DEPUTATION.

Evening Star, Issue 3070, 20 December 1872, Page 2

DEPUTATION.

THE LEANING ROCK SALE. This morning a deputation from Clyde, consisting of Mts8 r s Alexander and Al'Plierson, waited upon bis Honor the Superintendent. They were introduced by Mr T. L. Shepherd, M.P.C., accompanied by Mr J. C. Brown, M.P.C. The Provincial Secretary for Public Works and Goldfields was present. Mr Sh'ipiierg explained the object of the deputation. He said that M. Feraud, of Clyde, leased a number of agricultural sections, under the Agricultural Leasing Regulations and, in 1869, applied to the Executive to purchase many of them. On their coming bdoretlie Executive, they, by a minute, endorsed the application recommending the sale. Subsequently the ground proved to be auriferous. The sections in question were considered by the miners the key to the entire block and they, with other persons in the district, sent a deputation requesting that the block should not be sold, and that no more land should be leased. The request was referred to a Select Committee, who recommended that the land leased to M. Feraud should not be sold to him, and the report was forwarded to the Executive of the day with the resolution of the committee that the report should be referred to the Executive for consideration. It appeared that on 11th of this mouth M Feraud produced that minute at a meeting of the Waste Land Board sanctioning the sale to him, and the land was accordingly sold and the money paid. The Chief Commissioner informed him the sale could not be revoked or annulled in any way. The district had taken up the matter, as it was felt to be a great injury, as it would seriously prejudice a number of water races now under construction. A deputation had been sent down from the Dunstan to wait upon His Honor. M. Feraud was well aware of the value of bis purchase, and bad stated that be would not accept L 2.000 for the small area of land he bad purchased at one pound per acre. Mr Bastings explained that M. Feraud occupied the land under lease in 1866. In 1867, one section was reserved for educational purposes, and M. Feraud was therefore prevented taking up the land until 1871. when an Ordinance was passed cancelling that educational reserve. So far as the sale of that land was concerne ’,the matter had never been brought before the present Executive at all. The sale was sanctioned by the Waste l aud Board without coming before the Government.

The Chief Colons, signer, who was present, said the case was laid before the Waste Land Board, with the minute duly endorsed by the Executive. M r Bastings said the documents relating to the laud were in his hands. He had received. a report from Mr S.mpson, the district surveyor, which he had afterwards withdrawn, saying he had reason to alter his report; and so far as the Executive was concerned, matters remained hi statu quo. No memorandum ever was laid before the Executive.

The Chief Commissioner only knew that Mr Tolmie was present at the meeting of the Board. The Superintendent said he would hear what the deputation had got to say, and-en-quire into the matter. Mr Alexander said, on Monday morning, through the reports in the papers, attention was drawn to the sale of those sections. The account took the people by surprise, on account of a petition to the Council having been presented, praying that the lands might not be sold, on account of the injury that would accrue to the district. (Mr Alexander explained a plan laid before the Superintendent.) He said all the gullies were auriferous, and would be worked if water were brought in. The valley in question was the only outlet for carrying oft' the sludge aud waste water. It was what might be called the key to all the diggings in the district. Workings had been continually carried on without water being brought in, but now one race from the Leaning Bock was coming in to it, and another large race from Chatto Creek, which would cost the proprietors L6OOO.

Mr Bastings said, in justice to the late Secretary of the Goldfields, on receipt of a report from Mr Warden Carew, he made a memorandum recommending that the land in question should not be sold. Mr J. C. Brown said, from enquiries made at the Laud Office, be found that many sections in immediate proximity to those sold were in similar circumstances. It was, therefore, desirable some determination should be arrived at. Mr Bastings said he had issued a circular to the Wardens, requiring that all applications for purchase of agricultural sections should be advertised, and three weeks’notice given of intention to buy. Mr J. C. Brown quite agreed with the importance of all that had been said by the deputation.

Mr Alexander said the land in question was of no use for agricultural purposes ; it was only useful for the purposes described. Hls Honor said the matter should be inquired into. The deputation thanked him, and withdrew'.