196

Election of Wardens—Wai-nui-o-mata District.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,
September 7th, 1863.

NOTICE is hereby given that it has been duly certified under the hand of the Chairman, that a meeting of the rate-payers of the Wai-nui-o-mata district was held on the 1st inst. when the following persons were duly elected to serve as Wardens.

W. Fitzherbert
H. Sinclair
W. Wakeham
C. Collis, Jun.
D. Dick
J. Grace, Chairman.

J. WOODWARD,
Acting Provincial Secretary.

Report of the Commissioners for the Management of the City Reserves.

Wellington, Sept. 5, 1863.

To His Honor,
The Superintendent.

Sir,

The Commissioners for the Management of the City Reserves, for your Honor’s information, beg to furnish the following report.

The Commissioners were appointed December 24, 1862; during a period of eight months they have been enabled to arrange for an accurate and complete survey of the Town Belt, comprising twelve hundred acres, which have been divided into sixty-five allotments, the greater part of which are let to thirty-one individuals for fourteen years, and yield an annual rent of £600 3s. 9d., as shown by the detailed schedule of Town Belt leases hereunto annexed.

The Commissioners have succeeded in letting the Botanical Garden Reserve to Mr. David Robertson, upon the following terms:—

The reserve to be fenced, planted with a quick hedge, and a belt of trees.

To be given up at any time during the currency of the lease, paying for improvements at a valuation. The public to have access to the garden between certain hours during the week, according to regulations to be framed.

The Commissioners have reserved a most suitable block of Land containing about 143 acres, on the East side of the Canal and Basin Reserve, as a site for a Public Park; which it is to be hoped will be soon fenced in.

The Canal and Basin Reserve to the extent of nearly twelve acres, has, by the valuable aid of the prison labour, been reclaimed from the state of an impassable swamp, to available and almost dry land. 24 chains of outlet drain, 6 feet wide, 4 feet deep, have been formed; about 64 chains of open and covered branch drains have been constructed; and a considerable portion of this ground has been sown with grass seed.

By means of a public subscription supplemented by an equal amount from the Government, the whole of the Basin Reserve, nearly 10 acres, has been fenced in, with a substantial four-railed fence, and planted with a thorn hedge. A foot path, eight feet wide, has been formed on the outside of it.

The Commissioners regret to state that the ground intended as a cricket ground will not be ready for use during the present summer. A portion of the Canal Reserve is being fenced in; a list of the Subscribers towards the fencing is appended, also a statement of expenditure connected with the Commission.

The Commissioners have to record their appreciation of the assistance rendered them by the authorities connected with the department of Crown Lands and that of the Survey.

The Commissioners beg to hand to your Honor the Leases and Counterparts (as per Schedule) signed by the Commissioners, for your Honor’s signature, and they beg to notify that they now hand these over to your Honor to hold, on behalf of the Province, as collateral security for the advances of money already made or promised to be made from the Treasury to the Board of Commissioners amounting to four hundred and thirty pounds, five shillings and two pence, as per account enclosed.

We further beg to hand to your Honor the minutes of our various meetings—twenty-two in number—together with the Correspondence. Also, an authentic Map of the Town Belt as surveyed off into allotments—and mapped in accordance with the instructions of the City Commissioners by Mr. Hughes, and examined and found correct by Mr. Skeet, as by his letter dated September 2, 1863, which is forwarded, together with the minutes and other documents.

We are, Sir,
Your Honor’s most obedient servants,

WILLIAM FITZHERBERT,
(Chairman.)

WILLIAM LYON,
ROBERT STOKES,
C. R. CARTER,
J. H. WALLACE,
Secretary.