WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4198, 10 August 1876, Page 4

WASTE LAND BOARD.

TTiA weekly meeting of the Waste Land Bbard was held yesterday ; present Messrs A. 0. Strode (in the chair), Clark, and Lut-

terworth. „ . Messrs Stewart andDcnmston, for Ramon told Keleher, forwarded notices against the decision re their application of sth July, 1876, for land at block 2, Leaning Rock district, in terms of the Waste Land Board Appeal Act, 1867.-Mr-Denniston said the matter had been adjourned for a month for the final decision of the Board. —The Chairmoa: The Government wish to have Hanlon •nd another’s application postponed for a fortnight for a further report from the Warden ofthe district.—Hr Denmston objected fb tbo adjournment on the ground that the had been postponed for the final decision rf /the Board.—The Chairman : I regard it as a public question. Here is a tract of land which is proved to be auriferous, and it is passing into private hands. As the Act aaya, a re-hearing shall be granted if the iostice of the case requires it. The case was farther adjourned for a fortnight.

Mr Oram Ball, on behalf of himself and 3. ft Simms, applied for six months’ protection to prospect for minerals (tin) on run JTo. 336, near Lake Hawea. Granted.

Menn Nation and Harris, on behalf of liateff and Otterson, applied to purchase or Imm sections 17, 18, 19,- 20, 21, aud 22, Hook 58, Oamarn township, to start a ment be requested to state whether there is stay reason why the abo ve sections should *ot be sold by auction in the ilsual way. Mr J. B. Bradshaw, on behalf of Nicholas Moro, forwarded, a sketch of part of section 17, block 6, Chatton district, desired to be ; leased by him for coal mining. It was resolved that the right to mine he put up to auction between this applicant and Charles Straver for lease for seven years, at L 5 per annum, of five acres, on terms mentioned in Moro’s application. Mr A. 0. Begg, attorney for .the Hon. Hebert Campbell, wrote that the application «f MrG. A. Harris for 70. acres at Maretrhenua district, lately considered by the Board, was part of an unsurveyed application by himself on behalf of Mr Campbell, for 350 acres, refused and decided to be withdrawn from sale. It was resolved that tkt land be not sold.

Mr John Inglis requested the Board to Oeeonsider his application to purchase one held by him as residence area south of Aq4 adjoining the Recrea ion Reserve, Teriot distret. Referred to District Laud Officer, with instructions te make an express Hcommendation as to whether the laud »hould be sold to the applicant. The Government forwarded the application of Thomas. Q. Hungerford for 50 acres •f the land set apart for the Gatlin's River aettlement, with a recommendation that it should bo granted, applicant having resided the laud for the time required, and otherwise fulfilled the conditions of regulations mnder section 5, Otago Settlements Act, iB6O. Agreed to. The District Land Officer, Na.seby, trans

*fftted a sketch and reports on Mr John O’Bhanneasy’a application f-„r tho land held by him under certificate as residence area. It wa* resolved that the land be sold by ancles, with valuation for improvements ; upset Mice,- L2O an acre; improvements to be Valued by the District Land Officer. Mr George Oookerill, jun., requested the £oard to grant a transfer of his deferred payment license for section 5, block 2, Highlay district, from Andrew Christensen to himself, and offered to pay all fees duo. by him.— Refused, the Act prohibiting auoh a request being granted. _vThe Government forwarded a memorandum in favor of Mr John M'Lean being allowed to occupy and fence in with h's own land part of the Railway- Reserve in "block .1, Beaumont district. The following was minuted: —‘‘The Board offers no objection, but it gives no express permission.” The Government recommend, on tho hief Surveyor’s rep it, that the remaining portions of Rims 12a and 12b should be opened for application as unsurveyed rural land. Approved. Miss Eliza Simmonds applied for permismission to erect a fruit and refreshment stall at the Ocean Beach Sandhills, and offered to

gtay a nominal rent for the same. The Board considered the stall unnecessary, and refused the application. Mr Andrew Diamond stated that the valuation of improvements put by ■ Mr R. Coghill on an acre of land at Havelock applied tor by him and approved is in excess ol their real value, and requested the Board to cause a more equitable valuation to be put upon the land before it is submitted to Auction. The Board declined to re-open the natter. It appeared that cases had occurred where ' parties had obtained by transfer agricultural leases with an aggregate acreage far exceeding the limit fixed by the Goldfields Act .200. The Board decided that transfers fccyond the 200 acres are not valid. Mr John Nugent v Wood applied for permission to purchaae fifteen acres of section 6, block 4, Waikaia district, a deferred payment section, and that the agricultural lease No. 2140 for section 3, block 3, Waikaia district, may be exchanged for a deferred payment lease to make up the original area ©f the deferred payment section to 200 acres. Referred to the Chief Surveyor for information -Whether the granting of this request would cause complications in the survey. Mr Robert Gillies appeared fortbe following applicants, who wished to purchase land under agricultural leases in block 3, North Harbour and Blneskin districtT. : W. Kempthorne, sections 19, 20, and 28 ; John Davie* section 16; J. T. Mackerras, sections 14 and 18 ; Robert Burns, section 15; John Mitchell, section 24. Mr Connell appeared to oppose the applications on behalf of the Corporation of Dunedin. On grounds of public policy it was very inexpedient to grant this application. These were not hand fide diggers; it was clear that they were only speculators. He trusted that M r Gillies would have no objection to postpone the matter.ioi a week, as he was not fully instructed.— Mr QUlliea said he knew yesterday that this application was to be oppcsed by the Corporation of Dunedin, and it was their own fttplt if their agent was not instructed in time. There are no questions of public rights concerned, ns the Corporation oi Duncdin came there as a private individual. It la not a matter affecting the rights of the Corporation. —The - Chairman said it appeared to be something out of the ordinary •course. In ordinary cases, the documents forwarded to the Chief Commissioner of the “Waste Laud Board aye marked wirh the word “ sanctioned," and signed on behalf of the Executive.Council. —Mr «,il les said the matter was aauct oned by the Govern nent. The applicants were d stinctly told by the Board that if they fenced in the land tie application won d be granted.—Mr Reeves {Mayor) sa d the application was a surprise to the Cprporat on. Mr ■ Connell, had only just been'instructed. The Corporation had engaged the Chief-F.ngineer of Victoria to ' report on the water supply of the City of Dunedin, and he recommended the reserva--1 Mon of this very piece of ground that was now sought to bo made freehold. If the Corporation had known of this application, the Oovernment would not hj ave been a party to bbhvert this leasehold into freehold. - Mr GilHe? said these men hail been to conexpense. They fulfilled their couof Rase and were not speculators,

However desirous the Corporation of Dunedin might be to save this watershed, notice might have been given to these men to save this expense. He did not see that the applicants could now ho interfered with in the matter. —The Chairman said the circumstances were very peculiar, and the matter would have to bo sent hack to the Government for further consideration. Ho was satisfied that the Government would, ns they 'ordinarily do, make all inquiries in the case, j and they have the means of doing so which we do not. possess. Mr Gillies wished to point out that on the 9th of May the Government sanctioned the sale. He submitted that the course which had been pursued in this instance had been fallowed over and over again by this Board. That very day applicants had forwarded a document signed by the Under-Secretary, and a report from the Warden, saying, “I see no objection to the application being granted.’ —• After further discussion the matter was adjourned. , .