DEPUTATION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 558, 27 December 1872, Page 2

DEPUTATION.

THK LEANING ROCK SALE. On the 20th instant a deputation from Clyde, consisting of Messrs. Alexander and M'Pherson, waited upon his Honor the Superintendent. They -were introduced by Mr. T. L. Shepherd, M. P C.‘, accompanied by Mr. J. C. Brown, M.P.O. The Provincial Secretary for Public Works and Goldfields was present. Mr. Shepherd explained the object of the deputa'ion. He said that Mr Feraud, of Clyde, leased a number of agricultural sections, under *he Agricultural Leasing Regulations, and, in 1869, applied to the Executive, to purchase many of them. On coming before the Executive, they, by a minute, endorsed the application, recommending the sale. Subsequently the ground proved to be auriferous. The sections in question were considered by the miners the key to the entire block, and they, with other persons in the district, sent a deputation requesting that the block should not be sold, and that no more land should be leased. The request was referred to a Select Committee, Who recommended that the land leased to Mr. Fcraud should not be sold to him, and the report was forwarded to the Executive of the day, with the resolution of the committee that the report should be referred to the Executive for consideration.. It appeared that on the eleventh of this month Mr. Feraud produced that minute at a meeting of the Waste Land Board sanctioning the sale to him, and the land was accordingly sold and the money paid. The Chief Commissioner informed him that the sale could not be revoked or annulled in any way. The district had taken up the matter, as it was felt to be a great injury, as it would seriously prejudice a number of water races now under construction A deputation had been sent down from the Dunsta.i to wait upon his Honor. Mr. Feraud was well aware of the value of his purchase, and had stated that ho would not accept 2,0007. for the small area of land he had purchased at If. per acre. Mr. Bastings explained that Mr. Feraud occupied the land under lease in 1806. In 1867, one section was reserved for educational purposes, and Mr. Feraud was therefore prevented taking up the land until 1871, when an Ordinance was passed cancelling that educational reserve, .So far as the sale of that laud was concerned the matter had never been brought before the present Executive at all. The sale was sanctioned by the Waste Land Board without coming before the Government. The Chief Commissioner, who was present, said the case was laid before the Waste Laud Board, with the minute duly endorsed by the Executive. Mr. Bastings .said the documents relating to theism! were in his hands. He had received a report from Mr. Simpson, the district surveyor, which he h,ad after--wards’tvithdrawii, saying he had reason to alter his report ; and so far as the Executive was concerned, matters remained, in statu quo. N.o memorandum ever was. laid before the Executive. The Chief Commissioner only knew that .Mr. Tolraio was present at the meeting of the Board. The Superintendent said he would hear what the deputation had to say, and enquire into the matter. Mr. Alexander said, on Monday mommy, through the reports in the papers, attention was drawn to the sale of those sections. The account took the people by surprise on account of a petition to the Council having been presented, praying that the lands might not be sold, on account of the injury that would accrue to the district. (Mr. Alexander explained a’plan laid before the Superintendent.) .Ho said all the gullies were auriferous and would be worked if water were brought in. The valley in question was the only outlet for carrying off the sludge and waste water. It was what might bo called the key to all the diggings in the district. Workings had been continually carried on without water being brought in, but now one race from the Leaning Rock was coming in to it, and another large race from Chatto Creek, which would cost the proprietors 60001. Mr. Bastings said, iu justice to the late Secretary of the Gold-fields, on receipt of a report from Mr. Warden Carew, he made a memorandum recommending that the land in question should not be sold. Mr. J. C, Brown said, from enquiriss made at the land Office, he found that many sections in immediate proximity to those sold, were in similar circumstances. It was, ! therefore, desirable some determination should be arrived at. Mr. Bastings said he had issued a circular to the Wardens, requiring that all applications for purchase of agricultural sections should be advertised, and three weeks’ notice given of intention to buy. Mr. J. C. Brown quite agreed with the importance of all that had been said by the deputation. Mr. Alexander said the land in question was of no use for agricultural purposes ; it was only useful for the purposes described. His Honor said the matter should be inquired into. The deputation thanked him, and withdrew.

By departmental returns we learn that in the Province of Otago, 5,488,756 acres of laud ars held uftder Depasturing licenses, which 55,2317. 12a. 7d. is paid for rents and assessments, and that 1;888 acres are hsld under mineral leases, for which 3681. 9s. 3d. is paid. That under the “ Land Transfer Act,” the total cost of administration for the year ending June 33, T872, was 80261, and the revenues derived 60491, the expanada for Otago being 21637. 9r. 3d. and the revenue S6jSti. -Id.