WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3687, 16 December 1874, Page 2

WASTE LAND BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board was held this morning ■ present—The Chief Commissioner, Messrs Clark, Reid, and Strode. Mr A-ch. Campbell, of Merton, applied to lease section 87, block 2, Waikouaiii. Referred to the Koad Board for advice. Mr Wm, Pollock applied to purchase five acres of bu*h reserve, block 1, Otepopo After survey, the land to be sold as of special value ; survey to be completed in four m nths’ time. Messrs Harding and Co. asked an extension of time to survey 2,000 acres, proposed to be leased to them by Government. Mr Mouat supported the application. Time extended to twelve months. Mr Harding was present to sign the lease, but the Chief Commissioner objected to sign it without legal advice. Hanger Yalpy reported on Mr G. Duncan’s application to purchase fifty acres bush reserve, block 5, Hawkesbury. Hefused. Mr James Cowan asked Jeave to construct a short road to his wood-cutting claim, approved, in terms of Hanger’s report. Government recommended that a lease be given Messrs Nicholl and Hayes, lessees of B aumout Bridge, of forty acres adjoining the bridge. Approved. Banger Valpy reported on Mr J Bruce’s application for a grazing lea-e ot section 28, biock 3, t'takia. Granted under the same terms as Mr J. Allan’s lease. Mr D. Malloch, for the Hawksbury township committee of management, applied for a license to occupy part of the township known a* the commonage and recreation reserve, for the benefit of the inhabitants License to be issued under clause 161. Messrs W. S. Douglas and Co., for Mr James May. applied for a license to occupy sections I, 2, 3, and 4, block 55, Oamaru town. Referred i o the local Corporation for advice, Messrs Stewart and . Doughty, for Mr George Fraser, applied for an extension of lime to complete the survey of his application for a sawmill license g. anted over block 11. Clarendon. Granted, for three months, provided the license money is paid. With reference to Messrs Grant and >ic.iard a application at Kawarau Bridge, the Government recommended that it be granted. Approved, on runholder’a consent being obtained. The Provincial Solicitor’s opinion was read on the amended form of occupation license under clause 63 of the Act of 1872 as requested by the Board at a re’cent meeting It was to the effect that the Chief Commissioner cannot sign leases on behalf of the Board, he having no power except what is given him by statute • nor would the “routine” business of the Board include the executing of deeds or the waning of licenses. The < hief Commissioner is not the Board, and the Board is n *t a corporation having a common seal, and therefore, before the Board can grant, all the commissioners must sign the lease or license. With regard to the omission of the word assigns in the draught license, the Provincial Solicitor thought it would be attributing an absurdity to the Legislature to say that while sub-letling is prohibited assigning 18 be J l l loW , ed - ~l f the w<ml w «re inserted a * • wholesa.e alienation allowed he was afraid the benefits intended to be conferred by the Act introducing the deferred payment system would be rendered doubtful, if not impossible.-It was decided that in the meantime the Lhiet Commissioner sign all leases and licenses. Forms of licenses as forwarded i to be adopted. ,