WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 386, 29 August 1874, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

The regular weekly meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held yesterday. Present '• The Chief Commissioner (in the chair), Messrs. Butterworth, Clarke, and Strode. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. THE BEASON WHY. Messrs. Driver, Stewart, and Co., for M'Donald and Matheson, asked the reason why payment had been refused for section 29, block XVIIL, Tuapeka East. Mr. Harris said the application of Messrs. M'Donald and Matheson had been granted at the previous meeting, the minutes of which .were confirmed by thei ßoard. The Commissioner : After the case was decided, Mr. Meholson, of the Survey Department, informed me that the sections had been reserved specially for pastoral purposes. It is supposed to be in the Tuapeka Basirt, and of immense prospective value to the mining interest. I refused the tender of payment pro forma. Mr. Harris : I submit that Mr. Warden Carew's repent -n-ao baoca upon tlie recommendation of one of your surveyors, Mr. Adams. The Commissioner : The section was reserved for depasturing purposes. Mr. Mouat : I can give some information, to the Board on this matter. The section was refused to a former applicant some yeai's ago. The Commissioner : The Board has power to alter its decision after coming to a conclusion. 2fo. money has yet been taken for this section. Mr. Harris : But it has been tendered. I submit that the Board cannot alter its decision in this case. [Mr. Harris read the 18(h section m support of his argument.] The land has been actually granted. If you will only refer to your own minutes, you will find that the application was approved. Really if the Board is to go on in this way, we shall not know where we are. • The minute was read and found confirmed. Mr, Harris •• There is no doubt that under clause 38 the Board has power to refuse applications, but not an application of this kind. The Commissioner: The land is only granted after survey. Mr. Harris : The application was approved. Mr. Connell has just reminded me that the application money has been paid over. I would refer to the case of O'Kane, and others similar to the present. — (Mr. Harris cited several cases.) The Commissioner: We can return the money after surveys if we like. Mr. Harris : If I were in Mr. Matheson's place I would rather that the application were refused, so that the question might be submitted to the Surpreme Court for final decision. I feel so confident that I would risk every penny I had in the matter. If the Board is to decide upon these applications, and then to re-consider and alter their decisions, the sooner the" "Waste Lands Board is done away with the better. It is only making a farce of' legislation and judicial proceedings. Mr. Strode : I cannot see how we can get out of the difficulty if we adhere to law. The question was decided af ler deliberation. We could have refused the application last week, but we have no chance of doing that now. Mr. Clark : It was a great pity that the Board were not fully informed last week. Mr Strode : That is what I say. The question before tht Board is whether the land has been sold or not. I have not the smallest doubt about the law of the case — not the smallest. Mr. Butterworth : With the view to bring the matter to a termination, I move that the former decision be confirmed. Mr. Strode : I second that. The Chairman : The voting then is equal. Mr. Clark and I are opposed to the resolution. I give my casting vote against it. Mr. Harris : I must say it is an illegal and iniquitous proceeding. The Chairman of this Board has committed an illegal act, and we shall have to take further action in the matter. I shall strongly advise my client to institute further : proceedings. Mr. Strode : I think very strongly upon the illegality of the matter. We may hear something more about it, and I must apply to have the voting jminuted. If the request be not complied with, I will enter my protest against the decision. The following was minuted : — Application refused; Mr. Strode and Mr. Butterworth. objecting ; Mr. Clark and Mr. Thomson supporting. Carried by the casting vote of the. Chairman ; Mr. Nicholson having asked him for a re-hearing, the ground' being yaluable to mining interests. SAW MILL LEASE. ' Messrs. Connell and Moodie, for John and W. T. Macfarlane, applied for a ■'saw milllease of 160 acres in the Glenkennich district. Adjourned for a week/ COAL MINING. Mr. Hawkins, -for Georgo Cockburn, , of Bannockburn, applied for a coal mining license, under clause 161, of fire acres at Adams Gully, Run 345. VALUATION. The valuation of improvements made on sections 1 and 64, block 111., Tuapeka West, was approved. THE GOLDKELDS LEASE SYSTEM. The following application to purchase land held under goldfields leases was approved :—: — - George Leslie, section 9, block X., Waitahuna East. ABPIICATIONB TO EXCHANGE LEASES. The following applications to exchange leases unckr clause 62 were approved : — John Brown, section 73, block 1,, Waitahuna Wes ( t j

R. M'Cracken, sections 1, 14, 11, 12, 80, 15> 39, and 87, block VII., Shotover. VALUATION. The District Land Officer, Clyde, suggested that the valuation to be paid to Mr. Mane on the sale of the lease of section 117, block 11., Leaning Rock district, should only be paid on purchaser striking coal. Mr. Gillies; on behalf of Mr. Marie, opposed. The Board decided to adhere to their former decision. A BUSH BBSBBVE. Messrs. Gillies and Street, for Thomas Smith, applied for a lease of ten acres of Bush Reserve, Crookston district, on the same terms as given to Creswick, in consideration of road and tramway required, fer which way leave was also asked. Referred to the Ranger. POSTPONEMENT. . Messrs. Gillies and Street, for C. T. Marie, applied to have the sale of section 117, block 11., Leaning Rock, postponed, with tho view to his obtaining a proper valuation, by competent parties, of the improvements made by him. It was resolved to ask the Government to appoint a Road Engineer to value the works, and request Mr. Marie to point out his improvements. Sale to be deferred. EESEBVES. The Board resolved that his Honor the Superintendent be asked to reserve all those reserves that had been abandoned under the 35th clause of the Waste Lands Act, 1872. ■ SETTLEMENT OP GEBMAIT FAMILIES. A letter was read from Mr. C. Hilgendorff, on behalf of several German families lately arrived per ships Reichstag and Sussex, applying for settlement of them in the Waihola ; township. He requested that the Board would grant to each family half an acre under the terms of the 29th clause of the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872. I The Board had no power to grant the application. i APPLICATION FOR DECISION. Messrs. Connell and Moodie, for Richard Lancaster, requested the Board to decide upon his application for a lease of the bush above Beaumont. Adjourned for a week. ME. EOSSBOTHAM'S APPLICATION. Mr. Harris, for Mr. Rossbotham, again applied for several sections in block I. Beaumont. Mr. Counell opposed the application. The Board confirmed their refusal. LAND ON THE GOLDFIELDS. The following applications to purchase land on goldfields were refused : — R. Lancaster, ! sections 1, 2, 6, 7, 11, and 23, block 1., and 6 and 7, block 11., Beaumont ; Rose Gunn, j sections 17, 19, 20, and 21, block V., Tuapeka West ; James Keppell, section 58, block VI., do. ; J". Fitzgerald, section 59, block VI., do. Mr. C. Henderson's application for section 61, block 111., Tuapeka East, was refused till further report, when the application can be. reinstated. The following application was opposed :—: — George Matheeon, section 20, block VI., Tua- ■ IMPOETANT BEFOBM. Mr. Clark suggested that some regular method should be adopted in the preparation of the business brought before the Board. After a short discussion, the following regulation was unanimously approved : — " That all business bo entered before 4 p.m. on Tuesdays for hearing on the following day." The Board adjourned.