WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 124, 24 November 1876, Page 5

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held on Wednesday forenoon. Present: Messrs Strode (in tho chair), Butterworth, Bastings, Reid, and Clark. The Secretary to the Education Board requested 'that the north-western 10 or 20 acres of section 22, block 11, Glenkenicn district, be reserved for a school site, with road-line to connect it with block 111, aa per sketch. — Adjourned. Report by district engineer on an application by Mr Dillon to be allowed to purchase the northern part of section 5, block 7, Waipahi, temporarily reserved for road metal.— To be sold as land of special value. Mr Inspector Power transmitted report on improvements effected by holders of lands on deferred-payments in Tapanui district. — Read. The Chairman requested the Board to fix the times of meeting, to be approved by the Governor, in compliance with section 26, Waste Lands Administration Act, 1876. After a short discussion the Board resolved to hold their meeting, as usual, every Wednesday, at 11 o'clock. Resolved : "That, in terms of the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872, the 7th section ox the Otago Waste Lands Administration Act, 1874, and tlia BQi and 59th sections of the Waste Lands Administration Act, 1870, the Board do hereby set apart thu following sections of land— viz., 1, 2,'S, 9, 10, 11, 15, 19, 24, 27, 27, 33, 36,. and 41, block IX, Glenkenich district, fo:.' license on deferred payment, and fix Wednesday, the 10th January, as the date on which the land will be open for application ; and that the application of his !ixcellency the Governor be requested, in terms of the sections above quoted." Mr Bastings inquired as to the presei) j position of the block of land at Roxburgh proposed to be open for selection under deferred-payment system. Mr Reid replied that the Board need bo under no misapprehension, as they ccmld deal with that and also kindred matter;) that had hitherto been under the control of the Provincial Government. Mr Reid said that instructions had been issued some time ago that this particular block should be pushed on in being surveyed a\> fast as possible. He believed the actingcommissioner had undertaken to make inqtmies as to how matters stood, and report at the next meeting. Mr Strode replied that the full limit of 30,000 acres, which could be taken fo:' settlement on the deferred payment system, had been thrown open, that thi.j year's selection— the Rock-and-Pillar and Glenkenich blocks — was now advertised, and that the Waipahi block was also in ;i -forward state. Mr Bastings said it was apparent to him that tlie commissioner would have to look into the business very minutely in connection with these blocks, and he though!, the Government should appoint a gentleman to fill the office at once. He did not wish it to be understood that the presen 1 ) acting-commissioner had not fulfilled his) duties satisfactorily— far from it; but hu knew that Mr Strode was desirous of bein:; relieved of those duties. The office wal* one that there was a great deal of work in. Mr Reid thought it would be as well not to say anything in tho matter just afc present. Mr Strode remarked that he was most) anxious to be relieved of his duties as acting-commissioner. The Board then adjourned.