Waste Lands Board.

Bruce Herald, Volume VII, Issue 649, 13 November 1874, Page 6

Waste Lands Board.

+ (From the ' Times.') Tlie ordinary weekly meeting of the Waste L%nds Board took place on Wednesday. There were present — Mr A. C. Strode (in the chair), and Mr Clark, and Mr £>• Keid The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed. ! JJ^AUHONT. — APPLICATION FOB, LICENSE. Mr Coanell, for Messrs Lancaster, Beaton, and Cummings, applied f r a license for seven 3 7 ear 3to remove timber t'ron; off the 1 * ; oe of the proposed road between Beaumont townsli:? and th« south end of Island Block, on the east bank of the Olntha, for a distance of five chains on each side of the prooosod road throughout its length— and presented a memorial containing 350 signatures in support of the application In reply to a communication on the subject, forwarded to the Government, the Secretary for Works, under da*e 15th October, stated that the Governr ment agreed to accept Messrs Lancaster and party's°offer, under certain conditions, for a period of five years. Mr Connell said they had brought the matter thus far before the Waste Lands Board for its final step. A bridge had recently been constructed over the Beaumont, and Messrs Lancaster and party wish/ed to remove their ferry. The following w^ro the prinpipa} gonditK £B /submitted:— That Messrs Lancaster and party should maintain proper punts and oiher applies, similar to those in use at the Beaumont 3?erry, #t the point where the proposed road crossed jb.he |Oluj;h.a ßß ierv 'er noar the B-ratii e»d of th,e inland Block, 'phat the promoters gtjftH fr&ye the r^ght of cltsrging fern »j>oi» ty 9 q( »*y

■traffic o\rer the Kiver Clutha in *he same manner as those now permitted to be charged at. the Beaumont Ferry ; the right to occupy a,-. small portion of land not exceeding ten acres on each side of the said river for the purpose of facilitating the crossing of cattle, sheep, A>e ; the exclusive right to remove and dispose of any timber or scrub, dead or otherwise, on Crown lands to a distance of five chains on each side of the proposed road, but subject to a condition th»"i Messrs Lancaster and party shall sell to the public at a price not exceeding 15a per cord, all such timber br scrub so granted, to be delivered jn the site of the proposed road. The general advantages were set forth as follow : — l. A considerable distance will be saved by the proposed road being shorter than that now in use. 2. The Tuupaka and surrounding mining districts will be supplied with firewood at a considerably reduced rate. 3. The fr jij.ht to Teviot and further n > country districts will be lowered 4= These advantages will be obtained without the expenditure of a shilling of public money. Mr Cargill, Mr Fulton, and others in the district were extromely desirous to have the road com rueted, and it wonld be highly beneficial to the inhabitants. The gentleman who was present to oppose the application had acknowledged that his station would be much benefited by the proposed road. Mr Ha rgitt stated that he did not appear only on bahalf of Mr Neil, but for many bbnajide settlers. Those who had signed the petition presented by Mr Connell were mine -a, carriers, and coach drivers, and were not bonajide settlers. He (Mr Ha^itt) produced a letter signed James Parsons, as Chairman of the Committee of Set'lers of Beaumont, objecting to the new line of road He argued that the Board had no power to take possession of Mr Neil's run or to grant the application. Mr Neil had no objection to anything thab would prove of public benefit, but he suspected that Messrs Lancaster and party only wanted to get possession of the Bcrub, and that they had not the slightest intention of constructing the road. If they constructed the road first, Mr Ned w..uld njt oppose their obtaining possession of the scrub. The Government had recently spent £900 upon cutting a hill away on the present line of road, and it wa3 a Government township. He also appeared for Mr Hayes, who had constructed a bridge across the Beaumont at considerable expense. If the Board granted the application the bridge would be rendered useless and Haye3 would be ruined. Mr Connell replied and pointed out that the bridge at Beaumont would always be required whether the proposed road were constructed or not. Nearly the whole of the Province was in Goldfi j lds. If the Board granted the license, Messrs Lancaster and party c >uld fi^ht out the question with the landholders. It waa a matter of great public importance. It was resolved that the application of Messrs Lancaster, Beaton, and Cummings be taken into consideration with a view to the | same being granted, as soon as they furnish a report from the Provincial Engineer that tho road which they propose to construct is open for traffic. Mr Hagaitt— Mr Neil instructs me to say that he will not oppose the matter when the Engineer's report is furnished. OTAOO ANTIMONY COMPANY. Rfr W. S. Doughs, for the Otago Antimony Company, appliad 10 have the r^nt due on account of their lease reduced to LD, the Oompauy being ac present unable from the high price of labor to devlope the mine. He stated that the lease had been granted two years ago by the Board at, L 5 aye >r for the two first years. The Company, which wa* now going in f o tho third year had expended about £400, and they wished ihe Board to reduoe the rrfca f e for the prtseut year the same as the two previous years. The Chairman — According to the agreement, at £1 per acre, the rent would be £35 for this year. Mr Douglas — Yes ; they want the rate reduced to recoup them a little for their outlay. Mr Reid —Two years is a long time, and should be sufficient for prospecting. Mr Douglas — Several things have kapt the Company b ick. The Chairman — It was decidad at the last meeting that the section should be re-let if the money were not paid and the lease signed. What are the special eiren instances under which you apply, Mr Douglas ? Mr Douglas — Those are the circumstances I have already mentioned. The Company has spent £100 in prospectiug, and no returns have been received It is enly ! extending the term of the first two years into the third. The Chairman — We want to be assured of the bona fides — that the applicant will prospect thu Jand. Mr Douglns — I can assure the B^ard or that. The Company has sent Home four or five tons of samples Tue Chairman — After consultation, Mr Douglas, the Board agree to grant your request on the understanding that every exertion will be made to work the mine continuously, and that the back rent be paid at once and the lease aigued. TABLE HILL. A letter from Mr Thomas Murray relative to his application for Und in the TaHle Hill district being refused by the Board, was I simply noted as read. I TAPANUI. — APPLICATION FOR LICENSE. Banger Hughan reported that there were several objections to Mr John Youngvn's application for a license under clause IG9 to occupy a piece of burnt bush land afc T-ipa-nui. The application was refused. CttOOKSTON. — APPLICATION FOB LEASE. Gillies and Street., for Thomas Smith, applied for a lease of 10 acres of land in the Oroofcston District. Hangar Hughan reported that it would take a considerable outn of money to m:ike a road to the locality, and recommsnded chat the application should be granted. It was resolved that the applicant's request be granted, on conditions similar to those of Creswick's application ; rent, 10a an acre per annum. AGRICULTURAL LEASE. The following application to exchange ag'icultural lease was granted from Ist January, 1875 : - Thomas M'Cullough, section 26, Block IV., ('rookston. TAPANUI. — SAWMILL LEASE. Rauger Hughan having reported favorably o,n Messrs Herbertj Howatand Oo.'a application for a wnijlj lease of 8$ aqrqs at lapanui, it was g.-ajited. ALEXANDRA. — AUOTION SALES. Mr J. O. Chappie, Alexandra, wrote with reference to auction sales and offered conduct % Cr.Qwn/'land' v ßalea ity the £Uydfj district,'

The Board; decided to continue the pre- ; ■ont arrangements. ' ' XAND ON GOI.DriEI.DS. The following applications for unsurveyed ! lands on Gold fields, were ordered to stand over until the completion of survey : — t. Tracy, section 45, block XIX., Tusipeka East ; H. M Cann, section 51, block XIX , do; David Evans, section SU, block XX., do ; L. C, Holmes, section 47, block XfX , do.

Consideration of the following applications waa postponed till n«*t tutting : — F. D Bell, sections 13, 72, 51, 17, 18, 35. 36, and 40, VVaihetno ; E. G-. Lowndes, sections 10. 14, 31, 30, 29, 42, 11, 32, aud 13, do ; D. and VV. Murray, section 42, do. Mr George Conk appeared on behalf of the two firstmentioned applicants. TIME OF SURVEY EXTENDED. Mr Spenc*, for IVfesara J. W. Robertson and Co , aßked that they should be allowed a further period of one month within which to survey their bush lease area, the weather hitherto hav>ng been unpropitious. The B >ard decided that the rent Bhould be paid as formerly specified, and the exten'ion of time fjr survey be granted as requested. UNSURVBYED LA.HD. The following applications for unsurveyed land were granted : — J. A. Walcot, Bectiou 13, block VII , Wyndham ; F. VV. Mackenzie, section 3, block XVI., (Tlenkenich ; Thomas Wilson, section 1 block IV , Leaning Hock ; John Orbell, section 1, block VI., and 5, block V., Waikquaiti ; M'Leod C Orbell. section 3, block V , Waikouaiti , John Dickson, secion 4, block XII , Glei>kenich ; W. Lowe, section 71, block V., Tua peka.East ; A. Duglas, section 25, block VI , Wyndham ; T. Turubull, section 77, block 111., Waipahee ; W. A and R. P. Scobie, section 15, block ITf., Kuriwao ; A. Hunter section 27, block VI , Wyndham ; W. J. M. Larnach, section 5, bloc < X.. Toi Tois ; T. Fi'ii?^r, section 4. block VI, Toi Tois ; C. C. Kettle, section 25, block L., Toi T-.is ; James Thompson, section 18, block VI:, and 25, block YE-, Wait»hunaEast. The Board adjourned.