WASTE LAND BOARD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 269, 27 March 1873, Page 5

WASTE LAND BOARD.

A meeting of tb« Board was heW on the 19th. There were present : The Chief Commissioner (in the chair), Meyers Strode, Butterworth. Tolmie, and Clark. Messrs Martin Salter and John White applied for a lease of a portion of the Portobell) Point reserve, for cultivation and removal of timber. Mr '' hompson said that this reserve had always been maintained as a site for fortifications and other purposes, and that therefore the Board could only grant a lease, to be surrendered on demand. The applicants agreed to this condition, and a lease waa ordered to be issued, under the terms of clause 161 of the Otago Waste Lands Act, for ten acres, at an annual rental of L 5. The report of Banger Tnnes on the application of Mr Menlove to purchase a stone reserve on section 44, block 9, Awamoko district, was read. It showed that there was sufficient evidence of the presence of good atone to justify the Board in maintaining the reserve. Mr John Reid, on behalf of the applicant, offered to exchange a piece of ground, containing excellent stone, for that applied for, and also to execute the required deeds. The matter was again referred to the ranger for repoit. Mr R. H. Learv, on behalf of Mr James Stuart of Bannockburn, applied for a coal lease of fifty acres of land on the north sideof the Kawarau, in the Cromwell district. Mr Ihompson said, before the Board could act in the matter, it would be necessary that the applicant should have the ground surveyed. The consideration of the application was postponed until that was done. Mr John Watt applied to purchase about 35 acres of bush reserve, on section 49, block 4, Tuturau district, to enable him to complete his property. Mr Thompson said that apparently the object of the applicant was not to complete, but to add to his property. But, besides, the land applied for was a bush reserve, and as bush was scarce in the district, be suggested that the application should not be granted. Application refused. The application of Andrew Muir to purchase part of reserve on section 47, block 4, Tuturau district, was refused on similar grounds to that operating in last case. Mr A. C. Begg, on behalf of Mr Duncan Campbell, applied for a license to occupy the Railway Reserve on sections 19, 21, and 22, block 3, and section 6, block 6, Waipahi district. The application was granted, under conditions of Clause 161 of the Act, at the annual rate of 2s per acre, the license to be surrendered at a month's notice. Mr John Douglas applied for a license to cut fencing in the Mount Watkins bush reserve, in the Hawkshury district. It was shown that the ground had been reserved by the Provincial Council for public purposes, and that, therefore, the Board had not power to grant the application. The application of Mr John Hurley to purchase an acre of land, upon which his house is built, situated about a quarter of a mile south-east of Cromwell, on the Clyde ! road, was referred to the Warden of the district for report. Mrs Catherine Baxter or Kennedy applird for permission to occupy a part of the reserve on section 8, block 1, Otakia district. Th« application was refused. The report of Ranger Innes, on the application of Mr P. F. Stoddart, to purchase part of the bush reserve on block 1, Otepopo district, was read. Tt recommended that the reserve should be maintained. The application, therefore, was declined. Mr "Frazer M'lean applied for a pastoral lease of 5,000 acres between the Monowai and Waipori Lakes. It was resolved that the run should be assessed and the lease put up to auction in the usual way. A letter was read from Mr J. D. Yorson, secretary of the St. Bathans Progress Com. mitfcee, urging the necessity of having the application cf the Committee, to have the township surveyed and sold, granted. The matter was referred to the Warden of the district for further report. Ranger Valpy asked if he had power to impound cattle of the Traquair hundred. The Board thought they had no power to deal with the matter. Aletter was read from Mr Andrew Thompson, asking that the piece of land in th« Hawkeabury district agreed to be given to his wife, should be given on the west side of the road surveyed through it. The application was refused. Messrs D. Powell and Co , auctioneers at Qaeenstown, applied for the appointment of auctioneers for the Wakatip district. The applicants were referred to the Government, to bring up a recommendation to the Board. Mr Thomas Turner, of Blackstone Hill, requested by letter that he should be informed as to his position as an occupier of part of Hill Creek township, now about to be surveyed and sold. The matter was referred to the W arden of the district for report. The report of Mr Baker, inspector of surveys, on the question as to the position of the northern boundary of the Tuturau hundred, was considered. It was resolved that the report be confirmed, and that the land hitherto doubtful be advertised as open for application on the 26th of April next, as part of the Tuturau hundred. The opibion of the Provincial Solicitor, on the legality of the elections of wardens of hundreds, was considered, and postponed until the Rangers 1 reports of persons residing in the districts be obtained. For a similar reason the appointment of wardens of hundreds was also postponed. The Hon. Dr Menzies requested that the Board cause a line of road from Wyndham eastwards to the swamp be surveyed, and completed to the surveyed road across the swamp. The request was recommended to the Government. The valuation of the District Surveyor of the fencing on block 3, Glenkenich, at 11s for sod fencing, and 18s for pest aud rails, was approved.