WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3781, 7 April 1875, Page 2

WASTE LAND BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board was held to-day; present—the Chief Commisaioner, Messrs Bastings, Buttorworth, Clark, Reid, and Strode. Mr Adair was appointed auctioneer for tha Queenstown district.

The committee of the Mount Ida Mining Association objected to the applications of 0. A. Dei Latour, O. p. Newmarob, G, aQ d A. Marshall, for residence areas at Naseby ; and to Mr Jacobs’s being granted if it extends beyond the area already fenced and occupied by him. Messrs Leys, Dooherty, and Anlert also asked that G.

Carrie’s and A. Marshall's applications be not granted. All the applications were re* fused for the present.

James Corbett applied for a coal mining area of two acres, at Cardrona Creek, two miles from the township. Referred to the Warden for report.

Mr J. F. Kitto made suggestions respecting the leasing of Crown lands for mining purposes. Read. Messrs Kidd and Black, Switzers, applied for a license for five years for five acres at Happy Valley, for coal-mining purposes. Referred to the D. L. O. for advice.

Mr H. H. Robinson applied to purchase a smsll piece of land at the rear of his property, Naseby. Refused.

Dr Robertson asked what improvements he must put on sections in Glenkenich district taken up by him on deferred payments. Applicant must reside on the land in bis own house.

Ranger Hungerford asked if he should interfere with persons cutting timber off bush road lines, or with settlers depasturing stock or squatting on Crown lands. Conditions of leases to be enforced. The West Hawksbury Town Clerk complainedof timber being taken from the reserve m t>lock 11 and 12, set aside for the use of the inhabitants of West Hawksbury. Referred to the Ranger for report. Mr T. Pollock offered to surrender his lease of Popotunoa reserves, on receiving compensation for fencing erected by him, er else to have the matter settled by arbitration. The Provincial Solicitor to proceed, in accordance with minute dated March 10. The Clyde D. L. O, wrote as to the complaint that deferred payment applications were not received at that office, and the writer's explanation was approved. The Naseby D. L. O. forwarded Mr C. A. de Latour’a application for residence area at Naseby; Mr J. Melward’s for sections 39 and 40. Blaokstone; and Mr R. Johnstone’s for five acres on run 227, ad joining his residence area. The first was refused, the second granted, and the third was refused until the runholder's consent was obtained. Mr W. Brunton applied for pre-emptive right on run No. 620. Referred.

Mr W, S. Douglas, for Mr J. May, applied for a license for sections 1 to 4, block 25, Oamaru town, the council of that place haring consented to the application being granted. Refused ; the Government to be asked if there is any objection to the sale of the land.

Mr W. M*Coy, resident at Martin’s Bay, applied for 100 acres of land in that district, at 6s per acre. The only hindrance to the granting of the application was the necessity of a survey being first furnished, and no Government surveyor beihg in the district. The matter was held over until a survey could by some means be obtained.

Mr R. Guy, auctioneer, wrote explaining how the mistake occurred with regard to the sale of section 8, block 6, -Kuriwao. Read; the writer to be asked who brought pressure to bear on him.

An extension of time was granted the Chief Surveyor to survey Mr Walter Miller’s forest tree planting area. Mr B. 6. Creagh’s offer for the sale of Crown lands in the Waikaia district at three-quarters per cent, commission was accepted. Mr Strodb, as convener of the committee appointed to inquire into the sale of aeetions at Reidstown, reported that they had determined that the presence of Mr Shrimski, who aoted as auctioneer at the sale, was absolutely necessary in order to get at the full facts of the ease. The committee met yesterday, and the evidence of the Chief Commissioner and Mr M ’Gowan, clerk te the Board, was taken ; but Mr Shrimski did not appear, through Mr Strode had himself written to him asking his attendance on that day. The committee therefore waited for the instructions of the Board as to how to act.—Mr Bastings ; There is nothing for it but to ask Mr Shrimski again to appear. The Chief Commissioner : I would suggest that certain questions be asked him Mr Strode ; In a Court of Justice the real test of truth is cross-examination, not direct evidence.' If he sends down answers to question' we oannet question the paper; it will not answer. Mr Shrimski should be desired to attend personally.—Mr Reid : I have heard it said in town that Mr Shrimski remarked that ho would not attend unless there was a public inquiry; that he wonld never attend a private one. The Chief Commissioner ; It is now necessary that it should be public. Mr Strode : There is not the slightest objection to that; but in common courtesy Mr Shrimski should have given some reason for his non-appearance.—The Chief Comuis SIGNER ; If the inquiry is te be a public one it will have to be conducted by the Board itself.—Mr Clarke: I propose that Mr Shrimski bo asked by the Board to give evidence before the committee on Tuesday next at 2,30 p.m., or any time that may be mere convenient to himself; if he does not accede to it the Board can then see what is best to b« done.—The motion was agreed to. [Since the meeting of the Waste Land Board a letter has been received from Mr Shrimalri stating he regretted that he was unable to attend on the 6th instant, or daring the week, being precluded by other business engagements previously advertised.]