WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 227, 11 July 1873, Page 6

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held on Thursday, the 3rd inst. There were present the Chief. Commissioner (Mr J. T. Thomson), in the chair, and Messrs Tolmie, Strode,- Butterworth, and Clark. The Hon. H. Campbell, through his agent, Mr A. C. Begg, made his-adjouraed application for the purchase of this land. Mr Stout opposed. The Inspecting. Sur-veyor,.-'Mr M'Kerrow, now reported to i the following effect: —The application i comprises 11,586 acres,, of which fully i 5000 acres consists of level terrace land and easy sloping spurs. The remainder is steeper and higher, and purely pastoral country. On the 5000 acres the land is not generally suitable for small holdings from 80 to 100 acres ; but for settlers, having 400 or 500 who could ' combine cropping with grazing, it is well adapted. The land is'about the only area left in North Otago suitable for'settlement. As .to its auriferous nature,, lie and Messrs M'Quado and Thomson, of the 'Mining Association, prospected for two" days' with tin dish and shovel in the Otekaike, Doctor's Creek, and Otiak "Valleys. In Otekaike Valley only two or three minute specks were detected; at the most in any dishful. No trace was discovered in Doctor's Creek or the Otiak, but in the gullies running into the Otiak minute specks were obtained. Conglomerate appears on the east side of the block applied for, and a piece of it which was pounded yielded two specks of gold. G-old does exist, and will only be payableif the ground is washed on an extensive scale. It would take some months to bring water in, and to sink shafts to ascertain the payableness of the ground. If the application were it might prevent the diversion of water for the proposed water race from the Otekaike to the auriferous ground already reserved, as in the case of the to divert the Eakanui. He recommended the - application should be granted intact, or declined. Sale confirmed and survey approved, Mr Clark dissenting. . The District Surveyor reported on an application of Messrs Wm. and David M'lleady for an extension of their coal lease at Kyeburn. Mr Bathgate opposed on behalf of Mr John D urw ard; Mr Turton for applicants. Extension not to be granted.