LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4293, 29 November 1876, Page 2

LAND BOARD.

The ordinary weekly meeting to-day was attended by Messrs Strode (in the chair), Reed, Butterworth, and Clark, and the following business was transacted : Petition by residents at Otakia that the license granted to Wm. Kemp for the coast guard reseive, under the 161st clause, might be cancelled. It was minuted that the Board did not see its way to disturb present arrangements. The Chief Surveyor forwarded plans of survey of block 6, Glenkenich, and block 10, Waipahee, and reported as follows as to the suitableness of the land for deferred payment holdings : The survey of block 6, Glenkenich survey district, has been completed, and the usual plan prepared for your office. In virtue of resolution of Provincial Council (session 34, 1875) there is the power to select 310 acres for deferred payments in the block. By a reference to plan you will see that the majority of sections are just about 200 acres each, so that should it be deemed desirable to increase the area to be opened on deferred paymenta, a considerable number of sections are suitable. The land m this block is all good. Similar and adjaoeut land in the same district was recently offered as special value land at from 30s to 40s per acre. In block 10, Waipahee, there is presently no authority to take land for deferred payments. But should it be decided to ask for authority, sections Lfi. , are the most stable. The remainder of th<s block is rather hard and hilly for cultivation The Southern Trunk Railway runs along one side of the block, and it is bounded by the Waipahee river ou another side. Similar land in ths same district was opened a few months ago as special value land at 27s 6d per acre. The following resolution was passed: "As regards land in Glenkenich, block 6, the Chief Surveyor to be requested to suggest the sections which are most suitable to be opened for occupation on deferred payments. The Waste Land Board of Otago proposes to set apart the undernoted sections of laud for occupation on deferred payments, and fixes Wednesday, January 10, 1877, as the date on which the land will be open for application. The approval of the Governor requested. Sections 17 and 18, block 10, Waipahee: The remaining sections in the same block to be sold by auction as land of special value, having been improved by fencing and survey and compensation paid thereupon ; land to be offered for sale at Tapanui on Wednesday, January 24, 1877 ; upset price, 30s per acre. The Secretary of the Hyde Progress Committee requested that applications for the deferred payment lands atßockand Pillar might be received at Hyde on December 5 by the District Land Officer.—Request to be complied with, unless the District Land Officer sees difficulties in the way of doing so. Mr L. C. Holmes, by direction of the Lawrence Town Council, transmitted request from residents at Tuapeka that the Board would reserve from sale part of block 19, now being surveyed and situated between the Blue Spur and Weatherstones, on account of the auriferous nature of the land. The Board decided it would not take action until the survey was completed and plans prepared.

It was decided to set apart for deferred pay ment purchase a block of 2,040 acres at Tiger Hill (Blacks), and January 24 was fixed as the date on which the land will be open for application. Mr R. G. Creagh, who asked that section 3, block 22. might be reserved from sale for the use of the municipality of Tapanui, was requested to furnish infonnation as to the purposes for which the land was required. The District Land Officer, Invercargill, vouched in favor of Mr Joseph Lloyd for refund of deposit on section 21, block 8, Toi-Tois. The refund was allowed.

Air John Neill, Secretary to a public meetng at Macraes, wrote requesting the Board to reconsider its decision of the 15th inst., with reference to applications to stt aside 10,000 acres at Moonlight Flat for deferred payment selection. The letter also impugned the impartiality of the report of the Chief Surveyor. The Board decided that it was unable to comply with the request of the meeting to send anyone else to report on the land.

The District Land Officer at Invercargill informed the Board of Mr John Anderson's wish to surrender section 21, block 5, Glenkenich, held on deferred payment. The Board minuted its opinion that it was not competent for Mr Anderson to bid for section 9, block 10, Waipahee, he having previously purchased section 21, block 5, Glenkenich, on 9th August last, wherefore the Board declined to refund his deposit. The Hon. G. M'Lean forwarded a letter he had received from the Hon. Dr Menziea who suggested the necessity of making reserves for coal or lignite in Wyndham township. The Chief Surveyor was asked to comply with the request for the Board's information.

In reference to the case of Fryer, whom the Board, acting on the advice of Mr Stout, had allowed to purchase town lands, paying for the, same in scrip as an immigrant under the Immigration Land Act of 1873, the Under-Secretary for Grown Lands, in requesting to be furnished with a copy of the Board's resolution and any legal opinion thereon, wrote-"As far as the case is at present represented to the Government it is feared that the decision of the Board is not in accordance with the terms of the Waste Lands Administration Aot, 1576, which provides that these certificates are to be accepted for land upon deferred payments, whereas in Fryer's case an absolute purchase seems to have been made.—Mr Reid remarked that he had always been under the impression that the certificates were onlv applicable to rural land.—Mr Strode :My coincides with yours, and I still hold that opinion, Mr Stout s notwithstanding. It was pointed out by the Acting Chief Commissioner that the Department in Wellington was laboring under a mistake, as the transaction referred to was completed before the present Act was passed.

On an application by Messrs CargilL Gibbs, and Co., on behalf of Mr A. Fenwick, to purchase at LI per acre certain sections in the Oainavu district, it was explained that some time ago, when the land was open for application in the ordinary way, Mr Fenwick and another person applied for it, consequently it went to auction and realised L 3 4s per acre, the other person purchasing it. He paid his deposit, but never completed his purchase; hence the present application. The ActingChief Commissioner brought the matter

under the Board's notice under section 7 of the Laads Administration Act, ■which declares that " notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in r.nv Y, asto Land Act, after land h?.s been ousred for sale by auction and not sold, it shall be only open for sale after thirty days' public notice thereof shall have been given." The question was whether this was a sale, though not eventually completed.—Mr Reid : The clause was introduced to meet such a case as this. Sometimes a person forfeits his deposit, and next day makes application fortheland. —Mr Strode : Lawyers would make a great deal out of that, as to what constitutes a sale. All f want i 8 that a precedent shall not be established which cannot be carried out. It was to give thirty days' notice that the land was again open for application. Mr Reid brought under the Board's notice the necessity for taking steps to have «™ P^a* 8 de 2" ed » aud movedThat the Acting Chief Commissioner request the Chief Surveyor to furnish information to the Board as to land most suitable for new Hundreds, in order that surveys maybe undertaken at once."—Mr Clark thought it was too importart a matter to allow any one man to deal with.—Mr Buttkrworth : Would you suggest the Board visiting the land in a body ?—Mr Reed : The members of the Board might point out to Mr M'Kerrow what they consider suitable land. I think the matter is pretty well sketched out now. There is very little land adapted for this purpose. Mr Strode: Very little indeed. Mr Reid :Of course when there are more facilities for communication other land will be suitable. Mr M'Kerrow can tell us where the available land is. The resolution was carried.