TOPICS OF TALK.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 292, 3 October 1874, Page 3

TOPICS OF TALK.

The Waste Land Board are getting as famous forftfheir secretly matured deliverances alter protracted incubation as some orthe Civil Courts. They are judgmatical, consult lawyers, entertain professional arguers—besides, are Irresponsible—so we almost fear to allude to proceedings of so august a tribunal, for fear of apprehension for contempt of Court. No doubt some day soon the Chairman will germinate into wig and robe of due length and degree, surrounded by little wigs and bob-tails at the table. Last week there was a field day. Mr. Luks, the very enterprising farmer of Waihemo, put in an application some eighteen or nineteen months ago for a section of land. It appeared that an objection was raised whether, before the application could be granted where it was asked for, the mnholder had not a right to first exercise a pre-emptive right. This was met by a counter objection that th? runholder had no existing right to claim a pre-emptive at all. This probably is correct, as at the last sitting of the Hoard Sir Francis Bell, the runholder in question, repeatedly offered, with the "overflowing magnanimity so usual from him, to waive all pre-emptives he may have a right to if only Mr. Luks gets no land. The'At-torney-General was consulted as to the validity of Sir F. D. Bell's objections, and replied, "Mr Bell cannot object." Sir Francis had a little private consultation with that high authority in Welling.ton, for he is reported to have stated to the Board that

When in Wellington he had asked the At-torney-General whether his opinion would have been the same had he known that he had raised the point as a matter of law. The Attorney-General replied, " The land is open for sale, I am satisfied of that."

Poor Mr. Attorney. We wonder-did Mr. Luks also huve a private consultation, and that other disappointed applicant,«* Mr. Murray. From Sir F. D. Cell's point of view, all bas ended happily. In his own words— All the clouds had now disappeared! He did not seek for a pre-emptive right, but only asked the Board to declare the land open for sale: then all parties could stand on the same footing. If the Board were to do this, he had no doubt but himself and Mr. Luks would agree. But he would object to the land being granted to Mr. Luks. If that were done he would try the question. He considered that would be an unnecessary course to have to pursue, as there was really nothing in the way of the matter being settled.

The business was settled in this wise—

The Chief Commissioner: The case is a difficult one, and I would like all parties to leave the room. I request that the reporters also withdraw.

Mr. Connell wished it to be understood that, in the ©vent of the Board determining that the land wae open for sale, Mr. Luks did not wish to obtain possession of the dam or other works mentioned by Sir Francis Dillon Bell.

After about twenty minutes' deliberation, The Chief Commissioner announced that the Board had come to the following decision: —"The receipt of the applioation having been held in abeyance, pending obtEtining the At-torney-General's opinion on certain points submitted to him, and the application being for land situated within Goldttelds, resolved that the applications already made be refused, and that the land be opened for sale on October 27th, excepting it be auriferous." Sir F. D. Bell: I am quite satisfied with that. I think it just to everybody. We hardly think that Mr. Luks and the other applicant, thus forced to competition in spite of having put in their applications and deposits iu due course for land declared to have been open for sale, will be satisfied with the decision. Of course the legality of it is far beyond our ken. From the high arena wnerefrom it has proceeded, we are bound to believe the utterance of the oracle to be infallible. Blessed with such machinery for legislative land Government, we wonder how any can be found to condemn the creation of any other Irresponsible body—as, for instance, the Otago Harbor Board for high things 'twixt land and water.

"We exceedingly regret that Mr. Clarke should have resigned his seat in the Provincial Council for the Lakes District. In taking this step, we cannot help thinking, the late member has allowed his feelings to overcome his judgment. The mere fact that he recognises so keenly the injustice the Goldfields are suffering under should have only determined him the more steadfastly to stick to his work. A man can do no more than his duty in any responsible post. If he is to fail, let it be at the post. We respect, however, very heartily, the deep feeling which has caused Mr. Clarke to raise his protest in this way. It will be well if the Goldfields residents understand what really they are suffering from, and to the fattening of what ? their spoiliation is tending. Mr. Clarke is as convinced as we are that the Provincial Council is used for the purpose of the legitimising of Goldfields robbery. All the more reason to cling to. his seat, determined, however email too minority he might be iu, unceasingly to work for the lation of so barren—worse than barren—a tree. By its fruits it is known; by its fruits it stands condemned. Mr. Clarke was a most valuable and conscientious member, and no doubt very, much under estimated his weight in the Council. Ilmt weight was not

inconsiderable, and must have grown as his iatense honesty and knowledge of the G-oldfields became better known.

The Harbor Board have drifted fairly along towards the haven in which they would be at rest. The Executive have " agreed to introduce, at the next meeting of the Provincial Council, such reasonable amendments of the Ordinance as the Board may suggest," after a multitude of badgering by the Board, and no doubt of badgerers outside of that austere body. The Provincial Solicitor, as the Board's advocate, is to introduce, after drawing up, such reasonable amendments —at least, in the actual words of the Finance Committee's report, is " to be requested to suggest the necessary course for giving effect to the proposal." Mr. Grillies has made matters comfortable with the Board meanwhile. It would be madness to throw up the Speakership for a permanent office that may show its permanency by vanishing into that unseen atmosphere of spiritualistic apparition, occasionally, with periodic convulsion, to appear, phantom - like, to vex and harry the soul of some aspiring Dunedin politician. Far better, meantime, to secure the £SOO tangible honorarium, while retaining the honor and the £250 conferred by the political position—besides, too, he can give a push to the " reasonable amendments." We append the extract from the report of the Finance Committee adopted, by the Board, the Superintendent and Mr. Stout being discreetly absent:— Your Committee have to report having entered into the following arrangements with Mr. Gillies as Secretary:—"That Mr. Gillies devote his whole time to the duties required of him by the Board; but if, owing to any cause hereafter, it is found that his whole time is not required, the Board may permit him to employ a part of his time otherwise, with a corresponding or proportionate reduction of salary as may be agreed upon. That the Board at present do not require Mr. Gillies to give up hi 3 Provincial political position, but reserve to themselves the right at any time to require him to do so if his political duties are found to interfere with the due performance of his duties as Secretary, ox that it is expedient for them to require him to do so."