WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Dunstan Times, Issue 782, 13 April 1877, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

—o — the last meeting of the Board the fnl-. lowing discussion took place over the question of SUBDIVISION OF RUNS. The consideration of the Chief Surveyor’s report in reference to the reduction of the areas of runs -0, 2 !ft, 39, 70, and 77, together with the petition of settlers in the Kihnog district, was again brought under the notice of the Board. The Chief Commissioner: These runs must be sold before the 29th of next month, and I am anxious that wo should have a full Board. I wish the members to state whether they feel inclined to go into this matter to-day, or still defer it. The time is now moving on, and if wo are going to lease these runs wo will require to advertise them.

Mr Green : It is unnecessary for me to say that I am prepared to deal with the matter. The only question is, are the other members prepared to deal with it? The Surveyor gave ns nothing fresh. It is a matter of regret that, after having referred

the matter back to him, he should send us such n memo, as this. The Chief Commissioner i Ho did not see his way to make it different.

Mr Green : The Board did not state clearly that it was an instruction to the Chief Surveyor, but as it was referred back to him on the same day I considered that the Surveyor would take it in the light of an instruction. But instead of doing so, he reiterates what ho said before, namely, that the runs were already sufficiently small. There is sure to be a difference of opinion as to that, and no doubt the same thing would be repeated by his professional brethren .whenever it would be left to them. I am entirely conversant with this country, and 1 have made up my mind that a great deal of it should be offered for sale, and not re-let for pastoral purposes. lam morally certain that if a proper selection were made, the land would be taken up more speedily than a great deal of the country contiguous to it. Mr Strode : Bought. Mr Green : Yes : this country']should be sold in small allotments, so as to increase the same class of settlers. I would like to see it sectionised in areas from 50 acres. 1 know that is a small quantity, but it would be sufficient for men who are working for others. Ido noc see why wo should prevent men working for others from becoming the holders of freeholds. Such allotments would enable farm servants to make a start in life and a home for themselves, and to get a fooiinc in the country. 1 believe that it is tending very injudiciously to the settlement of the country, and to the profitable occupation of the larger aßotments, that men with families arc not able to acquire small allotments while farm servants. The Chief Commissioner : The question is, arc we going, to docido „the matter to day ? Mr Strode : The best way would be to give special notice to the members of the Board, and request a full attendance for next meeting. Mr Clark : All the members are aware of it. It was stated that Mr Bastings bad met with an accident when returning from the Beau mont on the previous day. Mr Green : I have not the slightest objection to the matter being postponed for another week, if the Board consider it desirable The Chief Commissioner: This is the first matter of any magnitude which the Board has had to deal with, and it has attracted a considerable amount of attention. Mr Strode: AVo had bettor have the opinion of a full Board. The Chief Commissioner? I would like to have a full Board present on that occasion, because its action in this matter will he taken as a sort of precedent. After a few further remarks of the same

nature, it was decided to postpone the matter to the next meeting of the Board, when it will positively be dealt with-