WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3913, 8 September 1875, Page 2

WASTE LAND BOARD.

The weekly meeting of the Waste Land Board was held to-day, p esent: the Chief commissioner (in the chair), Messrs Bastings, Clark, and Strode Mr James Moulding applied for a lease for five years of three acres ot land, part of section 41, block 1, Utepopo district, for brickmaking purposes. To be licensed under tho 91st clause, at 1.5 per acre per annum. Mias Mary Cairns applied to purchase her resi ic-nce area, situated on section 14, block 2, Teviot district, and now called section 45. To be sold under the 150 th clause of the Waste Laud Act, 1872, at L 5 per acre. Objections were lodged by several persons to the application of Messrs S. Robertson and A. Gewat for land situated on block 10, Waitahuna West, being granted, on the ground that firewood timber was growing on the land applied for. Noted. Mr Finlay Munro conveyed his equity of redemption in tho agricultural , lease of section 22, block 4, Tuapeka bast district, to Mr George Matheson, who- now wiuhed to purchase the land, Matheson to be approved as purchaser. Applications to purchase under agricultural lease Mr Johu Brown, section IUB, block 5, Shotover district (approved) ; Mr Henry teele, section 7‘, block 8, bhotovor district (approved) ; Mr James Bennett, atelion 41 and 45, block 4, (Jrooksiuwn district (approved) The Secretary to the Waitahuna Minors’ Association Committee forwarded objections against Mr Thomas Murray’s application for section 63, block 4, and section 25, block 6, Table Hill being granted, as the land was part of a mining reserve. Mr Murray’s application was approved. applications to purchase at LI per acre:— Mr John Ross, section 109, blocks, VVaitahuna East (forwarded to District Land Ufficer Gor advice); Mr H. iuiray, section IS, Wm. Muir, section 38, block 4, Waiuahuna Bast (referred to Railway oepartmemt for advice.) Mr W. S. Trotter, lessee of run 8-3. applied to purchase ten acres of land oa which his woolshed is erected at Allen Creek, neferred to District Land Officer for (advice as to any objections he may see. Mi W. W. E. Gnffen applied to prirohase section 1, block 11, Highley district;. R«. ferred to District Land Officer for advice.

ihe District Officer at 01} de wrote stating that Mr I'hos. Twin had applied for a site within the town reserve there, and asked whether or not the Board would entertain such an application. The Board refused to entertain the application. Mr Christopher Ward applied for permission to purchase his re. idenoe area at Havelock, being sections 4 and 5, block 82, or that they be submitted to auction at an early date. Referred to District Lund Officer for advice. Mr Connell, for Messrs Robert a.ud Tims. Lindsay, applied to leaso a reserve, being section 82, block 6, Otepopo district. Referred to Road Engineer tor his report. Mr Connell, for Mr Thus. Everett, asked the Board whether they were prepared to lease him section 60, bloca 6, Uamaru district. The Provincial Solieitor to be asked to make immediate steps for obtaining reentry in term* of the lease. Mr William Jbaiu wrote stating that he had withdrawn his applica ion lor section 9, block 10, Waikako. applied for under the deferred payment system. Mr MaoheiJar’a application for the exercise of his pre-emptive right of 640 acres «n run .No, 103, section 1, block 10, Crook.towu district, was brought under the Board’s notice for re-consideration. The .applied ion was refused about a year ago, the circumstances not being fully brought before the Board’s notice. Mr Haggitt having now ttxplaiued that the application had been put; m as a pre-emptive right, acd then Uoated as ordinary land open for sale by auction, the Chief Commissioner and Mr Strode said tUey were convinced that if the matter were taken to au equity court, applicant oinst obtain the concession sought lor—Mr Bastings ana Mr Clark thougut the advice of the Provincial Holioitor should be first taken. They wore unwilling to part with such valuable land unless by law compelled to do so.—Mr Raggittpomtedout that it was not a matter ui law, but of equity.—Mr strode was dearly cf opinion that MrMackehar's original application could not be treated as a pre-emptive right, applicant having paid for the laud i n cash. The words ••pre-emptive right” baid clearly been inserted by mistake,—Jha Chief Commissioner seeing that opinion W;is divided, would not exercise his right to give a casting vote. —Mr Bastings; Thun you are indoubt; if nou wny not exercise your right kd give the deciding vote ?—The Chief t ommiissioner : I have no doubt except on the point of law.— Mr Haggitt : 1 only put it as a matter of equity.—The Chief Commissioner: Then I am fully satisliod we are bound to give it.— Mr strode : Tea ; so say I. In all the circumstanceif we cannot treat it as at pre-emp-tive right. —it was finally minuted :—“Application of 22nd May, 1871, to be corrected, the wotds ‘ pre-emptive right, No. 163 ’ being struck out and prefltnt application ito be approved. ” The District Land Officer at Lawrence further reported on the application of Mr John M ‘Kay to have sections 29, 30, and 31, block 31, Havelock, suomitted to auction, Mr J. C. Brown forwarded objections to sale. To be sold as land of special value, having been so long withheld from sale by auction ; upset price, L 3 per acre ; valuation added. At ti.e last meeting the Board granted an extension of a lease for a sandspit at Coal Point. Clutha. Ibe application, with the B sard’s minute, was lorwarded to the Superintendent for his consent, aud a was now received asking the Chief Commissionsr tostate for his Honor s ioXormatiou the reason which induced the Board to recommend tho extension of the lease. The Board simply recorded “ postponed ” an their minute.