WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 402, 25 November 1876, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

MOONLIGHT FLAT' BLOCK. PETITION FOE DEFEHRED-PAYJIENT SETTLEMENT. The Chairman brought unde.r the notice of the Board a petition which had been forwarded to the House of Representatives and referred to the Board by the Commissioner of Customs, praying that a block of 10,000 acres on Deep Dell Run, Moonlight Plat might be thrown ope.n for settlement on deferred payment and for agricultural leases under the Goldfieids Act. The petition was as follows : '" To the Honorable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives. '• Gentleman, —Wc, the undersigned residents in the electoral district of Waikouaiti, do humbly petition your honorable House to cause a block of at least 10,000 acres to be thrown open for settlement on the deferred-payment and agricultural lease systems, on that portion of Deep Dell .Kun known as Moonlight Plat.

"We would respectfully urge the following reasons why our prayer should be granted. ".No land suitable for agricultural settlement is how available for such, purpose in the vicinity of Macraes. " Inquiries are constantly being made by intending settlers as to the probability of the above being thrown open, and your petitioners cart confidently assert, that the whole of sueli block would be speedily applied for, and occupied by bona fide settlers.

" The land on the Moonlight Flat is eminently suitable for agricultural purposes, and by being thrown open, would materially enhance the prosperity of this and adjoining district. " We trust that your honorable House may in your wisdom see tit to give effect to the spirit of this memorial. " And your petitioners will ever pray." The Chairman then read the following j report of the Chief Surveyor upon the applications made by the petitioners : Survey Office, Dunedin, "28' h July. 1876. Re land at Moonlight Flat M»crcu;s. " Memo, for Provincial Secretary. ".Referring to letter of Mr. W. E. Griffin Secretary of the Macraes Progress. Committee, to his Honor the De-puty-Superintendent, I hare to state that Moonlight Flat is six. (6) miles"S.W. of Macraes •lownaitip sind about (2) miles S'Wtli of the road crossing on Deepdell Creek, on the Hyde and Macraes road. There is no formed road to Moonlight Flat, but there is a passable drav-track to it, and naturally the iu-L-ess is e-isy from the Macraes side, ltjs uu <.blong block of about five (5) thousand .r>«res of level agricultural land of fair quality, lying in a valley between two parallel mountain ridges, which there open out aud form the flat. These ridges are well grassed, but being' dotted over with masses ol schnt rock, and rising to elevations of from .2001) to 2300 feet above sea level, they are of course only adapted for graz- " Considering that Moonlight Flat is remote from market, it really would never pay to raise agricultural produce t 1 ere for consumption outside the district. The townships of Macraes and Hyde afford no market, as there are cultivations around th ::n producing ample for their wants. Under the deferred and agricul frural lease system applicants are restricted to 200 acres each, which is much too little for a sheep or rattle farm at suol: a remote place as Moonlight Flat, where there is no timber either to fence or build with. Everything in that way would have to be brought up from the coast.

"It will not be al; all wise to open up

Lis land, restricting \set-llers to the limit I'2oo acres each. A better w.'-y would e to declare a hundred of say 15.000 or 20 01/0 acres, taking in the flat and hillsides. A certain proportion of sections could be open id on deferred payments, interspersed with sections on immediate payments, I:i this way it would be possible to get farms of sufficient, size to keep stock. The only cultivation that si-ttiers would engage in would be torture winter feed for consumption at their own homesteads. ''J3ut while thi'i would enable settlers to get suiiiei -nt areas, I am not prepared to advise that the course indicated should be followed in this case. The Government have from time to time, in response to urgent representations, opened agricultural blocks.and hundreds in the treeless interior.

" In almost every instance where these blocks were remote from population and market, as in this case, have they failed to promote settlement. Facts and observation alike proclaim that the bare grassy plains and ridges of the interior mountainous country can only be occupied profitably in very considerable areas, and that, in dealing with the future settlement of the country, it should be carefully borne in mind that the very limited extent of low ground must be conserved to work the high ground, and that both must be dealt with together—in other words, that the nature of this sort of country determines that it must be held as runs.'

" Coming back to the statement in Mr* 'Griffin's letter regarding the large number of applications that would likely be made for the Moonlight Flat, this must be taken with the knowledge that there is now, and has been for the last two years, or more about 4000 acres open, partly on deferred, partly on the agricultural lease system, around the township of Macraes, and as yet only ia, very small area has been taken up. It is quite true that, as a whole, theland is not so good as at Moonlight; but then it is alongside the gold workings, and the main road runs through it. " In coming to a decision, it rh:st also be remembered that before the 2500 acres of deferred-payment land was opened at Macraes, very strong representations were made as to the urgent need of opening that block. Dr. Webster, who was then Secretary for Lands, visited Macraes, convened the Progress Committee, and was assured by them and others that the land would be taken up if only they had the chance. The land desired—a block of 2500 acres —was surveyed and opened, and as yet only 550 acres have been-taken U P-

" The question of opening Moonlight Flat was before the ProviLcial Council last session. (See Interim Keport.JNo. 2. of Waste Lauds Committee, Appendix Votes and Proceedings, page 290, Session XXXIV, 1875). " Mr. lieid had it in contemplation to visit this block last summer, but his other engagements did not permit. " I advise that no steps be taken towards . opening Moonlight Fiat for the present. Chief Surveyor." The Board decided that after full inquiry, and in the face of a full report fi'ijm a competent officer, it did not see its way clear to recommend the prayer of the petition at present.—' Guardian.' MUNICIPAL~COUiN T CIL. The ordinary meeting was held at the Council Chambers on Thursday, JGth instant. Present—his Worship the Mayor, and full Council. Tha minutes of the. previous meeting were read an.i confirmed. CORUESPONDt-NCE. Letter read from Messrs. M'Grath and Flannngan, stating that they were unable to complete the construction of Xess-street within the time allowed by the Council, and requesting a further extpnsion of three months to do the work required. —Granted, on the motion of Cr. .Newm'arch. ekpoht. The General Purposes Committee's report was adopted, requesting the < hief Surveyor to direct that the original 1 ne of survey of Foyle-street be maintained. LAMP. Moved by Cr. Cb.vjs, seconded by Cr. Brookes, and carried— ll That a lamp be erected at or near the Presbyterian Church." BUILDINGS OS STREET. -Moved by Cr. Bro'oius, seconded by Cr. George, and carried—" That no tice be tfiven to all owners of property in the crws street leading from Steadman's shop, Leven-street, to Broomstreet, to remove their buildings to the line of surveyed street." HOUR OF MEETING. Moved by Cr. Gkouqe, seconded by Cr. Howlatt. and carried—" That the hour of meeting of Council be 3 45, p.m., instead of 8.30." Ayes—Crs. Rowlatt, George, Newmarch, and Brookes. Noes —.Crs. Craig and Dillon. ; WITHDRAW AT, OF NOTICES. Cr. George requested to withdraw all the notices given by him for the sth of October last, as he was unable to attend the meeting in consequence of illness. RATE. Moved by Cr. Uillon, seconded by Cr. Brookes, and carried by the pasting \'ote of the Chairman—"That a rate of one shilliog in the £1 be, jand is hereby made, and that the same be levied upon the last assessment for tbe year ending 30th June next, amounting to ..£4131." \ Amendment by Cr. "Rowlatt -+- " That a rate of sixpence be struck," was lost. Ameudtrtent by Cr. Rowlatt " That a rate of ninepence in the £1 be levied," was negatived. The amendments were supported by Crs. George and Newmarch, and opposed by Crs. Dillon, Brookes, and Craig. TINAKCE BEPOUT. On the mo'ion of Cr. Beookes, a report as to allowance of £2 25., cla : med for attendance at Appeal Court, was referred back to the Committee for amendment. NOTICE. By Cr. Bkookks — ;< That a"Conimifc-

tec, consisting of Crs. Dillon, ]S Tewtnareh. and the mover, be authorised to make enquiries a.-, to the. price of" inm or paper piping for the supply of water at Naseby."