WASTE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4305, 13 December 1876, Page 2

WASTE LAND BOARD.

The weekly meeting this morning was attended by Messrs Strode (in the chair), Bastings, Clarke, and Butterworth. The following was the principal business transacted :

On the minutes of the last meeting being read, Mr Bastings intimated that he was opposed to the Hundreds being declared as provided by the minute adopted at last meet ing, as it would cause all the best land to be sacrificed, and he was prepared to move that the minute should be expunged, but the Chief Commissioner pointed out that that could not be done without notice.

Mr Hay, for S. O’Kane and John Lawson, applied for the issue lease of of the sawmill area, containing 160 acres at Waipori, in the name of A. Jones, of Tokomairiro, on the conditions and for the term minuted on May 10 last. Approved. J. C. Chappel complained of stock being allowed to trespass on block 1, Tiger Hill, and l rown lands adjoining. The Board had no power to interfere.

The Hon. G. M ‘Lean transmitted a petition from settlers and others in Arrow district with reference to licenses of runs under clause 14 of the Goldfields Act,depasturing stock on the Cardrona commonage without authority, Mr M ‘Lean 'also forwarded papers re Crown lands reserved for the use of the Clutha Agricultural Society, to be dealt with by the Board. The first matter was referred to the District Land Officer for report, and the second adjourned till Mr Keid, who was acquainted with the facts, was present.

Mr T. Daniel, for Mr T. Roderique, apr plied for a lease of the whole of the West Coast line extending from Charles Sound to Dusky Bay, for the purpose of prospecting for guano.—The applicant was informed that a lease could not be granted, but that the Board ■would not interfere with his pursuing his avocation. Cargill, Gibbs and Co., for M. C. Orbell, applied to purchase twenty acres on Run 76, at Sheep Dip, near the north branch of the Waikouaiti river.—Granted.

The Hampden Road Board’s application to reserve from sale sections 8, 9 and 10, block 45, Hampden, for the purpose of forming a road line to the cemetery, was granted, subject to the Governor’s approval. Consideration of postponed application by Mr W. Fenwick to be allowed to take up pre emptive right on run 217, less fifty acres already purchased.—Sketch of land applied for to be obtained, and the Chief Surveyor’s opinion of the quality of the laud to be obtained for the Board’s information. The Hon. G. M’Lean referred to the Board a letter of Mr John Stables on behalf of the public meeting held at Waitahuna, requesting that steps may be taken to have the land around Havelock set apart as a commonage granted to Wardens thereof.—The Board conceived it had no power in the matter. The Acting Commissioner was requested to see the Hon. G. M‘Lean on the subject. Captain M'Kenzie wrote claiming to be entitled to the offer of all that portion of run 168 included in proclamation of South Glenkenich Hundred, at Ll per acre.—Consideration deferred. Gillies, Street, and Hislop, for Wm. Doak, applied for license of part of quarry reserve, section 48, block 3, Oamam.— Granted. THE HUNDREDS. At the termination of the ordinary bus'nefSS, Mr Bastings recurred to the resolution of last meeting. The amount of land now available for settlement was very limited ; and of some of this land about to be declared intofhundreds Mr M'Kerrow had reported that it was the best in the country. If declared into hundreds and thrown open for sale the pastoral tenant would be forced to buy the laud to protect the remainder of his ran. It was generally admitted that the wisest policy to pursue would be when the runs fell in to select what agricultural land there was, and throw open the balance for pastoral purposes iu small runs. But if they threw the whole of this 40,000 acres into hundreds, the consequence would be that the laud would fall into three people’s hands, as had happened at Glenkenich. It would be madness tojsacrifice the land for the sake of a little revenue. There were Provincial liabilities. Mr Strode: Theie are vast Provincial liabilities

Mr Bastings : Even so, the Government have no right to sacrifice the public estate to meet tiiose liabilities, because it was stated that the Government were going to borrow three-quarters of a million to liquidate those liabilities. We have seen the deferred payment land fetch as

« 14 aa acre. I more That the resolution pawed by the Board at ite last meeting for the proclamation of now Hundreds be rescinded, and the same land Tie set aside for settlement upon the deferred payment system.” Mr Strode ; It appears to me that this will meet your objection. The terms of the resolution are—“ The Chief Surveyor be requested to proceed with the survey of these lands as soon as convenient, to be surveyed into sections of 200 acres of each.” Immediately I brought that under the notice of Mr M'Kerrow, without any remark from me he said, “ Then you are going to cut it up for defemd payments.” It was so mentioned at the time.

Mr Clark : That is my intention. Mr Butikrworth : And mine also. Mr Bastings : If that is the Board’s intention I am quite satisfied.