TARANAKI WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 476, 15 November 1879, Page 2

TARANAKI WASTE LANDS BOARD.

A special meeting of the above Board *. ~ i. fvT-.—.. K «v» \ \7 orinrto

was held at New Plymouth, on Wednesday, 9th instant :—The Chairman said, although this was a special meeting of the

Board, and therefore it was not competent to transact ordinary business, ho would like to mention that he had received a telegram from the Government ordering the land sale at Upnnako to be stopped, and advertisements taken out of the newspapers. He had in accordance with those instructions, withdrawn those advertisements.

The business of the meeting—the consideration of the proposed amendment in the Land Act—was proceeded with.—The Chairman read a letter requesting the Board to consider the proposed amendment to the Land Act, which is now before the Assembly. He said he had drawn up a number of suggestions to lay before the Board. He then read the clauses of the bill seriatim: —Clause 1: The Board agreed to recommend the following addition to this clause;—“ With the addition of the words ‘further clearing or cultivation’ to the last danse of the said fourth section.” This recommendation was for the purpose of enabling the clearing or cultivation of deferred payment lands to be considered as substantial improvements under the Act.—Clause 3, containing amendments in relation to deferred payment lands ; It was agreed to recommend that sub-section 1 should be amended so as to enable village sites of thirty acres in bush lands to be set apart at the upset price of £lO per acre ; that sub-section 2 be altered so that a person may select contiguous allotments, and that the Governor may subsequently declare (hem grouped as one, for the purpose of improvement and residence ; that sub-section 3 be amended so that personal residence should not be required until after the fourth year, unless the original purchaser desires to transfer, in which case residence might be made compulsory on the new owner. This would tend to prevent speculation ; also to allow deferred payment holders having land unfenced to enjoy the same rights as other holders of land (i.e., to claim damages for trespass). That sub-section G, which proposes to repeal clause 59 of the Land Act, 1877, as to payment to Road Boards of deferred payment instalments be struck out, the Land Board preferring the present arrangement ; that sub-section 7 be altered, so chat 5 per cent, discount be allowed on payment of cash balance. — Clause 4 : It was receommended that the minimum price of town land be altered from £3O to £2O per acre. It was also recommended that section 19 of the Land Act bo amended, so as to enable Commissioners of the Land Board to take the oath of office before a District Judge or a Resident Magistrate.—Taranaki Herald.