LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1650, 7 July 1883, Page 14

LAND BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Land Board was held on Wednesday. There were present— The Chief Commissioner, Messrs Clark, Duncan, Bradshaw, and Stout. • BKNGER. The adjourned application by Messrs Connell and Moodie, on behalf of D. H. Mervyn, for payment of amount receivable by him as valuation on his pastoral deterred-payment section, sold on the 19oh ult., was considered, and after a lengthy discussion, principally between Messrs Stout and Connell, as to the amount of the valuation to which he was entitled, it was resolved — "That the sum of £165 be returned to the selector, this being 75 per cent.^ of_ valuation for improvements, less expenses incidental to taking possession of the land." Mr Stout dissented, on the ground that the above sum was more than the applicant was, under the circumstances, entitled to. Messrs Connell and Moodie, on behalf of William Beresford, applied to capitalise his pastoral deferred-payment section 6, block XIV, Benger district. — Declined. * PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS. Messrs Connell and Moodie, for Mr Watson Shennan, made application for pre-emptive rights of 320 acres on runs 247 a, 247b, and 247 d, for the purpose of erecting sheepyards and buildings.— Resolved— " That the applicant be permitted to apply for 100 acres on run 247 a, and 140 acres on run 247 d, at 20s per acre ; the district land officer to report." ROOK AND PILLAR. A letter was received from Messrs Connell and Modie, drawing attention to certain lands in blocks XI, VII, and VIII, Rock and Pillar district, being undealt with, and asking that some decision be come to about them, and that section 2, block XI, be opened for agricultural leasing under the Mineß Act. — Referred to the Government. OHATTON. Messrs Connell and Moodie, on behalf of Samuel Paterson, requested that section 19, block XIV, Chatton, be opened for application at 20s per acre. — Referred to the Warden for report. BUDLE. Messrs Connelland Moodie, on behalf of Wm. Heffran, applied for a license for deferred-pay-ment section 5, block 11, Budle, as the Supreme Court had sustained his appeal. — Consideration adjourned. bun 206 c. Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie, for Stewart and Mackenzie, requested permission to purchase 320 acres on run 20Go as a pre-emptive right, as per plan attached. — It was resolved that the applicant be permitted to apply for 230 acres immediately adjoining his present pre-emptive right of 90 acres, subject to district land officer's report as to there being no objection to sale.

DEFERRED PAYMENTS. Messrs Counell and Moodie applied on behalf of the undermentioned to purchase deferred-payment lands under lease : — Duff Ellis, section 9, block 11, Kurovv; William Burren, section 1, block X, Poolburn.—Approved. run 222. An application was made by A. G. Buchanan to purchase 320 acres on run 222 under section 131 of the Land Act. — Applicant to be allowed to purchase 200 acres. ' CAPITALISATION. On the application of Messrs Connell and Moodie, capitalisation of the following section was authorised: — Murdoch M'lnnes, section 17, block 11, Kurow. LEAVE OJ 1 ABSENCE. Mr James Green was granted leave of absence from the Board meetings during the present session of Parliament. THE "DUMMYISM" BUSINESS. Consideration of the following letter was deferred :— Dunedin, July 3, 1883. To the Chief Commissioner and Members of the Ocago i<and Board Gentlemen, — On behalf of rnydelf and other competitors at tho late sale of pastoral deferred-payment land, held on 28th Febr.-ary la-t, and in pursuance of my letters of 15th May last and other dates, in which I asked the Board to decline to iipue licenses to certain eight jiersuns on Cottesbrook Run, and also requested the Board to cause inquiry to ba made as to i the bona fides of eertai j puraoiis claitninsr to be purchasers which inquiry the Board proceeded to hold— I have now ihe honour to lespecfcSullyask that, as the taid persons have, by their ab-ence and in other ways, tacitly ack. owtadged the truth and justice of my objections, the Board will eith r taka such atepa to secure the attendance of tho said per ons, together with all necessary witnessed, or cauae the eight sec* tiona to be again offered for sale, under the provisions of 'Tho Laud Act 1877 "and amendments, in order to eecu.e the occupation of this land, suitiblo for mixed fanning, by persons wishing to purchase Son* fide for their own excuaive use and benefit, ana not for the use and benefit of any other person.— 1 am, &c, A. C. KIHBBH. SILVEK PEAKS. The Chief Commissioner intimated that summonses had been served upon the purchasers of pastoral deferred-payment section* in Silver Peak district, but none of them were in attendance. — Consideration of the matter was deferred. PERPETUAL LEASINQv The following tenders were accepted under the perpetual leasing system : —Section 5, block V, Lauder, 304 alr 16p, John Sheppard, at 3b O^d (one other tender) ; section 9, block V, 248 aOr 28p., E. Donnelly, at 3a Id (three other tenders) ; section 10, block V, 280 a3r 31p, E. Donnelly, at 3s (one other tender) : section 13*. block V, 291 a2r 33p, T. W. Pleid, at 2s Sri (two other tenders) ; section 51, block II Blackstone, 295 a3r lp, H. Mcc, at 2s ; section 10, block VII, Wendon, 320 a, J. W. Squires, at 2s. While these tenders were being discussed Mr Connell pointed out that where only one tender was lodged for a section the tenderer was entitled to get the section at the upset price, the system of tendering being simply invented for the purpose of deciding between two or more applicants. It was quite competent for a man to withdraw his tender and lodge another at any time. Anyone who did that where there was only one tender must necessarily ba in a position to get the section at the upset price. • Mr Maitland said Mr Connell could withdraw his client's tender before it was accepted, if he liked. He could not withdraw it after 'it had been opened. Mr Connell : Oh yes, you can ; that's just my contention. Mr Stout said they had no power to reduce the price of a tender, and that was virtually what they were asked to do. It was against the provisions of the Act. Mr Connell said he had no instructions from his client to withdraw the tender, and would therefore allow it to remain. The Board would not take any action in the matter.