WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3550, 9 July 1874, Page 2

WASTE LAND BOARD.

At the weekly meeting of the Board the Chief Commissioner (in the chair), Messrs Bastings, Butterworth, 1). Reid, and Strode were present.

The application of Bichard Lancaster for two 200-acre licenses for the Green Bush, opposite .M‘ aim’s B«ach, and for an acre about half a mile above Beaumont, for a depot, with the view of securing a road which he proposed to form to the bush, was referred to the Ranger for advice and report. The consideration of the letter from the Secretary of the Miners’ Association, Waitahuua, obj cting to a sale of laud to Messrs Thompson and Dodds, was postponed. Messrs Fitzgerald and Stewart, through Mr Squires, applied for reconsideration of tlie Board’s decision to offer the land applied for and occupied by them at auction. They asked to be allowed to purchase at a fixed price. The decision of the Board was postponed.

Thomas Featherstone’s application for valuation of houses and stabling on block 17, Roxburgh, erected prior to survey, was postponed. Mr Bastings supported it on the grounds that the applicant had been in possession some years, and the Board had not long since entertained similar applications. The Chief Commissioner opposed it on the ground that the occupation of the land was unauthorised, and therefore at the risk of the occupier. He locked upon such transactions as a “ dodge,” and had no sympathy with the parties. The Board must draw a line. Proclamations had been is-ued, warning people from occupying Crown land. Mr John Cameron applied for a pastoral lease of run 457, said to contain about 10,000 acres, on the West Branch of the Matukituki River. The application was declined, and the Board resolved that the land should be assessed, and put up for sale by auction.

Mr G. M‘Leod’s request to remove waterpipes which he had laid through section 2, block 11., Ettrick, should he not be the purchaser at the coming auction, was allowed on condition of removing the pipes before the sale.

The report of Ranger Innes on the application of Messrs Sharp and M‘£echnie, for a lease of the bush at tpe head of the Arrowtown bush, was read and approved. A petition agaiust the lease was presented to the Botrd. —The Ranger reported he did not know of any objection to a lease being granted for one of the bushes applied fort together with a right of road thereto, on certain conditions.

Mr Thomas Hugh Barclay wrote, desiring to give up section 14, block 1, Waikaka, granted to him. on the deferred payment sys* tf m. It was resolved that it should be declared open for application. The conditions of the proposed lease to be granted to Messrs Harding and Co. were again brought under notice. The following telegram addressed to the Superintendent was read :—“ Please protect sealing and fishing rights whilst granting lease to Harding. Locality asked for valuable and regularly worked. Complications already arising from Moncjcton’s Jeasp of the Auckland Islands. —Josubh Hatch, Invercargill.” The Board resolved that Messrs Harding and Co, should not have permission under their lease to cut timber for sale or exportation, but only for domestic purposes, fencing, and the like. The survey to be completed in six months, or the application to be abandoned.

The secretary of the Mount Benger Progress »ommittee wrote objecting to the purchase by Messrs Cargill and Anderson of their pre-emptive right on section 33: block 5, Tevipc, on the ground of its containing valuable coal.—Referred to the Governm nt, with the view of obtaining their repbrb thereon. .

At the request of Mr Connell the followmg applications were postponed :—James Ihompson, sections 16 and 17, block 6; A. Miller, section 35, block 4; A. C. Miller section 34, block 4—all at Waitahuna East • A. C. Miller, section 16, block 10, Hill b'nd’ Mark Higgins’s appUcaJibn to buy 320 acres pn block 5, Wkltahuna East, was ap'proved, ? w

The report of Warden Oarew on the follewwg applications was placed before the

Board James Thomp on. sections 16 ind 17, block 6, Waitahana East; Robert Dod■on* 400 acres; John Boss, 160 acres; J. Dunnon, 500 acres—all at Waitahana East: Walter Miller, 200 acres at Hill End, for tree<plantiog. The applications of Mr Dunnon and Mr Dodson were approved of, and the others adjourned, to enable Mr Connell w “° too ill to be present, to attend. Mr Doughty, 0B behalf of Mr J. Black, applied to the Board for a reconsideration of 1 *®BMding the sale of sections 19 and 20, block 3, Waihola. The reserve on these sections at the time of his making the former application was an illegal one: and probably if he had applied to purchase the land m the ordinary way, the application would have been granted. Under these circumstances the Buard might reconsider the case and grant what he asked. The Board resolved that the matter should bs referred to the Ranger for his report on the whole question, and as to the propriety of selling the sections as land of special value. Mr James Cameron wrote, asking the Board to cancel his agricultural lease of sections 920, 112, block 2, Leaning Rock district, and to pay for improvements. Referred to the Government.

Mr Doughty, for Mr Black, applied under Ctago Waste Lauds Act, 1872, to purchase 300 or 400 acres in block 6, Waitahana East, and block 7, Table Hill. Referred to the District Land Officer for advice, to whom also application was in the first instance to be made. Ezra Eldred asked permission to obtain wood for his lime-kiln from Bob’s Cose in the terms of the regulations.—Referred to the Ranger, with orders for him te issue licenses in the usual way.