WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 217, 25 April 1873, Page 5

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

(Extracted from the 'Star' report.) At the weekly meeting of the Board, last, week, there were present—the' Chief Commissioner, Messrs Tohnie, Clark, Butterworth, and Strode. . The application of the Hon. E. Campbell to havo the plans of his application -for land in Maerewhcnua districb approved and himself declared the purchaser, was postponed for a fortnight.' A memorandum by the Superintendent recomending that Mr. Andrew Thompson should "' hare land in the IT.awkesbu.ry district given to his wife., all on the west side of the road, was read. The Board resolved to adhere Co its former resolution. Messrs Mouat and M'K-iy intimated that Mr. J. D. Feraud had appointed Mr. J. C. Chappie arbitrator on-his behalf, to decide on the' value of improvements made on lands iu ' the Leaning Sock district, over which his leases had been cancelled. A letter was read from Messrs Kenyon and Maddock, solicitors for Captain Mackenzie, in which they asked that a case might be agi-eed on for appeal to the Supreme Court, on his claim to be declared the purchaser of land applied for in the G-lenkenich district. A memoraudum thereon was forwarded to the effect that the Executive was of opinion that the land should be withdrawn from sale unless Captain Mackenzie agreed to its being ' sold by auction. Captain Mackenzie appeared to support his application. The following dis- " r cussion took place : —The Chief Commmissioner : In this case the Superintendent-says ■ "Do not sell." Mr. Clark : I see no reason to alter our former decison.—The*Chief Commissoner: We must'either sell, or "withdraw from sale with the Superintendent's consent, which is given here.—Captain Mackenzie wished to know, in order that his future, action might he perfectly legal, whether or not ■ the land was sold ; he contended it was already sold.—The Chief Commissioner : I think not. —Captain Mackenzie submitted that either there were two applications, in which case the land must be put up to auction or there was only one, in which case the Board had no option but to sell to him.—The Chief Commissioner-was understood to say that, in his opinion, where was more than one application.—Captain Mackenzie.: Then the land must go to auction.—Mr. Strode : "We may withdraw at any time, with the consent' of the Superintendent.—Captain Mackenzie said the action of the G-overnment was an endeavor to defeat his appeal to the Supreme Court. It was not even alleged that the sale of this land was prejudical to the public interests. The Board was merely asked to'withdraw the land, in order to prevent him from having his legal recourse to the Supreme Court against* the Board's decision on a former occasion. If he had been a member of the Board, he would have facilitated the matter going to the. Supreme Court in order to get the Judge's opinion on the matters in dispute, especially as the applicant was to be at all the cost.— -/' Mr. Strode : For myself, I do not want s,iry opinion : the matter appears quite Captain Mackenzie thought Mr. Strode was • not aware of the circumstances. There were two applicants ; he (Captain Mackenzie) paid the deposit; the other applicant did not.— Mr. Strode : Circumstances alter cases, sometimes. What was said to that other person ? —Cajjtain Mackenzie-was not responsible for , that.—Mr. Strode : Some one else is.—Captain Mackenzie : You have your recourse against that some one ; I stand upon my legal right. —Mr. Clark said he was inclined to sell, but the Commissioner pointed out that the Board could not, as there was an injunction by the Supreme Court.—Mr. Clark had no' objection to offer to withdraw the land, in that ease.—Mr. Butterworth : Undeivthe circumstances, I think the land had hotter be withdrawn. It is to hoped that/Qiere will not be many cases of this description, because it is very unpleasant to be cpmiected with them.—Mr. Strode did not rthink another would arise.—Captain Mackenzie said he was determined to go. on with the case, ou public grounds, as he thought it was high time the Board administered the Act as it was. It was a pity that -unnecessary expense should be incurred, but he could not help it. The G-overnment had made up their minds to trample upon him, and he would not submit to it. The Board then minuted the former resolution : " Eesolved to withdraw the land from sale, with the consent of the Superintendent, as given in his note of to-dav's date."