WASTE LAND BOARD.

Dunstan Times, Issue 847, 12 July 1878, Page 3

WASTE LAND BOARD.

The usual weekly mooting of the Board was held on Wednesday, the 4th instant: Certificate of agricultural lease was ordered to issue upon the following application—George Cockburn, section 20, block 111., Cromwell. The Resident. Magistrate at Clyde telegraphed requesting that sections 44 and 45, block 2, Alexandra, bo reserved ' for a site for a court-house, the old site having been washed away.—Government to bo recommended to reserve the land for the purpose named.

Mr Bastings commenced on the ambiguous wording of the Acts under which the disposal of land is regulated. He said that the terms were as foggy as they could he, so that uneducated persons or such as were unversed in law were ignorant of the manner in which they should set about applying for land. Mr Bastings was of opinion that instead of this state of things the regulations should be drawn up in language as plain and simple as possible, and then put up in public places where the public could read them whenever they desired. Messrs Bastings and Green, who were appointed by the Waste Lands Board to inspect and report upon blocks for settlement in the neighbourhood of the Dunstan District, at yesterday’s meeting of the Board' drew attention to the fact that at present in all likelihood the land to be inspected was covered with snow. Mr Bastings said Mr Green and himself had doubted whether they would be able to visit the district before they went to Wellington, and they were inclined to dc’fer their visit till spring. Mr Clark raised the objection that at least six months would be lost if this course were followed. The Chief Commissioner won*

deredjbow the business would progress when tho Assembly met, „■ since only a bare quotum > f the Board would he left in Otago. With regard to tho inspection of the blocks referred to, ho suggested that Messrs Bastings and Green should telegraph for information as to whether snow covered the land, and decide what course to take when they received an answer. Mr Bastings said that would bo the best plan, and it was agreed to adopt it.-

The following letter as an answer to the miserable excuse for shutting out settlement from this District for a further six months and which we believp was despatched in time to be considered at themeoting of the Board on Wednesday last the. 11th instant, has been kindly placed at our disposal for publication or otherwise--we gladly avail ourselves of tho opportunity, and can but express our gratification at .-the promptness with which Mr Pyke has acted in this manner, and hope teat he will not be merely satisfied with writing a letter, but that he will bring the full weight of his influence, together with that of the County Council to bear on the Waste Lands .Board, and its drawing-room Commissioners, who appear afraid to (if ever there was snow on the ground) to test its /thickness.- in onr leading column wo deal further, with the subject : Vincent County Council, Clyde, July. 6, 187S,

Sir I observe that, at- the last meeting of the Waste Lands Board; Messrs Bastings and Green, the Commissioners deputed to inspect and report upon the applications of the people to havq certain blocks of land thrown open for settlement upon the Earnsclough and Mouterie Runs, drew attention to the fact that, in all likelihood the land to be inspected was covered with snow. (Daily Times, July 4.)

Permit me to assure the Board that the Blocks in question arc never covered with snow for more than a few hours, and that very rarely. Indeed, I have seen more snow in the streets of Dunedin, than, daring 16 years acquaintance with, and knowledge of the localities referred to I have ever known to fall in the latter.

1 further observe, with great prvin, that a proposal was made to defer the inspection until Spring. “ If the contemplated inspection is considered necessary, I beseech the Board to cause it to be made at once. To defer it till next Spring would be cruel to intending settlers, and could only have the effect of forcing them to seek homes elsewhere. The people [of this County have waited and suffered too long and too much already in their quest for. land whereon to settle ; and unless the District is to become an uninhabited wilderness, such slight concessions as they now seek should be granted without hesitation. After all, the pSople arc themselves the best judges of-what land is suitable for their occupation ; and in the present instances at least; an official inspection must be regarded as very much, a matter of form.

I'would thcieforc strongly urge that the two blocks now asked for should be surveyed for sale with or without inspection. 1 have the honor to ho, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Vincent Pvkb, Chairman.