THE AUCKLAND WASTE LANDS BOARD AND MR. SHEEHAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5800, 31 October 1879, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND WASTE LANDS BOARD AND MR. SHEEHAN.

Auckland, Thursday. At the Waste Lands Board to-day Mr. Firth called the attention of the Board to the speech by Mr. Sheehan, made on the 18tb icst., in which that gentleman stated Ins opinion that Lauds Boards should be abolished, and that lands in the future should be administered by the Government, as local Boards were liable to favor some persons, to the disadvantage of others, in respect of lands. Mr. Firth said he felt it time to call attention to Mr. Sheehan's speech, which was prejudicial to the local Boards. He had telegraphed on the 20th instant to Mr. Sheehan as follows “In your speech iu reply to Mr. Bryce you are reported in Herald of October 18th to say : ‘My experience of these Boards was that they invariably favored some party unduly.’ May I ask you which Board you referred to ; and if to the Auckland Board, may I ask you to specify all or any cases in which any party has been unduly favored, so that inquiry may be made therein.” Mr. Firth added that Mr. Sheehan had not deigned to reply. He (Mr. Firth) considered the statement unfair, and if he had made an unfounded charge against this and other Boards, he should have taken an opportunity of acknowledging the mistake, and stating that he had been misformed. It the Board thought fit, he would move that a resolution iu vindication of the conduct of this Board should be placed on the minutes. After some remarks from Mr. Tonks, the Mayor, and the chairman, it was deemed unnecessary to pass a resolution, but it was resolved that the telegram should be recorded on the minutes.