THE SQUATTERS AND THE WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3860, 8 July 1875, Page 3

THE SQUATTERS AND THE WASTE LAND BOARD.

At the Supreme Court sitting in banco this morning the important question of the recent doings in connection with land situated in the Heriot Hundred came up. Mr Macassey, on behalf of Mr J. F. Herbert, Mr T. M : Kellar, and Mr W. J. M. Larnach, asked Mr Justice Johnston to grant a rule nisi calling on Messrs Donald Reid, Horace Bastings, and Henry Clark to show cause why they should not stand committed to the public gaol at Dunedin for a breach of an injunction order made by his Honor Mr Justice Johnston in dealing with certain lands. Counsel stated that he applied for Messrs Herbert and M'Kellar as persons directly affected by the action of the Waste Land Board, and for Mr Larnach as one of the Snblic moving on behalf of the general public. July 5 his Honor bad issued an injunction restraining the Board from declaring open or disposing of any land situated in Heriot Hundred so far as run No. 212 a was affected, but on the following day a special meeting of the Board was called and a breach of the injunction was committed by applications being received for the land declared open by the Superintendent in proclamations dated May 19 and June 28, Now there could be no doubt that the Superintendent, the Provincial Executive, and Messrs Reid, Bastings, and Clark knew what “fy Wore doing—that they were acting with full knowledge of the granting of the .Judge’s order—for letters were sent lo them, and one to the Provincial Solicitor asking if he would accept service for all the defendants, and in the ‘ Daily Times ’ of July 6, the order appeared. Mr Donald Reid also, had previ-

ously been served with a cony of the notice that action had been commenced in order to restrain him, as a Commissioner of the Waste Land Board, from dealing with the land. The declaration of plaintiffs t sked for a decree affirming that they were entitled to hold said land in Heriot Hundred, so far as regarded run No. 212 a ; and that even if the proclamations of the Superintendent were valid they would still be entitled to it.

His Honor asked the Registrar if any notice of application by the other side had been given. He had fully expected that they would have taken some steps in the matter before this. Mr Barton said that, as a counsel who would be in the case, he might remark that everything was being got ready as quickly as possible. His Honor then notified that defendants show cause on Tuesday next. Mr Stout and Mr Barton urged that it would be impossible for them to have every thing prepared by that day, and, after considerable discussion, His Honor finally fixed Wednesday for the day, or soon after as possible, on which defendants are to show cause.