WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3349, 13 November 1873, Page 2

WASTE LAND BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board was held to-day. Present—The Chief Commissioner, and Messrs Butterworth, Clark, and Strode. Banger Hughan reporced favorably on the application of Mr John Dalziel to purchase a bush reserve, section 25, block 2, Warepa. To be sold by auction under clause 85, at LI Is per acre upset price. Banger Lugbaii also reported favorably on the application of Mr Win. Dellow for a grazing lease of quarry reserve, section 5, block 7, Waipahee. MrG. F. Reid appeared for applicant, and Mr J. M. Bain wrote objecting, on the ground that the granting of the lease would be unfair to the neighboring holders of depasturing licenses. Mr Bain’s objections were referred to Banger Hughan to report on fully. Mr J. S. Worthington asked to be allowed L3U as valuation for improvements made on section 4, block 31, Queenstown. Survey fees only to be allowed ; plants and vegetables to be removable in the autumn, applicant having exercised his privileges. The following applications for the exchange of leases were approvedMr John Drysdale, sections 36 and 37, block 6, Tuapeka West ; Mr John Mortimer, section G, block 2, Table Hill; Mr S. 0. Worth, sections 3S, 52, and 53, block I, Tiger Hill; Mr J. (J. Chappie, section 35, do, do. The following applications to purchase land, held under agricultural leases, were approved :—Mr James Wright, section 2, block 4, Waipori; Mr G. M. Boss, section 9, block 17, Shotovcr; Mr Thomas Corringham Johnson, through Mr A. Bathgate, sections 31, 32, 37, 38, and 40, block 2, Shotover. Mr J. W. Robertson, through Mr G. F. Reid, again applied for a water license at Queenstown, Postponed till a settlement is come to with the Corporation there, The following letter, as addressed to the District Rangers, was read : Waste Laud Board Office, Dunedin, November 3,1873. Sir,—The Colonial Government having invited suggestions and recommendations how best to prevent the wasteful destruction of the forests of the Colony, I have the honor to request you to report on the bush reserves in the districts under your charge, and to answer as nearly as you can the following queries :—(I.) Furnish list of bushes in your district, with acreages; (2) state the acreage that is private and the acreage that is public; (3) state the acreage that has been destroyed in private and public bushes; (I) state the number of sawmills at work and their horse-power; (5) state the number of sawyers at work; (6) give the amount of revenue paid by each class ; (7) state the causes of the destruction of bush ; (B) state if any has been replaced by new growth or artificial planting; (9) state the acreage of artificial planting in private and public land ; (10) state any known effect to climate or drainage by clearing the bush, grasses, or other vegetation; (11) state the number of years’ supply yet remaining, the various purposes to which timber is applied : such as fencing, firing, house-build-ing, public works, &c. ; (12) give your opinion as to the necessity or otherwise of taking measures to protect bush; (13) if you think it should be protected, state how this could best be done without injury to the current wants of the population; (14) give your opinion on tho best way to encourage artificial planting in private and public land, and the kind of trees you would recommend, as you have seen in your district ; (15) state in what portion of your district timber is most required (16) give area of your district in acres.—l am. &c., J. T. Thomson, Chief Commissioner. It was agreed that in future the meetings of the Board be held at eleven a.m. instead of the present hour.