WASTE LANDS BOAED.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 234, 25 July 1872, Page 8

WASTE LANDS BOAED.

The usual weekly meeting of the "Waste Lands Board was held on the 17th mst. There were present — the Chief Commissioner, Mr J. T. Thomson, in the chair, and Messrs Hughes and Allan.

Application was made on behalf of Mr W. O. Ball, as agent for Messrs Thomas Logan and James Smith, for a lease to them of' an area of ten acres at Shepherd's Creek, near Bannoekburn, and known as Scott and Logan's coal pit, for coal mining purposes. The Chairman said that on the written consent being got, there would be no objection on the part of the Board to granting the lease.

Mr William Moore, it appeared, had called respecting a lease which he wished to get of about eight acres of section 19, block 111., Waipori district, for lime-burning purposes, and had offered £1 per acre per annum for an 11 years' lease. As there was no appearance of himself or- any agent for him, and no letter from him before the Board, the application lapsed.

The plan of block XVI., Cromwell, as surveyed in five-acre sections, was submitted and approved of, and it was resolved that the sections be put up at the next town lands sale at £2 per acre.

The Hon. Captain Eraser wrote as follows :—": — " In consequence of the boundary line between Canterbury and Otago not having been properly defined, I am placed in the unpleasant situation of paying a double rent for a portion of two of my runs on the Hawea Lake and Hunter river. It being of importance to me to have the boundary line finally adjusted, I should be glad to pay the expense of the survey, taking compensation in land on my Hawea runs at the rate of one acre per pound." The Chairman said it was evident that the defining of the boundary line between the two Provinces was a matter that needed to be attended to. It could be approximately and cheaply shown for pastoral tenants, but as land no doubt would be sold near the border in each Province, it would be better that a scientific triangulation, which would extend over 70 miles of country, and would be much more extensive than an approximate survey, should be made. The matter was referred to the Government.

Mr. Edmund Smith, factor to the Presbyterian Church Trustees, wrote representing that the road opposite section 6. block- VII., North Tuakiloto had been diverted, and that it was intended to close the old road; and requested that a right-of-way to the section might be reserved as shown. It was resolved that a road 60 links wide should be reserved across Crown lands on the line indicated.

Mr. Henry Detert applied to purchase section 2, block V., Tuapeka East, held by him under agricultural lease. It appeared that the Warden did not recommend the granting of this (application, as the ground wouid be required for railway purposes. The Executive; however, had sanctioned the application. The Board sanctioned the application as the applicant, having taken a lease of the ground before it was set apart for the railway, had certain rights, and must not suffer because the ground was so set apart. It would have been different had he entered after a survey. Appitcation sanctioned. The application of Mr. E. A. Legge, to purchase sectien 22, block IV., Table Hill, was sanctioned. The following memorial was read : — " We the undersigned, as representing the five water race companies deriving their sources of supply from the Teviot river, having heard it is the intention of the Board to dispose of the land through which these races are constructed, would respectfully ask the careful consideration of the Board to the following facts. — 1. If there are .only six feet left on either .i 'c of the races, as ordinarily rjse.*ved, it will be impossible, on account of the precipitous nature of the banks of the Teviot river, for any necessary repairs to be effected. 2. in case of the land giving way on the hill side on which the races are constructed, as not uufrequently Jiappens, any deviation to meet the altered circumstances could be prevented by the freehold owner of the land. As. the workings are extended along the banks of the Molyneux, it will be necessary either that the heads of these races be altered, or that new ones be constructed to command the higher level of the auriferous ground, and this will be rendered completely impossible if the sale, as we at present understand it, be carried out. 4. There is a considerable extent of payable auriferous ground still untouched along the banks of the Molyneux river in this locality, and the Teviot and its tributaries form the only water supply available to command those banks and terraces, and if proper care be not taken to reserve sufficient, land for the construction of water-races from this source, mining industry and enterprise in this district will be most seriously crippled. We would remind you tbat the prosperity, if not the existence, of a population in this district is chiefly dependent upon the supply of water for sluicing purposes obtainable from the Teviot, and we would urge upon the Board the great necessity there exists that the present and future water rights from this source should be carefully conserved, 111 the event of the sale tak-

ing place, we would suggest that a reserve of at least one mile in width on each Bide of the Teviot river, for a distance of six miles from its moutb, should be made, otherwise a grievous blow to the mining enterprise of , district, and serious loss to individus^B will be the result.', This petition^B signed by the Eoxburgh Comj^^^ the Teviot and Gorge CompanOjßß^* Water Eace Company, Monnt si^er Water Eace Company, and Extended Water Eace Company, and the amount of water coming down these races was represented at 38 heads. Mr. James Borland, the manager of the Hercules Water Eace Company, wrote that his race had been partially constructed at a cost of £2500, mainly to the auriferous ground situate at Anderson's Flat, about four miles below the Teviot river. At present the race had not been carried more than half that distance, but it was proposed to finish it during the ensuing summer. If the runholders' application comprised the ground required for the continuation of the race, about \\ mile back from and parallel with the river, it would render the labour and capital already expended comparatively useless, and would prove ruinous to the members of the Company, who were chiefly working miners. The Warden granted their application for the extension of the race to the point mentioned, more than twelve months ago, and a survey had been made ; but the great expense attendant on the construction of the race prevented them continuing it beyond its present point. The five feet on either side of a water race, as reserved by the Act, would be altogether inadequate to permit of their continuing the construction of the race. They had been nearly two years engaged in the construction of this race, and had expended a large amount in the erection of fluraing, which was over a mile in length ; and should they now be prevented extending the work to the termination originally contemplated, it would be very disastrous to them. The members of the Board considered that the amouut of land asked for to be reserved was too much. It was resolved to recommend the Government to instruct the surveyor to mark the extent of the Teviot river and its banks that should be reserved for mining interests, and tbat he, in surveying the races, should reserve the width necessary for the maintenance of the works. Mr Eichard Mackay applied to purchase or lease an acre of the unsurveyed portion of Ettrick, for a fellmongery. He was requested to forward a sketch of the site, when an annual license mi^ht be granted. Mr James Ei chic, Flag Swamp, wrote bringing under the notice of the Board the great loss and inconvenience that a nuuibtr of s<nall settlers would be put to should fie Hawkshurv Hundred be all sold forthwith. TvEnnj of those settlers had taken up land at £1 p3r jicre, adjacent to the unsold portion, not because of its v. Jue as agricultural land, because it would only grow oats, but simply with a view of taking advantage of the grazing rights afforded under the Hundreds system. The present contemplated sale would be the means of taking a livelihood from them, and would depreciate the value of their small holdings. He thought it would not be too much to ask the Board to withold 1000 or 1500 acres from the sale, pending the next meet' ng of the Council, when that body could be asked to set aside that area as a commonage for the district. The Chairman thought that the Board should not act on a communication of one person only, unless there was some general action taken in the matter. It was resolved to record that the letter was read. The Lawrence district surveyor wrote asking that the time for the survey of Messrs Cargill and Anderson's application be, on account of the severe weather, extended to six months, being two months more, than allowed. It wiis resolved that the- surveyor should make a declaration before the district Warden as to the time he was detained from prosecuting the survey by snow, and that such time of detention only be allowed beyond the four mouths, and Warden's opinion to be also got regarding the time which should be allowed for detention. Mr E. E. Dagg applied for a coal lease near Cromwell, near Eichard's punts. The consent of the runholder bad been obtained. Applicant was requested to make the usual deposit at the Land Office, and afterwards to have a survey of the site made, when the lease would be granted on tha usual terms. Holloway's Ointment and Pills :—: — A frequent cause of gout and rheo= X matisua is the inflammatory state of the blood, attended with bad digestion and general debility. A few doses of the Pills, taken in time, are an effectual preventive against gout and rheumatism. Anyone who has an attack of either should use Holloway's Ointment also, the powerful action of which, combined with the operation of the Pills, must infallibly effect a cure. These Pills act directly on the blood, which they purify and improve. Having once subdued the severity of these diseases, perseverance with the Ointment, after fomenting the affected joints with warm brine, will speedily relax all stiffness,, and pi event any porno ament contraction.