THE PILOT RESERVES.

Patea Mail, 11 October 1882, Page 2

THE PILOT RESERVES .

At Monday’s meeting of the Harbour Board, the following letter, dated Sept. 29th, was read from the Marine department at Wellington : To the Chairman Patea Harbour Board: Sir, —I have the honour, by direction of the Minister having charge of this department, to inform yon, with reference to your letter of the 10th inst,, on the subject of leasing the Pilot reserves at Patea, that the Government will be prepared to advise the officer administering the Government to lease the remaining portions of those reserves in the manner prescribed in the 23rd section of “ The Public Reserves Act, 1881,” namely by public auction,, or tender for the term of fourteen years; and that the rents accruing therefrom during the currency of the leases will be paid in to the Patea Harbour fund account. If the Board is desirous that any special conditions should be inserted in the leases, or of having the Reserves subdivided, it would be desirable that the Government should be apprised on these points as soon as possible, so that they may be duly conceded. I am to add that parts of these Reserves will be required for railway purposes. The Railway Department has been requested to indicate the particular portions needed, so that they may, if possible, be excluded from the lease. If this can be done, a larger rent will probably be secured for the balance of the land than would be obtained for the whole if let subject to a portion being reserved at any future time for the purposes named. —I have, &c., William Seed. The Chairman explained that the land referred to was the pilot reserve. Part had been taken for railway purposes, and part for the Boiling down Company,

leaving l a section of about 17 acres available for leasing. Section 109 was a separate matter. He thought that but a small portion would bo required by the Government. What they had to do, was to furnish the Department witli the conditions they wished to have inserted in the lease- He thought it would be better to lease the land as a whole, but the number of sections could be loft an open question. Proposed by Mr Aitcbison, seconded by Mr Contts, and carried, “ That in reply to letter No. 9, it be stated that the Board wish to reserve the unleased portion of section—for the use of the Pilot, and that section 109 be leased for the term and purpose stated in the letter, a copy of conditions to accompany the reply,”