HAWKSBURY DOMAIN BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12564, 19 January 1903, Page 7

HAWKSBURY DOMAIN BOARD.

The adjourned annual meeting of tlio Hawksbnry,' Domain Board was held in the .clerk's office, Waikouaiti, on Thursday, 15th inst., when Mr H, Buckland was -gain appointed chairman, the other menibers present bein« the Mayor (Mr T. Allcock) ami Messrs J. Steven, T. Smith, and N. Stewart, The following report for the year,was submitted : — . ' " The past year has been lnatked by a settlement of the question of the old tenants' leases, and the consequent putting-up afresh of the lections for lease by auction. The old lessees were.led to believe, wrongly, that they would receive compensation for improvements at the end of their term, and this difficulty was got over by allowing them a month's time to remove their improvements if they did not acquire the new leases of thcii sections. The leases of the Domain sections were put up for sale by auction at the Courthonsj on the 3rd April last, most of the sections being let at former rentals, and a few bringing in a much higher price than formerly. Sections 7 and 82 and block XII were not offered for lease, as they may be required for filling-in, and railway pnrposes. The yearly rentals of Domain sections now amount to £118 Is 2d, while formerly they brought in £97 8s 3d. This is exclusive of some £30 derived from gTazing rights, Some grumbling having occurred among the tenants (most of .whom hold small pieces of ground) at the cost of the leases (two guineas each), the board decided to pay half cost-and to charge the tenants ono guinea, only for sa-mc—the solicitors who drew up the leases Jrinuly consenting to wait some timo for payment, so as to enable the bowd to go on with various improvements they were carrying out on the Domain. Following out the scheme drawn up by the inspector, the late Mr John Lawson, and sinco his death by Mr T. Smith, the board liavo completed the raising of tlio embankments along the canal and part of the lagoon. Three new bridges have been built across the- canal, and the others repaired; a walk has been made through the plantation below Eothesay street, and that part made into .a resort for visitors. The drains leading to the windmill have been attended to, and the piimp improves and made more fitted to servo its purpose in draining the upper portion and throwing the surface water into the lagoon. The lagoon itself has been kept full of water; "but-if. it is to be successful as a boating lake it will require to be deepened, or a greater volume of water kept in it than at present. Many hundreds of willow cuttings were planted aronnd the lagoon and along the canal. Mo3t are growing, and the otjicrs will need renewing later ron. A quantity of marram grass was planted on tho sandhills, so as to keep the drift of Band from'filling m> the canal seawards. As will bo seen by the balance sheet, the various works undertaken have caueed the board to end tho year with a liability of some £60, and until this is liquidated the chairman has given a guarantee to the bank for the overdraft." Tho statement showed the receipts io be:— Credit balance from 1901, £3 10s Id; rents from sections and grazing rights, £150 Gs- 3d; half cost of leases, £27 6s. The'expenditure was: — Fencing and hedges, £32 16s lid; embankments, bridges, etc., £149 11s 3d; windmill, £24 Hβ 8d; trees and planting, £10 7s; auctioneers' charges, £10 Is lid; other items, £10 199 8d ;—leaving a debit balance of £C 3 Cs Id, The.liabilities were £124 9s 7d and the assets (rents now due) £6118s sd. After the report and statement were adopted some discission took place re the last Gazette notice, which extended the tenuro of the present board to close'on six years, instead of the original three years us at first intended, and it wifs decided to call a public meeting at an early date, when the position of affairs will be explained. A? the first-three ycafV term expires on the 14th March nest, a votu will lie taken at the meeting as to whether the board shall resign then or still continue lo hold office. The passing of some accounts concluded the business of the meeting. •