WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2116, 16 February 1870, Page 2

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Tins Day. The Board met at the Provincial Buildings at noon to-day. Present—The Chief Commissioner of Waste Lands, Messrs Kcid, Duncan, and Hughes. A letter was read from Mr Macgrcgor, protesting against the sale of section 2D, block 3, Peninsula, to Mr Larnach, as ho himself was the highest bidder at the sale, and it was knocked down to Mr Larnach contrary to the conditions. The auctioneer, Mr Go wan, was called; and the complainant, Macgregor, was also in attendance. Mr Connell, of the firm of Connell and Moodic, came forward and said that, although not instructed by Mr Larnach on the matter, he might state, in reference to the land in the Peninsula bought by Mr Larnach, although something was said at the sale, it scarcely ought to be said to have been a dispute; and he would ask if the Board had given Mr Larnach notice of the receipt of the letter ? Mr Duncan did not consider Mr Connell had any right to interfere without authority from Mr Larnach. The Chief Commissioner : A sense of justice would lead the Board to investigate the matter. The following investigation then took place : By Mr Duncan (to the auctioneer); Are you aware of any dispute having arisen ? Yes. Why did you not carry out the conditions of sale ? —I did not consider the matter a dispute. I thought you said there was a dispute ? —No person at the sale said he had seen him (Mr Macgregor) make another hid. By the Chief Commissioner ; Before Mr Larnach signed this did Mr Macgregor make any noise about it ? —He was in the act of signing when Mr Macgregor made the objection. Mr Macgregor (through the Chief Commissioner) : Did Mr Larnach take the pen in his hand before I spoke ?—Yes, I am quite certain he did. Had there been any dispute I should have had it put up again. By Mr Duncan: Has the money been tendered?— Yes, it was tendered to Mr Livingston and refused. By Mr Macgregor (through the Chief Commissioner) ? How often did i bid ? —I should say about a dozen times. By Mr Duncan : Whose bid was it before? —Mr Larnach’s. By Mr Hughes : Did Mr Macgregor immediately make objection ?—lt was after ho saw me give Mr Larnach the list to sign. By the Chief Commissioner ; He had not signed it then. 1 believe he had not fully signed his name. Did any one see the transaction ? Mr Livingston. Mr Livingston was called, and examined. By the Chief Commissioner ; Will yon bo so good as to inform the Board what you saw of this transaction, especially as regards Mr Larnach signing the paper? I was standing outside the counter, and saw the section put up for sale, Macgregor bid Sss, and it ran up to 86s. I believe Mr Larnach was the bicfilcr. The hammer was about to come down, and I looked at Mr Macgregor, and saw him nod. I saw the auctioneer look at him in a doubtful way, and he looked away. As \lr Macgregor looked a second time, I thought the auctioneer was not sure, and was about to say, “ Arc you sure whose bid this is ? ” when he knocked it down. Mr Larnach was about to sign when Mr Macgregor protested, and said he had no right to sign, for the bid M'as his. Did the auctioneer read the conditions or sale ? Mr Gowan replied he did not, hut they were lying on the counter open to pubiie inspection. Mr Livingston ; Mr Larnach has tendered the money, and L refused it. It was resolved that the lot should be put up for sale again, should the Provincial Solicitor see no legal objection to it. APPLICATIONS BY -MESSRS CONNELL AND MOO DIE. Messrs Connell and Moodie applied on behalf of John Campbell to have section 3, block 5, Otepopo, put up for sale at IDs an acre. It was intimated that the section was the greatest possible pubiie pest to the neighborhood, and was covered with thistles, and it was impossible for settlers to put them down on their own land so long as they were in such abundance on that section. The land was worth nothing, but they applied to buy it in self-defence. It was referred to the Secretary for Land and Works for enquiry. On behalf of E. B. Atkinson, that section 32, Block 10, Awamoko, might be put for sale. To be offered as laud of special value at 2ls an acre. On behalf of James Dow, that section 5, block 56, Oamaru, might be put up for sale. It was reserved by tire Superintendent in 1860 as a stone quarry, but the working had been abandoned, and there was no reason why it should be longer reserved from sale. The application was to have it included in the next laud sale at Oamaru. Referred for report to the Secretary for Land and Works. On behalf of J. Barraclough, for purchase of section ID, block 7, Oamaru district, the application was made for the laud simply for agricultural purposes ; and the applicant would have no objection to the Government leasing the stone quarry. It was a good piece of land, and the stone in it did not interfere with the portion that was wanted. Resolved to offer it at an upset price of L2 per acre, saving existing rights. On behalf of James Winton, to be declared purchaser of section 17, block 4. Granted. On behalf of James Mvlvellar, for a pastoral lease of laud, south of Wakatip, pasturage district, adjoining run 324. Resolved —That the laud be assessed, and a lease granted for ten years, subject to a determination of it on a year’s notice being given. APPLICATIONS BY MESSRS GILLIES AND •STREET. On behalf of G. M. Aldridge, to purchase or lease sections 27, 28, - 2D, 30, 31, and part of 26 and 32; also sections 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 56, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, and 66, block 5,

Shotover district, which had become available for lease or purchase ; the leaseholders not having complied wiih the conditions of their leases. The application was referred to the warden for report. Other applications were in the same position. GENERAL BUSINESS. A letter from Mr L. Moore, manager of Shag Valley Station, complaining of thistles on (Government land, and stating the impossibility of keeping purchased land free unless they were extirpated, was referred to the Secretary for Land and Works. A letter from-Mr Glecson was read, asking for the appointment of rangers, on account of cattle along the roads breaking down fences, was referred to the Secretary for Land and Works. • • Bridget Macnamara’s application to purchase the freehold of agricultural, leases 2b and 29 were passed. IV'et a ncl Milner’s lease was approved. Mr A. Murray’s application to purchase the freehold of agricultural leases 2 and 0, V\ aitahuna East was granted. The valuation of improvements on section 19 block 4, Wyndham, amounting to Ll4O, was approved, and that sum was ordered to be added to the upset price at the sale, and paid over to Thomas Crawford, unless he himself became the purchaser.