THE DUNEDIN LAND BOARD.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1030, 13 January 1882, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN LAND BOARD.

An adjourned meeting of the Land Board was held on January in, for the purpose of discussing the important question of dealing with the Otago runs. There were present—The Chief Commissioner (J. P. Maitland, Esq.), Messrs James Green, Henry Clark, J. B. Bradshaw, John Duncan, and 11. Stout. Mr Green moved—“ That the Board do now proceed to consider the question of cutting up and otherwise dealing with the runs falling in in March, 1883, and that it is desirable for the purposes of deliberation that all strangers be required to withdraw.”

The motion was carried, Mr Bradshaw being the only dissentient. The Chairman held that Pressmen were “ strangers,” and ordered them to withdraw, which they did after a little discussion.

The Board then proceeded to business with closed doors.

Mr Stout moved—“ That in the opinion of the Board it will be detrimental on runs of purely pastoral land to grant lessees the right of purchasing freeholds. (2.) That it would be more beneficial to the State instead of granting to pastoral lessees the right to purchase freeholds on runs to provide for compensation for permanent improvements likely to be beneficial in working a run, such compensation not to exceed an amount fixed at the time of,granting the lease, say three years’ rental. (3.) That the Board is also of opinion that it would be more conducive to settlement it (1) only six months’ rent in advance was required from a lessee of a run purchased at auction; (2) the leasejjwas offered only six months before the time of occupancy began; (3) the amount of valuation for improvements was fixed at the time the lease was offered by auction; (4 ) that in view of the vast territory over which pastoral leases expire in March, 1883, the Board request the Hon Minister of Lands to consider the advisability of adopting some means to postpone leasing the lands until the Land Act, 1877, may be amended in the direction pointed out in the foregoing resolution l *.” The following amendment was carried almost unanimously:—“ That the Board do not consider it desirable to occupy the time at present in discussing amendments of the Act, but consider the limited time at its disposal will be more beneficially occupied in administering judiciously the Act as they find it.

The following motion was then propose.! by Mr Stout and seconded by Mr Bradshaw— “I. That the high and back country not near a railway and not likely to be required for settlement be let at an upset price of Is per head sheep of carrying capacity, and for ten years. 2. That the land likely to be soon required-for settlement be reserved from letting. 3. That runs near settlement or near the course of the Otago Central Hailway be leased at from three to seven years, according to the probability of their being required for settlement. 4. That the rental in such runs vary according to situation at from Is and 2s per head of sheep. 5. That the size of the runs do not exceed the limit mentioned—see 119 of the Land Act, 1577.” On the amendment of Mr Green, it was resolved- That while agreeing generally with the views expressed in the motion of Mr Stout, the Board consider it much pre - ferable to deal with each run on its merits. ”

Several resolutions regarding the manner in which the Board intended to re-let several runs were minuted, and the meeting adjourned at midnight.