WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 2979, 5 September 1872, Page 2

WASTE LAND BOARD.

Yesterday,

The Waste Land Board met at noon yesterday. Present, the Chief Co Messrs Allan. Duncan, and Hughes. In the matter of Connell and Moodio’s application for Caleb Dongee, a copy of the Warden’s letter was directed to be forwarded to Pierce and Washer, and ask what objection they have to draining into and crossing that race. A letter from C, W. Chapman was read, correcting a misstatement made to the the Board respecting the fencing on his run, which was referred to the Provincial Solicitor. Francis Waddell and Robert Burns’s application for a coal lease, was referred to the Warden. If no objections, an annual license, renewable for some years, to be granted on the usual terms. Mr Warden Robinson’s report respecting Mr John Douglas’s application for land at Hawkcsbury was read. Mr Robinson stated that he had great difficulty in inducing any of the opposing petitioners to afford information as to the character of the ground. It had been stated that Mr Sloan, a respectable ftorekeeper, had discovered a go’d hearing reef. He accordingly visited the ground, and the result of his enquiries may be summarised thus The country has been prospected for gold, but none worth working has been found. Gold had been found on the north branch of the Waikouaiti, but not in sufficient quantity to afford living for a miner. Nobodv is working on the land applied for at present. About three years ago Trotter’s Creek was prospected, but no gold was obtained. About twelve months ago two men were prospecting nearly five months near Mr Watkins. They were assisted by Mr W. Jones, but ultimately they sold their tools, not having succeeded. The bed rock is micaceous schist, with hut little quartz intermixed. The ground is broken by basaltic hills. He would not expect to find alluvial gold except in the narrow bottoms of the gullies, and would easily have been found if in payable quantity ; and there is hardly any ground that could be sluiced even if water could he brought to bear upon it. Quartz, which appeared like the caps of reefs toleraably well defined, was shown him in three different places ; but he could not learn that any gold had been found in it. He took samples from the reefs, which he carefully crushed and washed, hut found no trace of gold. No shafts had been sunk to test them. All that had been done was to knock pieces off the surface ; hut he thought as a rule that, if ho gold was found in the cap, the reef was barren. His deliberate opinion was that there was no such auriferous indication as to justify the Government in withdrawing the land from sale.

On the objection of A. C. Begg, on behalf of John Douglass, to the survey of land at Hawksbury applied for by Orhell and Miller, Mr Orbell’s surveyor was directed to conform to the application, Jackman and Co.’s reply to the application for payment of a license fee for cutting timber, that they are now cutting timber on their own property, was referred to the Ranger for report. The appointment of Sergeant Smith to he Crown Lands Ranger for the Wakatip district was approved. John Utting, on his application for a coal lease, was referred to the runholder for his consent. The application of James Patterson, of Clyde, for a reduction of rent, was declined. Mr Bronton’s reply to a request for a sketch of the area at Bligh Sound, proposed to be leased by him, was read. It was resolved to recommend the Government to appoint Mr W. H. Valpy Ranger for the Central Hundred.