WASTE LANDS BOARD.—This Day.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2743, 6 February 1879, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.—This Day.

The fortmghtly meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held in the offices, Parliament-street, this afternoon. Present: D. A. Tole Ksq. (chief commissioner in the chair), Dr. Campbell Messrs May, Moat, and Firth. Ka i ikati.—a communication from Minister Of Lands was received, expre-siog his gratification at tho improvement tf the lands by the settlers in bo short a period, and. ordering that Crown grants be iromediat-ly prepared for the setters, requesting them with the approval of he Board. -■

«,MI^ HILJ-'? Report.-At the lash meeting of the Board letters from three settlers in the Katikati district were road complaining of certain errors which had been made in respect ™ H1?-,, cultivation ol their lands— Mr Hill had since investigated the lands, and in the cass of Mr Gosse, althongh he had cultivated beyond the extent necessary, was difficult in the point of residence, having only resided there one year and nine months, sixteen months short of the required time. In the other cases it was resolved that the grants should issue. Leave of Abse cc. — A letter, enclosing a certificate from Dr Kenderdine, was received from Mr J. G. Bridgeman, of Raglan, asking for leave of absence for six months, on account of ill-health, was granted. Application.—An application from Captain Turner, agent for Rev Burrows, was received, applying for a road through the district in which his land is situated, at Tauranga. Some discussion followed on the districts generally, when it was resolved to grant the making of a road of one chain. Ai'PLiCATroNs icon Grants.—A number of these applications wero received from Hichard Ma-shall. George Carson, and others, for consideration.

Repokt.—A rcport'of the ranger was read|with reference to the lands of 18 settle s under the Homestead Ac\ in the dist-icts of the Bay of Islands and Hokianga, showing the iamount of acres which had been brought under cultivation, with length of residence of eaoh settler. Some of theee were 3iti*factoririn the matters of time and acreage, but the majority \vc"o not. (nWro-! Cutting Timber.—Mr J. S. Smith, Government contractor, informed tne Hoard that ho had obtained the contract for the Newcostlo wha'f extension, and asked leave to cut the necessary timber from tho district lands under tho control of tho Board, for ruil and fencing pu-poses in connection with tbe contract.—Mr Firth suKjjestod that care should bo taken in order that tho timbnr be not wasted or recklessly destroyed.—Tho chairman suid that Mr Smith would of course have to pay for the timber, and arrangements could be made with him in respect thereof, and to which the Board agreed.