WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 3616, 24 September 1874, Page 2

WASTE LAND BOARD.

The weekly meeting of the Waste Land Board was held yesterday; present—The Chief Commissioner, Messrs Butterwortb, Clark, Reid, and Strode.

The following applications to purchase lands in goldfields were dealt with P. Tracy, section 45. block 19, Tuapeka East; G, Brook, section 9, block 3, Tuapeka We 4; William Robins, section 44, block 3. Tuapeka West; Thomas I rclvar, section 2of 69, block 1, Tuapeka East; J. 0. Gray, sections 2 and 4, block 1, Table Hill; John Maclean, sections 42, 43, 31, 46, 55. 52, 49, 39, 40, 35, 36, 50, and 32,. block 3, Tuapeka West. Those of Messrs Brook and Robins were refused ; a report was asked on that of Mr Gray; and those of Messrs Tracy, Trelvar, and Maclean were ad j turned. Mr Connell, for Mr John Barraclougb, asked that . the. r latter may be declared the purchaser of sections 14 and 15, block 8, Tuturau. Granted.

Ranger Hughan reported on the state of theGlenoamaru bush reserve, leased to Messrs Jackson and Inglis, and asked if the occupants were in legal possession. To be referred to the Provincial Solicitor with a view to ejectment. The District Land Officer forwarded a letter from Mr J. A, Cruickshanks, surrendering his deferred payment certificate for section 8, block 1, Waikaka, and asking that his deposit may be returned. Surrender accepted.

Ranger Hughan reported ou the application of Messrs Garden and Petrie for-a sawmill lease at Glenoamaru, recommending that it be granted, as a new mill would prove a benefit to the district. A deposit of 10s per acre to be made, and a survey to be submitted.

The proprietor of the ‘ Lake Wakatip Mail* wrote asking that 'advertisements of land sales in that district be inserted in his paper. Referred to the Government. Mr John Gumming, Clinton, asked what he can do about the refusal of the Receiver of Land Revenue to receive his receipt for survey fees to account of rent for his deferred payment sections at Waipahee. Referred to the Government.

Sir F. D. Bell’s right of pre-emption over the block of land in Shag Valley, which he had agreed to allow to be sold,but which was now within the Otago goldfields, was considered. Sir F. D. Bell said he wished to clear away any difficulty which might stand iu the way of the Board’s dealing with the matter. It was some eighteen or nineteen months since he had asked the question if the block: was open to his pre-emptive right by purchase, or agricultural lease. Mr Luks also put in an application for part of the block, but he (Sir F. Bell) considered that he had the prior claim. However, he would would waive that altogether if the Board would give a decision one way or the other : cither that the land was open for sale when vl r Luks put iu his application, or that it is open for sale now. If the former was the case, then it was equally open to both parties, though the Board refused to receive his (Sir F, Bell’s) application. He might say that he was certain Mr Luka and himself would come to an agreement as to the land each respectively wanted, so long as he retained possession of the section on which he had erected a dam. The Board must determine if the block is open for sale now, or else submit the question for the opinion qf a Judge. Mr Connell, who appeared for Air Luks. said he had nothing to urge against Sir i . Bali’s argument, except that §ir F. J Bell had' not originally sent in an application, but had merely sought the opinion of the Board as to whether he eould apply ; while Mr Luks had made a formal application and paid a deposit. Mr Luks tad no wish to take the dam or any land Sir F. Bpll required.—Sir E. Bell said he should strongly resist the granting of Mr Luke’s application, on Mr grounds, and, if granted, he should ' appeal. —The Chief Commissioner said that as the case was surrounded with difficulties,, the Board would like to consult in private. —The room was therefore cleared, and after the lapse of twenty minutes the Chief Commissioner said the following had been minuted :—“The recept of applications having been held in abeyance pending the obtaining of the At-torney-'general’s opinion on certain points submitted to him, and the applications being for land situated within goldfields, resolved that the applications already made be re l fused, and that the land be opened for sale on October 27, 1874, excepting it be auriferous.”—Sir F. Bell remarked that he was quite satisfied. The Seceiyer of Land Revenue asked if it \yaa intended by the Board that he was to receive survey fees am} purchase money for application 576 d (Mr Waller Miller’s), pn which the words “receipt approved” had been written and the words “applicant declared the purchaser ” struck out.—Mr Connell spoke iu ci nnection with the tender of the purchase money and fees to the Receiver, £pd requested the Board to state what steps It’desired applicant to take in order that the duplication'may be finely disposed of. He ftaid the question involved thp validity of titles all over the Province; that ag&ts did not know to do, and ’that the ! recent action of |he Board upset all the principles of the Act.—After d long discussion, the Board resolved that the course always followed hitherto, as regards applications for lands in goldfields, be continued for the future, the Board reserving to itself the power to make special orders regarding particular cases. The Receiver to be informed not to reoeive purchase money in Mr Walter Miller’fii case. The application of Mr H. Galbraith \for whom Mr H- H owr ° r th appeared) tb be granted undet ! section 41 of the \Vaste Lands Act of 1872.'

Mr G. B. Lang land a, of Geelong, asked what terms the Government would givelaim if he purchase 8.26Q acres of Ignd suitable for the growth of European flax. Thp were of opinion that applicant should come and sep fijF himself or act through a land agent. Mr K. Grigor, secretary to the Kaitangata Coal Mining Company, wrote stating that the coal mine leased to Messrs M'Farlane and others is on fire*, endangering the company’s adjoining mine, and he asked that Messrs M ‘Farlana be called on by the Board to put the fire out. It was decided that the request be granted, lessees to be written to. to that effect.

The Provincial Solicitor forwarded a memorandum relative to the recovery of the assessment due for the Toetoes Hundred by the Banlf pf Otago. Mr Lamach, then manager of the Bank f had authorised Mr Russell to refuse payment of the assessment. The memorandum was to the following effect: ‘‘To enable the Government to recover against the Bank, it will have to be proved that they actually depastured the number of cattle mentioned in the notice, or that Mr Russell had power or authority make the declaration he has made. I thinh tbe should first be written to, so that if possible tha reason of their refusal may be ascertained.”