OUR LOCAL BODIES.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 50, 27 August 1881, Page 583

OUR LOCAL BODIES.

" Nothing extenuate, iioi 1 set down aught in malice." No. 4.— The Waste Lands Board. 'The disparaging remarks of the Colonial Treasurer upon Waste Lands Boards in general having provoked the ire and led to the resignation of the greatest of landed magnates — the illustrious Josiah — I make no secret of my •desire to "improve"' the occasion, and, while the attention of the puhlic has heen momentarily arrested, to unburden my mind. Hence it is that the Auckland Waste Lands Board receives a somewhat earlier notice at my hands than might otherwise have heen the case. In saying this, I do not wish to depreciate the importance of the trust confided to the Board nor to insinuate that amongst our local institutions it occupies a secondary position. The administrators of a provincial estate having an area of many millions of acres can hardly he relegated to a subsidiary rank or their fiinc--fcions he spoken lightly of. Still, it is a notorious fact that the non-representative character of the Board, its limited membership (five gentlemen), and its very formal way of doing business (combined doubtless with the natural unconcern of an urban population with agrarian matters), have prevented it from acquiring any local renown or importance. On rare occasions only have the people been aroused to any degree of interest in its doings, and then only ]?y the persistent clamours of the Press. Since its institution it has heen regarded as a kind of ■council of advice to the Minister of Lands, from whom it had carle blanche to execute off-hand such paltry little commissions as the . granting of land under the deferred payment or homestead systems, but nothing more. The .absence of any conflict with the Under-Secre- , tariesor their principals, the fact that its Chairman is a Government official, and the knowledge that the members are regularly paid

for their attendance at the meetings, strengthened the idea alluded to. With its justness or unfairness I have nothing to do. It existed, and is general still. It must be conceded, however, that "whoever was instrumental in securing the nomination of the Auckland Board did his task wisely and witk discrimination, for it cannot be questioned that Messrs D. A. Tole, J. C. Firth, W. P. Moat, and J. May have special qualifications for serving upon it. Mr Tonks recommendations are much less apparent. Yet, it is matter of regret that the Board has not been made elective, and the number of members so increased as to allow the principal divisions of the province equal and fair representation, for, as at present constituted, it is obliged to follow implicitly the counsels of its officers, and, practically, to be governed by them. True, Messrs Firth, Moat and May have been able again and again to bring their personal knowledge into requisition in considering their business, but, even on such occasions, it was seldom of a definite or positive character. The Board meets fortnightly, on Thursday afternoons, in the building which formerly accommodated the assembled legislators of New Zealand, and which was subsequently the seat of the Provincial Council. In a room to the right of the front entrance, all the business relating to the disposition of the landed estate of Auckland and the numberless applications of country settlers receive attention. It is very rarely of an interesting nature. Ministerial communications, requests for grants of land for educational or public purposes, rangers' reports, and correspondence from intending settlers or deferred payment selectors, generally form the bulk of it, and it is usually despatched in a very formal manner, varied at intervals by the discussion of one or other of Mr Firth's theories. He is the only man who has .seemed inclined to swerve at all from the beaten and humdrum track or to make excursions into matters other than those brought up officially, and though his liberalism

or soundness of opinion is not always recognisable, yet he has had the courage to argue his point. The manner in which the business is laid before the Board cannot well be improved upon. It is methodical to a degree, and has the merit of placing each subject in such a light that the veriest numskull could hardly fail to understand it. The credit for this is due to Mr D. A. Tole (Chief Commissioner) and his able secretary (Mr Tlios. Waters.) The correspondence is always neatly assorted beforehand, and the Chainn.au is therefore in a position and he possesses the ability to explain pithily and lucidly each successive communication or application just as it is brought up. Having previously gone through it, he is prepared to supply, without hesitation, all the information that is rendered requisite or expedient, and his advice as to its settlement is usually followed. The district maps are invariably at hand and, as by instinct, the secretary can proceed "with his writing while handing to his chief the required plan from amidst a heap. All possible information bearing upon each application is industriously obtained beforehand, so that the Board's work is rendered as light as could he desired. The proof of this is that it has never been found necessary to have a committee. Let us now glance individually at the members of the Board. The Chairman, or rather, to give him his correct official designation, the Chief Commissioner, Mr Daniel A. Tole, is a gentleman of middle age, who has evidently been a beau in his younger days. Although long since a deserter from the celibatic joys of single blessedness, and therefore unlikely to be much concerned any longer in the conquest of feminine hearts, he still pays a scrupulous regard to his personal appearance. Meet him where you will, or under whatever circumstances you j)! ease, his hair will always he

found carefully parted in the centre and artfully titivated up at the sides, his tie or cravat faultlessly arranged, his shirt-cuffs spotlessly white and well-displayed, his moustache curled to a nicety, and his raiment unsullied by mud or dust. His figure is tall, erect, and slender, and his habit of wearing tight-fitting clothes enables him to show it off to advantage. To my mind, Mr I). A. Tole is the cleveiest member of his family, and had he sought and obtained admission into Parliament he would ere this have distinguished himself. He is a thorough^ gentleman— courteous to strangers, affable with his compeers — well-bred in manner, and conversational. As an official he is very popular — and deservedly so. He is an enthusiastic chess-player, a dutiful .son of the Koman Catholic Church, and an intelligent and tolerant man. Mr Josiah Clifton Firth, otherwise known as the Duke of Matamata, is also entitled to high praise. There is a class of people in every community who persistently decry their more fortunate neighbours, and who take a malignant delight in exaggerating their faults while they depreciate their merits. With such envious cavillers and clippers of reputation no honest man can have any sympathy. Mr Firth has been a mark for these smallminded detractors, but their assaults have not affected his character. The man who had the self-reliance and pluck to improve the navigation of an important river at his own expense and without any appeal to the Government can afford to allow his life and his actions to speak for him. Mr J. C. Firth is a shrewd, practical and hard-headed man of business, who, coming to New Zealand at the opening of her history, discerned with clearness that she was on the high. road to national prosperity, investe<l his money judiciously, scrupled not to labour himI self, and, as the result of his exertions and sharp-sighted bargains, has amassed a fortune which cannot be much short of £100. 000. He is entitled to a leading place amongst our

representative men, for, although not a strong political partisan, he has never failed to identify himself with any movement for advancing the fortunes of the colony generally, and of this part of it in particular. In every such movement, and indeed in all undertakings with which he lias connected himself, his restless energy and resolute determination have marked him out as a leader. He cannot languish in obscurity. Publicity and notoriety are too dear to his soul to be neglected. Hence it is that he invariably contrives to have his set speeches reported as fully as possible. It is related of him that once having been requested to open some sort of industrial exhibition he delayed the delivery of his speech until a reporter had been brought from the nearest newspaper office, and that* as the scribe was only moderately dexterous in the use of shorthand, he purposely spoke as slowly as possible in order to secure a verbatim report. Whenever he intends to make a speech, he carefully prepares it beforehand, and is therefore very precise in his language, and very anxious that the newspapers shall reproduce his remarks with similar exactitude and at equal length. This is one of Ids hobbies. Mr Firth is a prominent supporter of the Sunday-school Union, a firm friend of the Volunteer movement, an enthusiastic member of the Acclimatisation Society, an ex-Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, and one of the largest and wealthiest landowners in this province. Whatever his peculiarities are, he has played his part honestly and well in the Waste Lands Board, and his efforts to secure the conservation of our forests have not received the recognition they merit. In physique, he is tall, athletic, and robust, with an intellectual cast of countenance, small features, and eyes which seem to be continually rolling from side to side in their sockets. His expression is stem and hard, and his speech sharp and spasmodic.

Mr Joseph May is quite a different kind of man. Hardworking, patient of mind, plodding and firm m his purpose, as well as acute in Ins perceptive faculties, he is one who is apt to be lightly estimated at first, but who, on longer acquaintance, asserts his worth. He has no acquired gifts or graces to boast of, and is therefore not self-conceited, but being a plain and simple farmer, as well as an observant and experienced colonist, he speaks upon those subjects with which he is acquainted, and always with much force, despite the homeliness of his language. He has much of the Dutchman in his nature. Taciturn, phlegmatic, reflective, good-natured.' and long-headed, he makes an admirable counterpoise to Mr Firth's restlessness and impetuosity. Mr W. P. Moat is a less pronounced type of the same class of humanity, and he also is a practical farmer. As I have already dealt with the gentlemen in his capacity as a member of the Education Board, it is scarcely necessary to criticise him anew. There is nothing particular to be said about him as an administrator of our waste lands, except that lie attends the meetings of the Board with unfailing regularity, and speaks but seldom. It is now so long since Mr Benjamin Tonks put in an appearance at the Board-room that he may be considered to have thrown up the connection. As a member he was fond of cracking jokes, of waxing mightily indignant occasionally at the reckless destruction of timber by guni-diggers, and of protesting against the coddling policy adopted towards special settlers. His place, however, knows him no more. Mr Thomas Waters is the Secretary of the Board, and one recognises in him at once a decided military bearing. He walks erect and. with shoulders well thrown back, is scrupulously exact, like the Chairman in his toilette, shaves the chin and sports a furious and wellcurled moustache, and speaks with the tone of a drill-instructor, though with less brusqueness. He is an urbane gentleman, a courteous and useful officer, and a capital fellow to boot. In him Mr Tole has an invaluable auxiliary and. the Government a faithful and able servant. Of the other officers I know very little, and therefore will not presume to criticise them. Some other pen than mine may essay the task. Ingomae.