WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 392, 19 September 1874, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

The regulai meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present: the Chief Commissioner (Mr. J. T. Thomson),. in the chair ; and Messrs. Seid, Clark, Butterworth, and Strode. TABLE HILL — APPLICATION TO PUBOHA3E. Mesurs. Gillies and Street, for Mr. J. G. Grey, applied to purchase sections 2 and 4, bio. k L, Table Hill. Consideration of the application was adjourned. GLENKBNICH DISTEIOT— SAWMILL LIASES. Messrs. Connell and Moodie, for Messrs. Herbert, Howat, and Co., applied for a sawmill lease of 80 acres in block XIV., Glenkenich District, to complete deficient area. It appeared that Messrs. Herbert, Howat, and Co. had applied for 480 acres of bush, and only got 226. Mr. Clark considered the present claim for more buau was a good one. The firm, had put up expensive machinery. Mr. Connell : They are getting more from England. Er. Strode said that from the facts stated by Mr. Connell, Messrs. Herbert, Howat, and Co. had a good claim. The matter was adjourned, and it was resolved that the Ranger be got to report. Messrs. J. and W. T. M'Farlane applied for decision of Board on their application for saw mill lease on block XIII., Glenkenich. Messrs Connell and Moodie for applicants. Ranger Hughan reported that he did not think it desirable to grant the application ; the bush had been reserved for firewood and fencing, and several licenses had been issued. It was remarked that the bush applied for would be£wanj«d by the people of Tapanui. Mr. Connell said it would be a condition of the agreement to supply firewood at 10s per cord, and that if the lease were granted 17 I chains wide would be still left between the reserve and the Tapanui township, and on the piece left the people could go in and cut firewood. The Chairman mentioned that the land applied for had boen reserved by the Chief Surveyor from the firat. Mr.Connell : If we can bring the signatures of the business people of Tapanui in our favour will we get it ? Mr. Strode : That would go a long way. Mr. Connell : Then I will get them. Mr. Reid : There is a nice forest at present I think it is a great pity that the whole of it should be cut down. It should be reserved for the use of the town. I object to woodcutters being allowed to go in and cut there. Consideration o£ the application was adjourned. ANOTHER MILLEB, JUNE. Mr. Walter Miller, jun., applied for the decision of the Board on his amended application for sections 28, 36, 37, and 21., block VI., Waitahuna East. Messrs. Connell and Moodie for the applicant. Mr. Connell said that the decision of the Board on the previous application by applicant was that it be forwarded for amendment. There was some doubt in the mind of ths Board as to whether the land was not auriferous. There was a statement at the time that it might interfere with the wafcerraces, or that it might interfere with, other mining interests. Mr. Carew had' reported on the matter. The Warden, in his report, which was read, said he did' not see that the granting of the application would interfere with exisiting mining rights. People in the neighborhood objected to the purchase of a email piece of bush, which he found the application did not cover, though he believed it was included in Mr. Miller's application for forest tree planting. The Warden, in a previous minute of the Bth August, said " I do not think the land is auriferous, but in accordance with the minute of the Beard, I weuld draw attention to the large quantity of land- which thiß applicant appears to be securing." Mr. Richard Bushe, Hon. Secretary, to the Waitahuna Miners' Association, wrote calling the attention of the Beard "to the application of Mr. Walter Miller, on behalf of his son, to purchase certain sections, situate in block -IV., Table Hill district, as being one of the blocks set aside by the Prorincial Council in April, 1872, for mining purposes. And I also understand your Board has given instructions to the Warden at Lawrence not to receive any applications situate within the reserved blocks. I would, therefore, urge your Board not to entertain any applications within the reserve above referred to." Mr. Connell pointed out that the Warden said the application would not interfere with existing mining rights. There was some little conservation at the former meeting as to the age of Mrr*Miller's son-, he might say he was 16 years. Of course, the Board had limited each person to 400 acres, but this young man had no land in the district, and ne thought there could be no objection to the application. Mr. Reid said the only objection waa to the peculair way of selling it. He doubted wnether they could sell to a minor. He rather thought it vested in the guardain. Mr. Connell : Land vests in the infant and not in the guardian. Mr. Strode : You can sell land to a'minor, but the minor cannot 'sell to anyone else. The Chairman : This is surrounded by endless complications, and Ido not see my way to granting such a one— particularly on the goldfields. • Mr. Strode, from the manner in which the # district officer reported, would not like to grant the application. The officer appeared to be unwillnig to recommend it thoroughly. A resolution that the receipt of the application be approved of, was carried, Messrs Butterworth and Clark dissenting. Mr. Reid said this resolution did not bind the j Board in any way, and the Chairman, rei marked that any real objections conld not be considered, and the application could be decided, On a survey being made* Mr. Connell took exception, at some length, to the way the Board waa proceeding in the matter, and. The .Chairman replied ; We can alter our procedure hanger's report. Ranger Hughan reported on the application of Mr. J. F. Kitching for a saw mill lease at the Tapanui Bush. He did not think it necessary to grant another lease there. The lease waa for the re- j mainder of the bush, as per sketch. He was ' not aware of any objections to the applica- j tion further than that it included the whole of the available bush in the district. There was a large extent of land in the district being thrown open for settlement, and. the demand for timber increased as settlement advanced. There was already five sawmills in the district, and they were sufficient to supply the demand. The report was read, and it was resolved that it be considered with the application which would come up on the survey being made. ABEOW— APPLICATION TO BESEBVE BUSH. The Hon. Secretary to the Arrow Miners' Association wrote respecting the remainder of "Butel's Bush" should berereserred for-the use of miners and others. The letter was read. TABLE HILX — JOBEST TBEB PLANTING. Mr. Thomas Murray applied for a license, under the Planting Regulations, to occupy sections 42 and 44, block HE., TaLle Hill. Application referred to District Land Officer to report. OLUTHA ISLANDS — APPLICATION TO FTTBOHASB. Mr. John M'Neil applied to purchase two islands of the Clutha, being section 20, block XXIII., Clutha district. The application was declined, and It was resolved, that they be sold as land

of special value, having been so long withheld from sale, by auction, upset price 21s. WAITAHUIU. BAST.— -APPLIOATIOK TO PTTBCHASK SECTIONS. Mr. J. Scott renewed his application to purchase sections 27, 45, and 46, block X., Waitahuna East: The Board considered it had no power to sell, the land having been withdrawn from sale. THE GOIDFIELDS — APPLICATIONS TO PTJB* CHASE LANDS. Applications to purchase land on goldfields were severally dealt with as follow :—: — Mr. James Docherty, sections 8 and 9, block XX, Tuapeka East, unsurveyed. Application refused. The Government to be asked to survey block, and have the same submitted to auction if they deem fit, Wm. Lowe, section 71, block VI., Tuapeka East, unsurveyed. Receipt of application approved. J. Kendall, section 46, Mock XIX. luapeka East, unsurveyed. Warden Carew reported, " I have not inspected this land, as I do not think it likely the application will be granted. The Gabriel's Gully reef passes through it ; and although at present that reef isimot being successfully worked, there is no doubt it will be further prospected, and possibly prove more successful within this area. I strongly advise that the application be refused." Refused accordingly. J. Michael, section 42, block XIX, Tuapeka East. Referred to Warden. Henry Galbraith. section 18, block VI., unsurveyed laud. Receipt approved.