WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 402, 24 October 1874, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

The weekly meeting of the board was held yesterday. Present : The Chief Commissioner, Mr. Thomson, in the chair ; and Messrs. Butterworth, Clark, Reid, and Strode. MINUTES. The mimitea of the previous meeting wore read and confirmed TABLE HILL. John Paterson wrote objecting to the application of John Grey to purchase section 2 of 3, block 1., Table Hill. Fe stated that the land adjoined his, whereas Mr. Grey had none near it. If the Board would lease the land to him he would take it on auy terms it might think fit, as. if he obtained possession of it, he would be enabled to keep more stock. He stated that he had previously applied for this suction, but application was refused, as the land was situated within a goldfield. The application was postponed until the Warden's report could be obtained. THE CLYDE DISTRICT LAITD OFFICER. The following letter was roceivod from tho District Land OfDcer at Clyde : — " Messrg. Hawkins and Pierce paid £5 5s each for survey. With regard to the valuation of improvements, with all due deference to the Chief Commissioner, the District Land Officer would suggest the advisability of obtaining the services of some one to make the valuation in whom the Board has greater confidence than they appear to have in the Di3tiort Land Officer for that work, judging from the proceedings in the case of Mr. Marie, of Clyde. in which case the Board is represented a3 having agreed with Maine's agent in pronouncing the District Laud Officer and the District Surveyor incompetent to value roads; and, although afterwards their valuation is more than confirmed by the District Engineer, the valuation of the nominees of the interested party has been pi*eferred. That 3 the Btateinent made by Sir. Commissioner Strode, * That Mr. Marie bad been unfairly treated,' has the appeai'anco of a reflection upon the District Land Officer, and others who had to do with the matter." Mr. Strode : I never had such a thought in my mind. I made no reference to tho District Land Officer. I intended to refor to the opposing parties. The Chief Commissioner : I do not know why ho refers to me. Mr. Eeid : His valuations and reports have always been received with tho greatest confidence. Mr. Strode : I think he is one of tho most competent men on the goldfields. I did notrefer to him in the smallest degree. Mr. Eeid : There may be matters brought to light here which the person maicjng the valuation has had no opportunity of Knowing. Mr. Sfcrodo : Clearly,, my rpmask did nofc refer to the valuation, but to the whole affair. Mr. Eeid suggested that the Chief Commissionei should write and tell him that he wa" under a mistake, The Chief Commissioner : Better say that the District Laud Officer is under a misapprehension. Mr. Strode : It would be advisable to write a letter to hi>n assuring him of that fact. Mi\ Clark : The Board has power to criticise any valuation that may be sent in. Tiie following minute was made :—": — " I?iie Board rccorH.3 kkab bhe district Land Officer is under a misapprehension in the matter. It had no intention to reflect on him, but was guided by evidence which was not before him." KA9EBT. Mr. H. A. Stratford wrote resigning his position as District Land Officer at Nascby, and recommended that Warden Robinson, who succeeds him, should be appointed in his place. — Approved. CBOJTWELI. The District Land Officer at Clyde transmitted tho application of E. Kidd for a quarry license of half an acre near Cromwell. The District Land Officer was opposed to tho application being granted. It iras accordingly declined. THE TOKOSIAIRIRO BOAD BOARD. Tbe clerk of the Tokomairiro Eoad Board, on behalf of that body, wrote, objecting to the sale of section 20, block 111., Clarendon. He stated that tbe quarry on the land was not abandoned, as the Board had obtained 600 yards of metal from it during tho year, and contracts were going to be let for getting more stone from it. To sell the quarry would be a serious injury to the Board, as private owners charge large sums for material. The Board decided that the sale should not go on. MASE OF THS MOKE CREEE COPPEE MIJfE. Mr. Strode said that he had seen Mr. Stout, and pointed oat to him the several parts of the leaeo to which objection bad been made by the lessees, Messrs. Bradshaw and Howarth. This lease had. been drawn up originally by Mr. Turton> as Provincial Solicitor, ancl referred by memorandum to the present Provincial Solicitor. He then pointed out the alterations which the lessees desired. They were as follow : — The lessees wished the lease to date from July, 1574-, instead of July, 1873. That reasonable compensation should be paid them by gold niiucrs and others who might injure their workings. That they should not be required to work the mine without intermission until the expiration of three years from the date of lease. That they should be required to use only needfid apparatus, and not what the Commissioner of Cro^rn -Lands miglifc direct- That tiie lease sliotslcl pr-oviflo for ooiapensafcion $o? tramxrays an<! necessary works ou the shores of the lake, such compensation to be paid by tho incoming tenant in the event of the works and tramway being sold by public auction. That notices, instead of being put up on the land, should be posted or registered. That the conditions as to filling in pits and reservoirs should be modified, and that the replacement of rubbish should not be insisted upon. He (Mr. Strode) said that tho lessees had staled that it would not pay at present to send the ore to England, owing to the expense of conveying it from Moko Creek to Dunedin, the cost of doing which was greater thaii sending it from Dunedin .to England. If they were corapolied to work without intermissions they would be ruined, and the whole thing would collapse. Jlhey accordingly did not wish this clause Ox* the lease to come into force until three years from date, when, with, the aid of railway communication, the cost of Bringing the ore to Dunedin would not be so great as at present. Mr. Clark asked, was it fair to other parties to give them all the concessions asked for ? The Chief Commissioner and Mr. Strode said that other parties would stand in the same position. It was f» large undertaking. Mr. Butterworth considered that they should be treated liberally. The Chief Commissioner would agree to all the concessions asked for, except that the lease should commence from date. Mr. Strode : They have obtained the opinions of practical men at Home, whose opinions were that it will never pay to send Ftome the ore as long as the cost of combing it to Duuedin is so great. The amount of copper in tho ore was not sufficient. The Board decided that the Warden should act as arbitrator in all cases of damage done by miners, and that tb^ lessees should not be required to work the lode without intermission until after a period of two years from the commencement of the lease. All the other alterations asked for were conceded. The Board then adjourned.