WASTE LAND BOARD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 230, 27 June 1872, Page 5

WASTE LAND BOARD.

June 19. There were present the Chief Commissioner (in the chair) Messrs Reid and Hughe?. Mr Saunders applied for protection to prospect for coal on the Owake river. Three months' protection was given to prospect the river's basin. The resolution of the Provincial Council and the memorandums of the Superintendent approving of thtf'sale of one acre of land m Moeraki township to Mr Leggatt, in terms of clause 28 of the Waste Land Acfc, 1866, were brought under the notice of the Board. The sale was approved of, the land to be surveyed by the applicant within four months.

Mr E. Cook, solicitor, wrote on behalf of Mr John Sinclair, intimating that he had been served with a writ of scirc facias to rescind his grants for land purchased in Stuart Hundred, on the ground that it forms part of run 35, held under lease by Mr F. S. Pillans. Mr ,Cook further intimated that his client would defend the action if he was indemnified for all costs ; or he would let judgment go by default and claim compen ation. 'The letter was referred to the Government.

The letter of the Town Clerk, Clyde, intimating that the Council unanimously supported the application of Messrs Lauchlan and M'rhcrson for a punt site at Clyde, was referred to the Government.

The application of James Atley to purchase sections 24 and 3, block 19, Shotover, held under agricultural lease, was approved. Warden Beetham reported, in reference to the application of Plaisted and Co. fa*" a license to occupy a jetty site and half an acre of ground opposite section 6, block 4, Shotover, that there were no objections, provided a road be reserved between the land applied for and section 6. The applicant was ordered to make a survey of the site, and if approved of a license would be granted at LI a year. Mr Hugh M'lntyre, lessee of Run 167 b, complained of miners having erected a hut and constructed a water-race on his run, and that the tailings from their workings flowed into his sheep dip, and polluted the only water available for station purposes. The Commissioner of Lands was requested to authorise Mr M Intyre to prosecute at his own risk, in terms of the 126 th clause of the Waste Lands Act.

The application of Messrs Geliibrand and Smith to purchase 80 acres on Run No. 20, under clause 83 of the Waste Lands Act, was declined.

The resolution of the Government to offer the unsold lands in the Hundreds of Awamoko, Kakanni, and Maerewhenua for sale at 10s aa acre, was submitted and approved of ; to be advertised for a week as open to application. The opinion of the Provincial Solicitor as to the power of a runholder to revoke his consent to the sale of land within his iun having been read, the Commissioner was instructed to reply to Mr Scott, the runholder, to the effect that he cannot withdraw his consent.

The application of William M'Kibbon for a coal-mining lease of land situated between the dividing range of the Cardrona and Kawarau rivers, was granted on the usual terms, and subject to survey.

The application of Alexander M'Nab for section 1, block 1, Waikaka, was approved^ but that of Robert Christie to purchase 100 acres unsurveyed land, Glenoamaru district, being' block 10, CatKn's Hundred, at 10s an acre, was declined, the Board not having the power.

Messrs Connell and Moodie, for Andrew M'Laren, applied to purchase an acre of unsurveyed land in Kaitangata township. It was resolved to put up the land to auction, the cost of survey, which is to be made by applicant, to be added to the upset price, and to be returned if he be not declared the purchaser. Upset price, L 5 per quarteracre.

The applications of Mr G. F. Reid for the undermentioned parties, to purchase lands held under agricultural leases,. were granted: -J. W. Robertson, 113, 114, 115, 49, 58, 59, 149, 33 to 38, 61 to 63, 14, 16 to 18, 150, and 157, block 1, and section 7, block 21, Shotover ; F. M'Bride, section 6, block 21, Shotover ; Thos. Hicks, 39 to 43, block 1, and section 94, block 3, Shotover ; D. M'Bride, sections 98 and 99, block 3, 93 to 97, block 1, Shotover ; John M'Bride, section 97, block 3, Shotover ; J. C. Peterson, sections 95 and 96, block 3, Shotover ; J. Thompson, section 27, block 5, Tuapeka East ; J. Bridge, section 28, block 50, Shotover ; M. J. Malaghan, sections 11, 12, and 19, block 20, Shotover.

A Shakp Retort. — Some strong language appears to have been used in the course of the "no confidence" debate in the Victorian Assembly. For example, Mr Duffy, in replying to some observations made by Mr Hanker, said his remarks were "the result of the black bile of personal malignity." Later on in the debate, Mr Harkcr replied in these terms : — He should state facts, which, if such a thing were possible, would bring a blush to his (Mr Duffy's) cheek ; but that was not possible, for some years ago, when in a position of danger in his own country he lost all the colour from his cheeks, and it had never since returned. The Chief Secretary had charged him with being uneducated. He did not pretend to be an educated man such as the Chief Secretary, but before he left Home he learned under all circumstances to speak the truth, a lesson which he commended to the attention of the Chief Secretary. The Chief Secretary had mistaken his man in attacking him, for whenever his character was attacked he would be found quite able and ready to defend it.