WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 408, 14 November 1874, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

' Tho weekly meeting of the Board was held on Wednesday. Present : Messrs. Strode (in the chair), Reid, and Clark. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. _-*A itOAD PROM Tftfl ffImTTJIONT. Mr. Connell, on behalf of Messrs. Lancaster Beaton, and Cumming?, applied for a seven years' license to remove timber from a | distance of five chains on each side of the proposed road-line between Beaumont township and the south end of Island Block, on the east bank of the C'lutha river. He read a proposal made by the applicants to the Government, a short time ago, for the construction of a road between the points j jnamed. Their offer also provided for maintaining punts where the road would cross the river, on the same terms as those which j prevail at present at the Beaumont Ferry. The only other considerations asked were that they should be allowed ten acres of land on each side of the Ferry for tho purpose of j facilitating the crossing of cattle, and that they should obtain tho right to all timber for five chains on each side of the proposed road., The nmlfcer was favourably entertained by the i Government, but it had no power t o comply with the request for the removal of the timber : hence the present application to the Board. He presents a memorial signed by 324 persons, including carriers, miners, and runholders. The memorial set forth that the construction of the road would be of great benefit to the inhabitants of the Beaumont, Teviot, and Clyde districts. There was no doubt that the Board had the power to grant the application. If it were held that it had no power to grant the application because the land was leased, the result would be that the Government would have no power to grant miners' rights and residence areas on Crown lands where leased, as these were not specially excepted. He believed that Mr. Neil, a ruuholdcr in the district, intended to oppose the application. That gentleman, however, admitted to them that the road would be of great benefit to his station ; but his objection apparently consisted in the belief that the applicants did not intend to go through with their work. It was not likely that they would spend a large sum of money on the undertaking if they did not intend *;o complete it. If the Board came to the conclusion that it had not tho power, there was a way open to it, namely, to cancel a portion of the lease, under section 16 of the Goldfields Act. Having done this, it could then grant the application. Mr. Haggitt said that he, on behalf of Mr. Neil and a number of bona fide settlers in the district, appeared to oppose the application. He commented on the petition, presented in support of the application, and said that it "was signed by miners, coach-drivers, and carriers, and people at a distance from the locality, whereas the petition presented by him was signed by the whole of the bona fide settlers in the district. The petitioners stated that if Lancaster and party's application were granted it would, be injurious to the people of Switzer's and Tapauui. He also read a letter from Mr. .Limes Parsons of the Beaumont, asking the Board to refuse the application. With regard to the law of the case he believed, on a former occasion, he proved to the "Board that it had not the power to grant the application. Existing public roads, timbered land, and other reserves were excepted in the lease, but not roads that might be made afterwards. Mr. Neil had serious doubts as to the power of of the applicants to carry out what they proposed to do, and was of opinion that they wished to jet possession of the timber without the slightest desire to construct the road. If they constructed the road first, then Mr. Neil would not give any *opposition to their application for the timber being granted. He also stated that he had to oppose their application on. behalf of Mr Hayes, Tvlxose bridge wou'd be rendered entirely valueless if it were '.'ranted. Mr. Coiinel having replied, the Board after a brief consultation came to the following resolution: — "That the application of Lancaster, Beaton, and Cuinoiings be taken into consideration, with a view to the same being granted, aa soon as they furnish a report to the Provincial Engineer that the road they propose to construct is open for traffic." Mr. Connell asked if it ■would then be granted. The Chairman replied hy repeating the resolution of the Board, Mr. Haggitt then said that, on such a report being presented, Mr. Neil would offer no opposition. AN EXPLANATION. Mr. Thomas Murray wrote to the Board giving a long explanation relative to his application for four sections of land at Table Hill, and which was considered by the Board at previous meeting. The letter was read, nothing further being resolved in connection with. it. The report of Ranger Hughan was read on the application of John Youngson for a license under clause 169 to occupy a piece of burned bush land at Tapanui. The Ranger,s report was against the application being granted, and it was therefore refused. CROOKSTON DISTRICT. The report of Ranger Hughan was read on the application of Thomas Smith for a lease of 10 acres of bush/ in the Crookstown district. Messrs. Gillies acted as agents for the applicant. The Board pranted the application at 10s. per aci'e per annum. A SATV-MILL LKASE. Ranger Hughan also reported on the application of Herbert, llowatt, and Co. for a sawmill lease of 80 acres at Tapanui. AUCTION SAIES. Mr. J. C. Chappie, of Alexandra, wrote ; relatire to Auction -sales. He Stated that last year the Board called for tenders, which, being thought excessive the sales were conducted by one of its own officers, ne thought that licensed auctioneers deserved some consideration at the hands of the Board. He offered to conduct the sales in his district. The Board resolved that the present arrangement should be adhered to. AGRICULTURAL LEASE. Thomas M Cullough applied to exchange his agricultural lease of section 26, block IV., Crookston. Bequest granted from January 1, 1875. Application's TOR I, AND OX GOLDYIELBB. The following applications were ordered to stand over, pending the completion of the survey :— F. D. Bell, sections 13, 12, 21, 17, 18, 35, 36, 40; E. LowuJcs, sections 10, 14, 31, 30,29, 12, 11, 21, 13, 14 j D. and W. Murray, section 42. PLANS OF trNSUHVEYED LAND TOU APPROVAL. The following were approved : — James Alexander Walcott, section 13, block VIC, Wyndham ; F. W. MKenzio, section 3, block XVI., Glenkemch ; Thomas Wilson, section 1, block IV., Leaning Rock ; John Orbcll, section 1, block VI., and section 5, block V., Waikouaiti ; M. O. Orbell, section 3, block V, Waikotiaiti ; John Dickcnson section 4, block XII., Glenkenich ; Wright Lowe, section 71, block V., Tuapeka East; Alfred Douglas, section 25, block VI., Wyndham ; Thomas Turnbull, section 77, block 111., Waipabi ; W. A. R. P. Scobie, section 15, block . 111., Kuriwao ; Adam Hunter, section 27, block VI., Wyndham ; J. W. Larnach, section 5, block X, Toi tois ; Charles Cargill Lettle, section 25, block 1., Toi tois ; James Thompson, section 18, block VI., and section 25, block IV., Waitahuna East. The Board then adjourned.

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