TAPANUI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 334, 28 February 1874, Page 3

TAPANUI.

"" (l?tm the "Daily Times*) Messrs. A; Allan and A. Mason, of the Tapanui • Progress Committee, waited upon His Honor the (Superintendent on "Wednesday, as* a deputation, to lay before him sovw-iil matters in connection with the district. Mr. Bradshaw, M.H.R., introduced the deputation. SALE OF LAND.' The first matter brought under the notice of the Superintendent was the proposal to sell blocks vI. and VII., Tapanui, comprising about 4000 acres. Mr. Bradshaw said that the object of the deputation was to get His Honor, if possible, to use his influence to stop the sale of this land, which was advertised to take place on the 2nd .March. The matter would be brought Under the notice of the Waste Lands Board next day, and it was feared that if the land was put up for sale as proposed, it would all fall into one person's hands. It was desired that the sale of the blocks should be postponed until after the Provincial Council met, in order that this land might be brought under the system of deferred payments. There was a large number of applications for land in that district still unsatisfied, and every acre of the land would be taken up if such a course was rendered possible under the deferred payments system. The Superintendent said that the matter had been 'before the Executive previously. The land could not be brought under the system of deferred payments until the Council met.

Mr. Allan remarked that His Honor could prevent its being offered for sale until after that time.

The Superintendent said that he understood there was likely to be very keen competition for this land.

Mr. Bradshaw said that all of one block that had been offered had fallen into one man's hands. . The Superintendent said he would submit this application to the Executive, and see what they thought of it. There would not be a meeting until Friday, but this would be in time. COAL. The Deputation then asked that His Honour would take steps to see that some land upon which their was coal should be reserved from sale. It appeared from documents produced in the office that the land had been reserve! ; and the Superintendent promised to see to the matter. THE LOCAL COURT. / The Deputation then asked whether His Honour could do anything in the matter extending the jurisdiction of the Court at Tapanui. The Superintendent said he had notlang at all to do with this question. The General Government must deal with it, and they could petition the General Government through him if they liked. The petition must be sent to the Colonial Secretary. TAPAITUI ATHEN.EUM. Mr. Bradshaw said that some resolution had been passed by the Provincial Council in reference to the question of subsidies to Athenaeums in different parts of the I'rovince by grants of land or money, and the deputaI tion wished to bring the claim of the Tapanui AthenEeum under the notice of the Provincial Government. The Superintendent said that he was not sure that there was not a resolution to set aside some land for the Athenaeum at Tapanui.. He found upon reference that a motion had been proposed by the Government, and carried, to the effect th it sections, 8, 9, and 11, Block VIII, Tapanui< would be set aside as a site for an Athenajuin. He had applied to the General Government with regard to this, and a good many others, to know whether or not they would be Crown granted. He did not think the Crown grants would be giveu, as there was sb much objection raised on the ground that these Athenasum grants "were contrary to law. There were many thousands of acres granted for different purposes which the Crown now refused to grant, and this placed the land so that no one could deal with it. The land set aside for the Tapanui Athenteum was in the same posiion as a great deal of the other laud. He was not unfavourable to the application, but the issue of the Crown grant depended entirely upon the General Government. He was of opinion that there should be a grant for Athenaeums generally. "IAND SAI.BS. The next matter brought under His Honor's notice by the deputation was the want of a land ofliee at Tapanui, and a request that the sale of land might take place there. Mr Bradshaw said that a local land office was badly wanted. The Superintendent said that he thought there should be a land office at Tapanui, and many other places besides. Mr. Bradßhaw said it would be a considerable advantage to the district. The Superintendent said that the administration of the Waste Lands laws were not in the hands of the Provincial Government at all. The deputation must appeal to the Waste Lands Board in this matter. THE COMMON. The Deputation then stated that it was desired to have the commonage placed in the hands of the Progress Committee, in order that it might be better dealt with. The Superintendent said he could not deal with this matter. The Deputation then withdrew.