mr M'Gbegor : Thatis no matter. It is the principle I speak of. The Chairman said the committee could not d 6 other than they had done, unless to refuse the offer of the grass. Mr M'Gregor Baid that did not alter the case. The committee had exceeded their instructions, and he did not approve of their action. The Chairman: I am sorry you are not generous enough to approve of our doing what is likely to be useful. ■ Mr M'Gregob said if they were to e3tablish this precedent they did not know where the end would be. The Chaieman : The end was our taking the grass. Mr Swan remarked that it was necessary to replant the grass as early as possible. Mr M'Ghegor : I understand ib was grass seed? . The Chairman replied in the negative. It was grass plants they received. Mr FISHEB thought the board were rather under an obligation to the committee for what they had done. Mr M'GnEGon : That is a matter of opinion. The Chairman said1 that he could assure Mr M'Gregor moreover that the committee did not even encroach on the board'B property, for the grass was planted on a private section. Mr M'Gbegoe said it was no usa in that caße mentioning the fact in the report at all. Mr Swan explained that the property, though private, was a part of the sandhills. The report was then adopted. It was agreed that the Chairman, Messrs Horsburgh and Swan should form a Finance Committee, and that the board's bankingaecount should be in the Colonial Bank.