SALE OF THE REIDSTON RESERVES.

Evening Star, Issue 3799, 28 April 1875, Page 3

SALE OF THE REIDSTON RESERVES.

At the Waste Land Board meeting this morning the Commissioner read the following memorandum with reference to the above : - “ As the Chief Commissioner does not concur in the opinions given by the Committee appointed to investigate the circumstances attending the sale of the Reidston Railway Reserve he avails himself of this opportunity of laying this before the Board. The appointment of the committee, however, he must add was necessary, as it ..has,obtained evidence which Mr Shriinpski would not disclose to the Chairman of. this Board. “Ist. The Chief Commissioner, acting on behalf of the Board and on the request of the Executive Council (2) under date August 28th, 1871, withdrew all the unsold sections in Reidston from sale temporarily, and required his officers to record this in the books and maps of the department, which was accordingly done. “2nd. The Chief Commissioner, acting on behalf of the Board, annulled this temiiorary reserve at the request of the Executive Council (13) under date April Ist, 1874, and required his officers to record this in the maps and books of the department, which was done accordingly, and the unsold sections were in due course alvertised for sale. “ 3rd, No officer of the Waste Land Board, nor was the Chief Commissioner, aware of mis direction by the Executive Council till after the second sale of December, 1874, they being first made aware of it by the complaint of John Halket, 23rd December, 1874.

“4th. He can state, with perfect good faith, that had a suspicion of misdirection occurred to any of the officers of the Board, or to himself, they and he would have brought the same to the notice of the Executive Council, stopping sales in the meantime till inquiry had been made, and in other cases this has always been punctually attended to. f, “ sth. That for misdirection of the Executive Council Mr Shrimpski, the local agent of this Board, is alone responsible, he having written to its proper member, the Secretary for Lands and Worlcs, under date March 28th, 1874, to this effect— * the line of railway has been formed, and in no way interferes with the township (Reidston).’ Mr Shrimpski is further to blame in having sold at the first sale in July, 1874, two important sections, actually crossed by the railway, contrary to the telegraphic instructions of the salesman of this Board, Mr M'Goun, under date 23rd July, 1874, to thi> effect, —‘Regarding sections in Reidston see Dr Webster* and get my plan, sent to him by mistake, showing sections to be reserved in Reidston for railway ; withdraw these from sale. If you cannot procure map withdraw 7 whole township from sale.’ “6th. That the sale of two important sections crossed by the railway by Mr Shrimpski per etnated misdirection and confirmed the false security in which the Waste Land Office was placed, to the effect that the ‘railway in no way interfered with the townshir.’ “7th. That the plan of Reidston with the railway reserve marked on it was by mistake sent by the Railway Engineer to Mr Willis, and by Mr Willis to Dr Webster, and by Di Webster to Mr Shrimpski, which plan Mr Shrimpski had in his hands at the first auction (July, 1874). Thus its contents were unknown to the salesman of this office, who conducts this branch of the department. “Hence, to the Cldef Commissioner’s mind, the salesman is not to blame in allowing the second sale to go on; nor does it in evidence appear that he even from outside sources had an inkling of anything being wrong.” Mr Eeid *. I hoped this affair would not be stirred up again. Mr Bashings ; It had better have been let pest. The Chief Commissioner : Well, it was necessary, in justification of my department. Mr Reid : This memo; is a refection on the committee appointed by the Board, and a reflection on the Executive Government.

The Chief Commissioner : Just so; we ppedn’t argue about that, Mr Reid I shall move that this be not re ceived ; in fact, it is a most improper proceeding—its having been read at all If every member of the Board is to bring up reflections on bis colleagues and the Executive—if each of us is to bring up essays every time, what will be the end of H? Mr Bastings : This memorandum stultifies tile members of the Board and the GivernWent. I shall object to its being received. The Chief Commissioner : Well, e;.ch depends on his own right. Mr Clark : I think the matter had better be let drop. Mr Bastings : But I object to it. There is no knowing where this will drop. The Chief Commissioner : The Chief Commissioner is one person and the Board is another. I stand upon my rights. Mr Reid : I move that it be read and not approved of. I for one do not— Mr Clark : It would be better not. . Its having been read does not imply that we approve of it; Mr Bastings : The Chief Commissioner did all that was necessary last week ; he added a memo, to the Hoard’s minute. We allowed that, but— The Chief Commissioner : All the evidence m the matter was not taken by the committee appointed. Mr Butterworth : I don’t know. We got al the evidence we could.

Mr Clark : I move that the memo, be minuted as read.

Mr Reid : I move that the Board do not approve of the document just read. Mr Bastings : I do not think itisccrrectatall. If the report of the committee was correct, then this document cannot be. The matter had better be postponed, to let members read the memo.

Mr Reid :I am quite taken by surprise. I think the members should have an opportunity of ascertaining before each meeting what business. will come before the Board. I never heard of this till now.

The Chief Commissioner : I don’t see the business myself. The public rush it in at about four o’clock on Tuesdays, I often don’t see it till the Board meets. , Mr Keid : If I were in an office I should not like to say that. Mr Bottebworth ; If this is to continue we maynmet a short essay from Mr -Jirimski, this; flair- 1111 ’ °*^ er P ar^es w ho appeared in _ The Chief < Commissioner : The Provincial Executive is m no way to blame in this matter, so X don t see why they should take umbrage at the memo, ; nor are the committee to blame. I nffln!^ n iL!?T efe -ii 18 u Ce done to my executive JT w "" tair to tbe K I^m*” 6 **® 8 * A- e matfc er should stand py w till the nc*t meeting o| the Board,