WASTE LAND BOARD.

Dunstan Times, Issue 846, 5 July 1878, Page 3

WASTE LAND BOARD.

At the last meeting the following business of local importance was transacted

Messrs M. J. MUinnes, A. 0. Iversen, and others, wrote requesting that the Commissioners appointed to inspect and classify land on runs should name a day to confer with them with reference to the block of land requested to be opened on run No. 349, Eamscleugh.—lt wta left to Commissioners Bastings and Green to fix upon the date upon which they would confer with Messrs M'Gumis and others.

Mr W. Robertson forwarded a report received by a public meeting held at Alexandra from Messrs W. Theycrs and W. Noble, recommending that a block of 10,000 acres should be opened for settlement on the Mouterie run, No. 221; also a resolution passed at the same meeting, and approving of the recommendation, and requesting that the same he given effdfct to by opening up the land in question. The documents were as follows s—“ The memorial of the undersigned, members of Committee appointed to take steps to procure land to be thrown open for settlement, humbly showeth— That at a public meeting held in the Town Hall, Alexandra, on Juno 1, 1878, a resolution was passed that Messrs Thayers and Noble be appointed to inspect the land in the neighbourhood with the view of selecting blocks suitable for agricultural settlement, and to report to an adjourned meeting to be held on June 17. In accordance therewith Messrs Theyers and Noble did, at a public meeting held in the Town Hall on the said date, furnish the following report : —‘ We have the honor to report that we have visited lha: portion of the Galloway run known as Shanty Creek, on the old Teviot road via the Nohbies, and found no laud about that vicinity of any extent fit for agricultural settlement. On the 17th inst., we visited the Mouterie ruu (No. 221), and proceeded from the head waters of tho Wai Keri Iveri to Yankee Flat, Wo found the land to be of first-class quality, and well suited for agricultural settlement, consisting of low undulating spurs, and in the gullies between the spurs numerous springs of water forming tributaries of Youughill aud Chatto creeks. The soil is a rich black loam, and fully eight-tenths of it is fit for the plough. In fact the whole of tho land immediately under tho Dunstan range, as far as we travelled, is first-class agricultural land, and we recommend that steps bo at once taken tohave at least 10,000 acres of this c untry thrown open for settlement under the agricultural leasing system, feeling assured that it would be occupied by on industrious class of settlers in & short time. At present there is not a single section of agricultural land open for settlement in the district.’—Moved by Mr J. Simmonds, seconded by Mr Hansen, and carried unanimously— 1 That having heard the report of Messrs Theyers and Noble re land for settlement, this meeting take immediate steps to get 10,000 acres on Mouterie run thrown open for settlement under the agricultural lease system, and that a committee be elected to carry out this object by forwarding a memorial to the Waste Laud Board embodying the desire of the meeting.’— Messrs Theyers, Noble, Lawson, Simmonds, Forrest, Robertson, Chappie, and Beresford were elected as a Committee.— Your memorialists therefore respectfully request that, in accordance with the above report and resolution, your Board will cause 10,000 acres of land to be thrown open for settlement on run 221 under the agricultural leasing system.—Signed, by the Committee above-mentioned.”—Mr Green said the land near the Wai Keri ICeri Creek was auriferous.—Tho Chief Commissioner and Mr Bastings explained that the land referred to in tho memorial was at tho head waters of the creek, and higher up than the auriferous ground.—Mr Green said he knew the district, and that there was plenty of good land for settlement there.—On the motion of Mr Bastings, it was resolved—“ That the Commissioners (Messrs Bastings and Green) appointed to inspect aud classify land on run No, 249 be requested also to inspect and report upon the land in run No. 221, forming the subject of the memorial." The application of James Dawkins, for sections 27 and 28, block 111., Cromwell, for an agricultural lease, was approved.