WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VIII, Issue 438, 27 February 1875, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

{From the "Guardian") Wednesday, February 24.

Present : The Chief Commissioner (in the chair^, and Messrs Bastings, Butterworth, Strode, Clark, and Reid. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CROMWELL. Mr. Hooper, for Mr Charlton, applied for a lease for a coal bed near Cromwell. The Board resolved to obtain the report of the District Land Officer in reference to the working of the mine by Mr. Dagg. CLYDE. The Board granted the application of Mr. James Holt, of Clyde, to have his rent for a coal lease reduced from £10 to £5 per annum. SWITZERS. The District Land Officer at Switzer's advised the Board that the pre-emptive right on Run 328, applied for by Stewart and Gow, Bhould be granted in the shape laid off by the Surveyor. — Approved. martin's bay. A letter was read from Mr. G. A. King asking what inducements the Government held out to persons to settle at Martin's Bay. — Referred to the Government. ■WAKTTIPU BUSH. The District Land Officer at Queenstown advised that the application of Theodore Baker, for a lease of 20 acres of the Lower Wakatipn Bush, and which was forwarded to him for advice, should be referred to the Ranger instead, for the report of that officer. The Board resolved that Rangers be instructed to give all the assistance in their power to the various District Land Officers, and furnish them with sxich information as may be required from time to time. LAND OF SPECIAL VALUE. The Government recommended that the following sections in block IV., in the Waikaia district, having been improved by fencing, survey, and otherwise, and also through compensation having been paid* to the runholder, should he declared land of special value, and soldat auction on the Ist day of April, 1875, at the upset price set opposite each : — Section 2, £424 ; section 3, £306 2s; section 16, £168 12s. —Approved. The Government also recommended that sections 10, 13, and 14, block IV., Waikaia district, should, in accordance with the terms of-section 35 of the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872, be opened for application on and after Ist April, 1875. — Approved. A. further recommendation of the Government, -to postpone the day of sale of certain land in the same district to the 10th March, was also approved. EXCHANGE APPLICATION. The following applications to exchange agricultural leases for deferred-payment leases' were approved :—: — Bendix Hallenstein, section 1, South Wakatipu district ; section 3, block VI., Coveburn ; and sections 1 and 66, block IV., Shotover. George Bruce, sections 55 and 97, block V., Waitahuna East. Archibald M'Corkindale, section 25, block V., Waitahuna East.

James Jack, section 51, block XX., Shotover district,

James Flint, sections 103, 104, 33, 108, block 111., Shotover. Barbara Flint, sections 29 and 30, block 111., same district. j THE WAIKOIKOI HUNDRED. Mr. James Macassey wrote asking the Board to postpone the sale of the above Hundred, pending the result of Mr. Logan's appeal to the Supreme Court. The Chief Commissioner said that, in accordance with the decision of the Board at its last meeting, the sale had taken place on Tuesday, and sr number of the sections were sold. A letter was also read from Mr. Stout stating that he had amended the case so as to distinctly raise the point whether or not the Supreme Court had power to entertain the appeal made by Mr. Logan. APPOINTMENT OP ARBITRATOR. Mr. J. B. Bradshaw was appointed arbitrator on behalf of the Board in an arbitration case between it and Sir F. D. Bell, in reference to certain lands in the Dunback district. WALTER MILLER, JUNR.'s APPLICATION. Mr. Connell requested that the above applicant shouldbe declared the purchaser of sections 28, 36, and 37, block IV., and 21, block VI. Tuapeka district. The case was fully reported when it was first brought before the Board some months ago. It was now resolved that survey should be reported to the Government, in order that it might be attended to. DEFERRED PAYMENT BLOCK. Mr. James Lumsden asked if he could put in separate applications for sections in different deferred payment blocks, though one application only might be granted. The Board replied in the affirmative, and added that the deposits would be returned to non successful applicants. ALTERATION OP DATE OF SALE. In consequence of land in various Hundrels having been inadvertently advertised to be sold on the 23rd of March, which is the anniversary of the foundation of the province, the date of the sale was, at the request of Mr. Reid, altered to the 22nd of the same month. AGRICULTURAL LEASES. The following applications to purchase under the agricultural leases were granted :—: — J. Sutherland and D. G. "Poison, section 39, block X. , Waitahuna East. Thomas Kiddle, sections 23 and 28, block X., Tuapeka East. Alexander Brydie, sectiuu 50, block V., Tuapeka East. W illiam Hope Miller, section 53 block IV., Table Hill. Francis Tubman, sections 30 and 32, block 1., Benger district. Robert Tubman, section 27, block 11., Teviot. Charles Johnson, sections 4, 5, 6, and 104, block V., Shotover District. James Douglas, section 52, block VTI-, Shotover District. FREE GRANTS OP LAND FOR IMMIGRANTS. The following letter from his Ilo'nor the Superintendent was read :—: — "As there are nnir.bei's of immigrants arriving in the province, paying their own passages, who are entitled to free grants of land, to be purchased on their behalf, by the Colonial Government, in terms of the Immigration Land Act, 1872 ; and as in many cases, in as far as this province is concerned, the area that can be acquired by each will not exceed 20 acres, the Superintendent would suggest for the consideration of the Waste Lands Board, the expediency of setting aside a few blocks of land in various districts, and having the same surveyed into 20 acre allotments, with the view of meeting the case of the immigrants in question, as well as of others who may may be disposed to purchase and settle on 20-acre allotments. The Superintendent would venture to submit this matter to the early attention of the Board, inasmuch as the difficulty which must otherwise be encountered by immigrants entitled to free grants of land in acquiring the same is calculated seriously to prejudice immigation of the class referred to. — I am, &c, James Macakdrew. Mr. Strode said that each applicant, in order to entitle him to a grant, was bound to show a certificate from the Agent-Gen-eral to the effect that he was a suitable ! immigrant for the colonies. The Chief Commissioner said that he was aware of that. He was. yesterday shown one of these certificates by a young man, by whom he was asked to point out to him a spot where he could select 20 acres. Mr. Bastings thought there shouldbe blocks of land set apart for this purpose. It also appeared to him that there had been a breach of faith with the immigrants in reference to this matter. The Chief Commissioner said that there were blocks in Southland admirably suited for this system. They might also be obtained, though with greater difficulty, in Otago. Mr. Bastings said that the immigrants had a right to 20 acres, and the Board should facilitate their getting it as far as it could. Mr. Strode : We have a right to advise them what is best for their interest, and not settle them in a part of the country where they would not be able to obtain a living. It was absolutely necessary that they should be settled near a labor market, as they could not live on 20 acres although they might have a house on it. They would require to be in a place where they could obtain work, otherwise they would come back upon us.

Mr. Reid said they could select where ever the land was open for sale. Mr. Bastings : It would be advisable to cancel a small block on a run near a good district. The Chief Commissioner : It would pay the country over and over again to do so ; It would be best for a block near one of the towns to be set apart. The Tokomairiro Bush Reserve and the Seaward Bush Reserve ,are suitable places. I would suggest that the Board highly approve of his Honor's suggestion, and request the Provincial Secretary to communicate with the Chief Surveyor in refertnee to the selecting of such allotments. '

Mr. Reid : The difficulty is this : Uaving selected these 20-acre allotments, some person comes in and purchases the whole, not immigrants at all. The land must f be Crown land, and open for sale. If you' go to the expense of surveying these allotments, others may come in the next day and purchase the whole of them. The only way I s*ee is for the Colonial Government to purchase a block, and then do with it whatever it thinks fit.

Mr. Strode : That would be the best way under the existing law.

The Board recommended the matter to the favourable consideration of the Government with the view of giving practical effect to it.