WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 271, 16 May 1874, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board was held on Thursday last; present, the Chief Commissioner, Messrs. Bastings Butterworth, Clark, and Strode. Mr. George Cook, for Sir F. D. Bell, applied for the decision of the Board as to whether or not he could exercise his preemptive right for runs 80 and 109, in Shag Valley lately, added to the goldflelds.— This matter may be shortly stated as follows :r -In September, 1869, Sir P. D. Bell made a covenant with His Honor the Superintendent to allow the sale of a block of land to an extent not exceeding 11.000 acres ot the runs 80 and 109 in the Shag Valley district, which he held from the Government. The sale was to be under conditions whereby the purchasers of any port ion or portions, before the whole was sold, acquired pasturage rights over the unsold portion of the 11,000 acres. The consideration was that the Government would not exercise its rights under the precious deed of covenant which they held, giving them the power to sell 15,000 acres, until after the expiration of four years from the 18th September,-1869. By the Waste Lands Act of 1872, Sir Francis Dillon Bell acquired certain pre-emptive rights, and having received notice to exercise these pre-emptive rights, he asked the Waste Lands Hoard if he could exercise them within the block of ll,oooacres; also, the land having bepn returned back the Goldflelds, if the Board had|power to sell it at all? The matter was referred to the Attorney-General, and his opinion was to the effect that the Board had the power to sell. The matter was now brought up at the Board by Mr. Cook applying to the Board to give a decision.—Mr, Cook mentioned that the application for (the pre-emptive right had been put in two days after the time within which the right, should have been applied for had expired, and Sir F. D. Bell was afraid his tide would be disputed on that account.—The Chairman: But it was partly d-layrd by the resolution of the Board. All that is wanted is, that he be asked.to select his pre-emptive right.—Mr. Cook : Yes, I think that is all.—The suggestion was made.that it was a question whether Sir Francis Dillon Bell could exercise his pre-emptive-right within tliis block.—Mr. Cook: The At-torney-General has given it as his opinion that he can—and the Board I understand, will endorse it. He, by his deed of covenant, did not give up his right, but simply gave the Government leave to sell within certain limits.—The Chairman mentioned there was an application from Mr. Luks,and (he present" applicanfc'woukl have to make his selection before it could be dealt with.—lt was mentioned that the land had been taken from Sir F. D. Bel 1 , to open up for settlement.—Mr. Strode: The question is whether Sir F., D. Bell does not become one of the ordinary public, having given it up for a consideration ? The Chairman said that the fact of the land having been brought within a Goldfield, subsequent to the covenant.-altered the matter.—Mr. Basiings observed that he did not see that.—The Chairman : The piece included in the covenant was declared a Goldfield, and thereby new complications arose. He can take an agricultural lease. , It is perfectly clear that until he makes his 'selection, we don't know how to proceed. If we were to receive applications before that, we would get into a state of-confusion.—Mr.. Clark: Is not the question—Has he any power to make a selection ?—The covenant being read over.—Mr. Strode :' His rights continue up to time of the sale of the land. — The Chairman : Shall we sell to Mr. Luks or not ? We are not bound to do so, and had better not do so till after Sir F. D. Bell has made bis "selection. Mr. Clark : You think Sir F. D. Bell is. clearly entitled to select ?—Mr. Strode : I think so.—lt was sesolved that Sir F. D. Bell be requested to make his pre-emptive right selection at the Naseby office, in'the form of an agricultural lease for land within Goldflelds, and a freehold application for land outside Goldflelds. —Mr. Clark dissented.

Mr. de Lautour was appointed, subject to his consent, a member of, the Kaseby Land District Board of Inquiry^ The Chief Survej-or reported on Mr. Murray's application to purchase- fifty acres at Sutton Stream. Application to be received.

The. Chief Surveyor reported on Mr. John Wood's application for 320 acres at Waikaia. Refused.

Mr. W. J. Barry wrote relative to the Moke Creek copper lode, which he alleged the lessees—Messrs. Bradshaw and Howorth—had never worked. If lease be not signed immediately on presentation, the ground to be opened to the public.