WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3597, 2 September 1874, Page 2

WASTE LAND BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Waste Laud Board was held to-day; present— Messrs Thomson (in the chair), Bntterwortb, Strode, Clark, and Reid. The minutes of the previous meeting baving been read, Mr Harris disputed the accuracy of the following minute :—“ Driver Stewart, and Co., for M‘Donald and Matheson, to ask the reason why payment had been refused for section 39, block 18, Tuapeka Kast. Application refused. Mr Strode and Mr Butterworth obj cting, Mr Clark and Mr Thomson supportiug, carried by casting vote of chairman. Mr Nicholson having asked him for a rehearing, the site being valuable to mining interests.” He said that no person had appeared before the Board asking for a rehearing. That what the Chief Commissioner stated was that he had been informed by Mr Nicholson that the laud was reserved as the Tuapeka basin. The Chief Commissioner stated that he believed that Mr Nicholson had asked him for a rehearing, and again voted in favor of the minute being confirmed, and was supported by Mr '.lark,—Mr Butterworth and Mr Strode agreed with Mr Harris, and voted against the confirmation of the minute. The Chief Commissioner stated that in this as well as in the former case he had a casting vote, and he would give it for the minute being confirmed.—Mr Reid not having been present on the previous occasion, preserved neutrality.—Mr Harris solemnly protested against the minute, and said it was an untruthful report of what took place. He intimated his intention of taking further proceedings. He complained of the 'card’s having during the proceedings refused to receive tne evidence of a disinterested witness (Mr Connell), as to what had actually taken place. The first minute entered for to-day’s proceedings was the following .-—The Chief Comud-isioner to ask the attention of the Board to the expressions used by Mr Harris, to wit: “ The sooner the Waste Land Bo ,rd was done away with the better,” and the proceodiugs are “illegal and iniquitous” as reported iu the ‘Daily Times.’ The Gimmissioner : I did not hear that expression very fully.—Mr Harris said it was a most unfair proceeding on the part of the Commissioner to enter such a minute, not knowing that the words were used. He considered it a most unfair and irregular proceeding on the part of the Chief Commissioner, who now stated that he did not make the charge against him, as he did nob hear it.—The Chief Commissioner said the word used by Mr Harris was “ inconsistent.” The Board agreed that they were satisfied that the word “iniquitous” was not used, but the word “inconsistent.” After Mr Harris left, the Board agreed to expunge the minute and acconii.ig y did so. Mr W. S, Douglas’s application for Mr Wm, Aitken, for a license under clause 161 to occupy sections 20, 21, and 22, block 52, Uatnaru, was approved of under 161st clause of the Waste Laud Act, 1871, at LI per annum. Mr Hilgendorf’s application for reconsideration of his application for authority to be given to some German families to occupy half an acre each of Waihola Farm, was refused. The application of Garden and Petrie for a sawmill lease, behind. Pollock’s sawmill at Gleuoamaru, was submitted to the Ranger for report. Mr Harris suggested that a ease setting forth the facta of the reversal of the approval of the application of M‘Donald and Matheson to purchase section 39, block 18, Tuapeka West, should be submitted for the decision of his Honor Mr Justice Chapman. The Board decided that Mr Harris may submit a case for the consideration of the Board for submission to the Supreme Court, as he wishes. The application of Fredk. Cooper, that section 59, block 6, Moeraki district, should be offered for sale, was referred to the Government for report of Engineer. The report of Ranger Hugban, op the application of Mr Richard Lancaster, for a lease of 2io acres, including a bush about five miles above Beaumont, was read. Messrs Connell and Moodie applied for a decision. The application was refused. . Re the application of MrD. Miller, for permission to prospect for coal in the Bush Reserve, Halfway Bush, the Board -decided not to interfere, (

The application of Mr Wm. Sabine to exchange his lease of a ctions 9, 10, 11, 12. 13, 33. 34, 30, 3 , bl ck 2, •-hotover district, under clause 62. was approved of A reconsideration of che application of Mr George Milne to purchase sections 51, 02, 103, and 104, block 5, Waitahuna East, was refused. An application was made by Mr David Andrew to pureba e section 2, block 14 Dunedin and East Taieri district. The land to be sold under the 40th section at L 3 per annum. Mtssra Fletcher and M‘Gillivray’s application fur a license under clause 161, to occupy an island on the Wyndham township for grazing catt'e, was refused. The resolution of the Government, that the town of Hyde shou d be sold wiih certain re erves, was referred to the District Land (,‘fficer for advice Mr H. L. ■ quires’s application for reconsideration of his application to purchase section 47, block 10, Waitahuna East, was refused. Messrs Connell and Moodie, fer Messrs J. & T. Macfarlaue, applied for the decision of the Board on their adjourned application for a sawmill leise on block 13, Glenktuich. The report of the Banger to be had. Applications to purchase laud on goldfields were dealt with as follows :—Mr Thomas Bruntou, section 30, block 19, Tuapeka East; Mr J. •'lackay section 60, block 6, Tuape.ka West; Mr John Tuekey, section 8, block 20, Tuapeka East—refused. Mr Thomas Hopwoud, section 4, 16, I, 7, and 18, block 7, Waitahuna West—no power. Mr Ja 1 -’. Cameron, section 49, block 7, W aitahuua East—received and granted.