j He referred only to items 2 and 5. He said that it had been proposed before by one of the j *m trustees to1 form a" loan fund to enable poor settlers to buy a cow or two, and it would be very serviceable to them if money could be borrowed at a reasonable rate of interest and !.' would enable many to remain on their lands who were not otherwise able, and such aid \ was of the utmost importance. Respecting the truck system, he disliked it in common / with others, it had the worst tondoi-cy and ■ ou"ht tp be discountenanced. It had been carried on by the trustees to the disgust of the settlers at large. As to public means or ea. fc cation, all knew how desirable it was. L The Chairman was astonished that the go- W vernment should stoop to such meanness as vk to sanction the truck system. V Dr Bell had never heard of their doing such a thing before and could not conceive why /' they should do so now. ■''■ ::, Mr Worker appealed to Mr Bradbury who was he said, an old settler, who told him he l\ had riotheard of such a case before. .When / the Government gave some work to the Pa paroa. people about a year ago, they did not i do so, but paid them in money. - " Mr Johnson admitted that government had ► pursued a different course in the case named, for the work was not yet paid for, he thought orders on; the stores was better than nothing. Mr Judd knew better, he heard when the 1 Pro. Surveyor was here, they were paid then. , Mr Johnson knew that the work was not * \ done at the period referred to, and- certainly •was not paid for a fortnight ago, when he 4 was at Paparoa. He would explain what iv was mis-called the truck system As far as m the government work was concerned, they m issued explicit written instructions respect- I ing the work, in which it was stated that Jhe r should give orders on the stores of Cray and Marcroft in equal proportions, why they did M so, was not in his province to say— V ; Messrs Bell, Worker and the Chairman again expressed " great disgust" and abhorrence of I the system. , „ fMr Johnson said the work was given fur the benefit of needy settlers, who required help, and he knew that whether in orders on the stores or in anyother shape, it was very wel come, and far better than nothing. However ' it was simply a personal matter, concerning 1 only those who took such work, doing it as ; they did, with a perfect understanding how it was to be paid for ... y ' The Chairman here burst out mto loud m --' vective, saying it was against the principles !of an Englishman to "accept work on such terms, and for his part he "would shive it at their heads" if offered to him. , i -Mr Johnson thought so far from refusing it, \those who did the work would be glad to f »aye a " shi. c" or two -more, (hear.) _He would further explain the charge laid against ~.. the trustees of carrying on the truck system. ISome few months, ago there was a loud. de- Wand made on the Trustees for work and means of getting food, on the part of a few. ~.■' At the time a'public meeting had decided_on ' a loan which the.trustees. were endeavoring to negotiate;. % delay was protracted, but tp satisfy the pressure.brought to bear on them and in order to commence public works, they •* made arrangements with a store, to honour their orders on their personal responsibility until the loan'was obtained. This ar.range nicnt was acceded to by the workers before they commenced, about a fortnight afterwards a draper complained of this mode, considering it a monopoly, inconsequence the orders were made payable at any place, or to anyone who

would accept them, but they all came to the same store.as'before. At lengthasmall loan of £80 only was obtained on the personal se curity of the trustees, who.thereupon paid off all claims with it. . . , , Mr Edger entered his protest against this being termed a truck system. ... Mr Campbell seconded the motion, 23 voted for, 1 against, 26 neutral. •Mr Bradbury proposed " Respecting the conduct of the Board it is recommended that #hold office for twelve months, that it have a Chairman to act as convener of meetings, and that it have two auditors, one. to be ap pointed by the board and others respectively' Mr Worker in seconding this motion, said it recommended itself. He hoped all would be open and that there would be.no secrets; he was for peace, and trusted '* jasshall be able to conduct business peaceably as we want an increase of numbers." Mr Marcroft enquired whether it was in tended that the board should have a Secreta ry, and hoped it would be plainly understood. Dr Bell and Mr Worker both replied in the affirmative, and stated that the board would choose their own secretary. For the motion 20, neutral 3.4. Messrs Bell and Worker suggested various modes of obtaining the votes of the settlers. Mr Marcroft objected that such a Board as had been proposed, could not have legal powers Dr Bell said it would obtained by means of of a legal instrument to be sig?ied by the settlers. .Mr Worker proposed " That a list of set tlers in the various divisions be printed m the next Gazette as an advertisement, requesting each person to vote fora representative by the market-day in May., Such vote to be in writing, endorsed ' Voting Paper,' and left at the Gazette office. And that Messrs Cray and Judd be requested to draw up the list." Seconded by Mr Cutler and passed nem con. Mr Johnson said that after what had passed he had no alternative .but to tender his resig nation as Secretary to the Settlers, he then read the minute appointing him in reply to a remark made by Mr Worker, and tendered the book to the chairman. Several persons made remarks more or less complimentary, and the secretary was urged to continue in office and act as before. . Ultimately,1 Mr Pettet moved "That Mr Johnson be requested to continue to fill the office of Secretary."_ Seconded by Mr Simpson and carried unanimously, s^ssfe - As^be hour foropening the Sho"w was long pastPtTTe^n^eting was dissolved by the chair man, who recced a vote of thanks. [ ADVERTISEMENT.] In consequence of the refusal of the meet ing held on March 2, to hear the following Report read, the Trustees hereby publish it foi general information.

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

Of the Port Albe\ i Trust Estate for the year I ending Feby. 1864. Although the twelve mouths have not yet ex pired since the present Trustees legally en tered upon the responsibilities of their office, they have thought inadvisable to constitute this an annual meeting, and lay before the settlers a brief statement both of the'steps that have hitherto been taken, with theirap parent results, and also the plans they have in contemplation. The chief reason for this is, sthat the time seems to have arrived for a fur ther, more or less extensiye sale ef Town Lands; in connection Avith which questions arise on which the trustees would wish to •consult the settlers, that they mayactonly in

accordance with their wish, .while these ques tions are in part,' dependent on. onr past 'history... ' .■ r ■'. :'■ ... ,'■ ):. y -:^ \~' It may be well tostate here in a few words the early history of the trusteeship. Until Jan. 1863, the entire legal power over these lands was in the hands of Mr Brame, to whom they had been unconditionally conveyed, al though p iblicly sold to him as representative of the Albertlind Settlers, on the dia'inct un derstanding that'they should be handed over to nine trustees who were, for that express purpose, publicly chosen by a very large meet iug of settlers, at the first land sale, Oct. 21, 1882. The Trustees have to report that of the £960 raised by the sale of 35 acres of the town lands by Mr Brame on Ms sole responsi bility, on Jan. 21,1863, none has yet come into their hands. In the said, month of January, an agreement was obtained from Mr Brame, to convey the whole of these town lands with the exception of the 35 acres jnstsold ? to five trustees, being five of the original nine, the rest having declined, or living at too great .a distance to co-operate. One 'of the five sub sequently declining to act for certain reasons his place was filled by another gentleman. The agreement was signed by two of the five trustees, no others being in Auckland at the time, and on those two rested the entire legal responsibility from Jan. 1863, to June of the same year, when the present deed of Convey ance itself was executed by four; of the trus tees, the fifth having accepted office and completed the execution of the deed as late as Jan. IS6I-. The knowledge of these detail is essential to those who would form an opin ion of the course that has been pursued. The first step taken in reference to the town lands, was opening the way for as many as desired to locate themselves permanently on their own freehold on the present site of Port Albert, i.e.. the three streets severally named, Market-st, Florenee-sf, and Clarence-st. This movement was not originated by the trustees, who merely gave their assent. It was essentially a settlers' movement. The conditions on which the land was sold,, now well known, w.ere intended, to secure either residence or the outlay of capital, and on con sideration of the same the land was sold below its estimated value. Although these condi tions were suggested by the trustees, they were unanimously adopted by the settlers. They have had their intended effect, and are known to receive the approval of most com petent judges, having no connection with Port- Albert. Respecting the site of the town-— which also was decided by the settlers and not the trustees—it is enough.to say that if, like other sites of towns, it has some disad vantages, it is the only one ; that could have been chosen, lying close behind the govern ment reserve, bordering as closely on Brame's township, which having.been sold, was, like,. the government, reserve, not available, being also the portion of township land lying near est to the two goo^ landings from the Orua wharo, viz. the Bluff and, the Jetty, and having the additional advantage of the creek, -when the tide is in. Of these town lands the trus tees were empowered to sell 25 acros, with 50 acres of suburban lands, also on somewhat' similar conditions of improvement. The trustees have to report that the whole of the suburban sections,, and about two-thirds of the town sections have been disposed of, as will be seen from, the financial report. From the same report it will appear that in conse quence of credit being given, but little cash has at present been realized,from the sale, so;, that there has always been, as there now is,

THE ALBERTLAND GAZETTE