DEPUTATION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 256, 26 December 1872, Page 5

DEPUTATION.

THE LEANING ROCK SALE.

On the 20th, a deputation from Clyde, nnnsistiiio of Messrs Alexander awLM'Pherson, waited upon his |lonor the Superintendent. They were* introduced by Mr T. L. Shepherd, M.P.C., accompanied by Mr J. C. Brown, M.P.O. The Provincial Secretary for Public Works and Goldfields was present. Mr Shppherd explained the object of the deputation. He said that M. Feraud, of Clyde, leased a number of agricultural sections, under the Agricultural Leasing Regulations, and, in 1869, applied to the Executive to purchase many of them. On their coming before the Rxeeufcive. they, by a minute, endorsed the application recommending the sale. Subsequently the ground proved to be auriferous. Tbe sections in question were considered by the miners the key to the entire block and they, with other persons in the district, sent a deputation requesting that the block should not be sold, and that no more land should be leased. The request was referred to a Select Committee, who recommended that the land leased to M. Feraud should not be sold to him, and the report was forwarded to the Executive of the day with the resolution of the committee that the report should be referred to the Executive for consideration. It appeared that on 11th of this month M Feraud produced that minute at a meeting of the Waste Land Board sanctioning the sale to him, and the land was accordingly sold and the money paid. The Chief Commissioner informed him the sale could not be revoked or annulled in any way. The district had taken up tbe matter, as it was felt to be a great injury, as it would seriously prejudice a number of water races now under construction. A deputation had been sent down from the Dunstan to wait upon His Honor. M. Feraud was well aware of tbe value of his purchase, and had stated that he would not accept L 2.000 for the small area of land he had purchased at one pound per acre. Mr Bastings explained that M. Feraud occupied the land under lease in 1866. In 1867, one section was reserved for educational purposes, and M. Feraud was therefore prevented taking up the land until 1871, when an Ordinance was passed cancelling that educational reserve. So far as the sale of that land was concerned, the matter had never been brought before the present Executive at all. The sale was sanctioned by the Waste Land Board without coming before the Government.

The Chief CoMMtssiONER, who was present, said the case was laid before the Waste Land Board, with the minute duly endorsed by the Executive.

Mr Bastings said the documents relating to the land were in his hands. He had received a report from, Mr Simpson, the district surveyor, which he had afterwards withdrawn, saying he had reason to alter bis report ; and so far as the Executive was concerned, matters remained in slatu quo. No memorandum ever was laid before tbe Executive,

The Chief Commissioner only knew that Mr Tolmie was present at the meeting of the Board. The Superintendent said he would hear what the deputation had got to say, and enquire into the matter. ' ' ' . Mr Alexander said, on Monday morning, through the reports in the papers, attention vas drawn to the sale of those sections. The account took the people by surprise, on account of a petition to the Council having been presented, praying that the lands might not Ire sold, on account of the injury that would accrue to the district. (Mr Alexander explained a plan laid before the Superintendent.) He said all the gullies were auriferous, and would be worked if water were brought in. Tiye valley in question was the only outlet , for^arrying off the sludge aud watte water. It was what might be called the key to all the diggings in the district. Workings had been continually carried on without water being brought in, but now ono

race from the Leaning Book wu coming in to it, and another large race from Chatto Creek, which would cost the proprietors L6OOO.

Mr Bastings sMd, in jus Wee to the late Secretary of the Go'dfields, on receipt of a report from Mr Warden C'arew, he made a memorandum recommending that the land in question should not be sold. Mr J. C. Brown said, from enquiries made at the Land Office, he found that many sections in immediate proximity to those sold were in similar circumstances. It was, therefore, desirable some determination should be arrived at.

Mr Bastings said he had issued a circular to the Wardens, requiring that all applications for purchase of agricultural sections should be advertised, and three weeks' notice given of intention to buy. Mr J. C. Brown quite agreed with the importance of all that had been aaid by the deputation.

Mr Alexindbr said the land in question was of no use for agricultural purposes ; it was only useful for the purposes described. His Honor said the matter should be inquired into. The deputation thanked him, end withdrew.