WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 268, 25 April 1874, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

The ordinary meeting, of the Board took place last week. There were present th« Chief Commissioner (in the ■chair), Messrs. H. Bastings, IT. Clark, and W. U Butterworth. !

St. Bxthan's.—Regarding the sale of St. JJatlian's township, iVTr. Stout, on behalf of the Scandinavian Water .Race Company, objected. He-stated how the rights of tlie Company arose, Them an. - v i. .. r _ * . . .*,

get a grant of 10>ft. eadi side. They proceeded with the undertaking, but had not sufficient nu>:iey &»'carry it out, and the rights wore sold to another company. The sludge channel was made, but it was said that the plan of Mr. Coates had not been strictly followed. The sale of the township would interfere with the Company's rights on one side. The business people of St. Bathan's wished to get a freehold of their land. It would be no benefit to the Government to sell the freehold, because the license fees would be greater than they would get for the land. —Mr. Bastings explained that he met the. people interested on the ground the other day. The Government made a promise to sell the township some time ago, and were of opinion that the Scandinavian Company had no legal rights. There was no strong objection on'the part of the Scandinavian Company, especially if the Government would consider favorably a subsidy at any future time ; but, of course the Government were not prepared to say what they would do in the-' future. The Company admitted that the sale of th<? property would b?. no great harm.—Mr. Stout requested the Chairman to make a note of the fact that he objected on behalf of the Company to the sale.—lt was decided that the sections marked off should be sold: valuations in the usual course; upset price to be £l2 10s.; to be sold by auction as it legally can be. Coal Lease.—The report of the District Land Officer on the application of Messrs. Durward and Co. for a coal lease at Kyeburn, and the objections macta by Mr. David Macready, were read.—Mr.'A. Bathgate appeared on behalf of the Messrs. Durward and Co. and Messrs. Kenyon and Turton represented the interests of Mr. Macready.—The Chairman said he thought it would be best to recommend the Government to declare a sufficiently large coal reserve.- 1 -Mr. Bastings : Yes, and put the parties on the same footing.—The Board accordingly decided to recommend the Government to- declare such a reserve, the lease to be issued when that is done.