Harbor Board Endowment.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 451, 8 May 1890, Page 3

Harbor Board Endowment.

The following tenders for a 21 yean’ lease of sections of the Tauwhareparae block were laid on the table at the Harbor Board's meeting on Tuesday night;— Bank of New South Wales (for client)—Sections 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 28—7,700 acres, at 2d per acre. G. Hind marsh—Sections 14 and 17—2,050 acres, at 2Jd per acre. J. W. Neill—Sections 19, 20, and 21—1,650 acres, at 2|d per acre. H. Barrett—l 9, 20, and 21—1,650 acres, at Ijd per acre. The Committee recommended that the fob lowing be accepted :— Bank New Sopth Wales—Nos. 15, 16,18,28 —4000 acres, at 2d.. £33 6 4 J. W. Neill—Nos. 19, 20,21-1650 acres, at 2|d 15 0 0 G, Hindmareh—Nos, 14 and 17— 2050 acres, at 2|d .. .. 21 7 1 Total—7,7oo acres, at .. £69 18 5 Mr Clark said the tenderers had chosen the pick of the block for soil and eite, and they would be rendering the rest of it valueless for occupation. Mr Shelton raised the point as te whether the Board would not be bound to go to the expense of surveying the lines. He thought they would, and Mr Clark agreed with him, but Mr Chambers said all that was necessary could be done satisfactorily with very little expense. After considerable discussion Mr Sievwright moved that the report be adopted, and Mr Chambers seconded. The speakers considered the Board was in honor bound to accept the tenders. Mr Shelton moved as an amendment that the advice of a surveyor be taken as to what would be necessary to be done in defining the boundaries. Mr Arthur thought there would be no difficulty about surveys and he th ught they were bound to accept the tenders, The Only regret

which he had was that they had not waited before putting the land in the market, because in a couple of years he believed they would get a much higher price for it. The Chairman gave it as his opinion that they were bound to accept the tenders. Mr Clark seconded the amendment, and said that letting as the Board had done he believed they would not get half the price for the rest of the block. He believed the Board had made a great mistake in hurriedly altering the conditions that were first decided upon. It would cost them about £5OO for surveys. Mr Chambers said it was not so much the revenue they would get from the land as the making of it ratable. The amendment was put, only the mover and seconder voting for it. The motion was then put, Messrs Clark and Shelton being against. Mr Clark said he considered the 'property was simply being sacrificed. Mr Chambers said if that were the case it was the same with half the Government land in the colony. Mr Shelton advised that before any further sections were let tbe matter of these surveys ought to be decided.

The Chairman thought they could deal with any further tender at the upset prices, though they would not be compelled to do so. It was decided that tenders be called for fixing the bounday pegs. In regard to a communication from Mr H. Barrett, offering the upset price for 1500 acres, it was decided that the Board would not subdivide sections. It was decided to inform J. 8. Annand that he could make application if he desired, and the Board would consider his application. Edward McGlasbin applied to know the upset prices of sections 14 and 17. It was decided that in case of any further sections being let, the Board would not undertake the expense of survey.