WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3437, 26 February 1874, Page 2

WASTE LAND BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board was held to-day. Present: Messrs Thomson, Butter worth,' Clark, Reid, Strode, and Bastings. Mr B<?gg, on behalf of Mr Wm. Mayor, applied for a license to occupy, under clause 161, part of the village reserve west of the road on block 2, Greenvale, or the whole of the reserve. The application was declined. Mr Haggitt applied, on behalf of Messrs Orkden and Brown, for reconsideration of a refusal by the Chief Commissioner of their application to purchase section 7a, block 10, Kauroo district. It appeared, upon argument, that the ground in question had been reserved as an endowment for the Oamaru Hospital. Mr Strode moved that the question should be referred to the Judge as to the question of the legality of the reserve. The Board, however, eventually agreed to refuse the application, on the ground that if such reserves are not legal, the onus of proving so should devolve upon the applicants. vlr Haggitt applied, on behalf of the Hon Robt. Campbell, for reconsideration of the decision of the Chief Commissioner in refusing his application to purchase section 24, block 6, Maerewhenua district. The circumstances of the application were similar to those of the previous case, and the same decision was given. Messrs Gray applied for a lease of seations 1, 2 nnd 3, Coast District, Clutha Sandspit. The application was refused, on the ground that the laud had been already leased, and that although the present lessee had not paid up hia rent, the lease had not been surrendered. Messrs Webb and Fulton protested against certain objections by the Hon. R. Campbell being sustained against tbe granting of a license to Mr Cairns to occupy certain lands in the Waitaki district. Mr Webb, who appeared in support of the protest, complained that the Board rescinded its own decision upon the ex parte statements of parties who might appear at subsequent meetings of the Board, and when the original applicant was not present to defend his claim. After discussion it was decided that as the license to Mr Cairns had been granted under a misapprehension that the runholdera consent had been obtained, whereas it turned out that such was not the case, the Board decided to adhere to its decision, refusing the license. Mr Jas. Mills applied to haveja lease of the 'lutha Sandspit, applied for some ten months ago for the purpose of working coal, transferred to Messrs Gray. He also asked to have the last half-year’s rent remitted, on the ground that he had not worked the coal. Explanations were made to the effect that Messrs Gray desired that the rent should be reduced. Mr Bastings said that he considered some concession should be given to the applicant. He had taken up the lease and purchased a coal-mining plant for the purpose of working the mine. It afterwards turned out a bad spec. The Board agreed to remit the rent due and transfer the lease as required, but refused to reduce the rent.

Mr Doughty applied, on behalf of Mr Robt. Cross, for a lease of a portion of the Kaikorai reserve for coal-mining purposes. Explana tions were made to the effect that a three months’ prospecting lease had been granted, and that the applicant had obtained a prospect which warranted him in faking out a lease. The application was granted ; price -Os per acre, and the price of the coal not to exceed 10s per ton at the mouth of the pit. Mr J. T. Mackerras applied to purchase •ection 1, block 1, Coast district. The •ioard ordered the land to be submitted to auction at the upset price of L2 per acre. A communication was read from Mr Carew, recommending Dr Stewart to be appointed a member of the Board of Inquiry at Tuapeka. The recommendation was approved of.

A plan of the lease applied for by Messrs Selson, Douglas, Fraser, and M'Phee at the township of Kapiti was submitted for approval. The lease was granted on the 4bh December, 1873. The plan was approved of. Mr Haggitt applied on behalf of Mr Thoa. Hinde, under clause 73, to purchase section 43, block 19, in the district of Tuapeka east, the area being 100 acres, six acres of which the applicant had improved. The Board agreed to sell ten acres, in addition to the six acres improved upon. Ranger Valpey asked for instructions as to whether or not he should issue licenses for Mount Watkins Bush, which was reserved by the Provincial Council but not yet gazetted. The Board decided that as the bush was part of a Municipal reserve, they had no power to grant licenses, with the further instruction to the Ranger to protect the bush against parties putting timber illegally. An application from Mr Theodore Bussell to lease part of block 8, Pembroke district, Wanaka. The District Officer was ordered to give reason why the application should be granted, or otherwise. Mr W. S. Trotter’s application for a depasturing license was granted without prejudice.

Plans of the following applications for pre-emptive rights were submitted for apapproval .’—Section 2, block 12, Tarraa; section 13, block 1, Wakefield; section 1, block 8, Benger; section 8, block 3, St. Bathans; section 1, block 11, Maniototo; and section 2, block 4, Tiger Hill, Mr A. Milligan’s application to purchase part of the Bush Reserve, block 5, Hawksbury district, was refused.

Messrs Haggitt Bros, and Brent applied, on behalf of Captain Fraser, for his pre-emptive right for run 355b, in virtue of his pastoral license not yet expired. The Board ordered io to be surveyed, after which the application was .considered.