THE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 6032, 12 July 1882, Page 2

THE LAND BOARD.

The weekly meeting yesterday was attended by Messrs J. P. Maifcland (Chief Commissioner, in the chair), Clark, Duncan, Bradshaw, and Stoat. The application by the Tapanui Borough Council for & right to take water from Whisky Gully again came up for consideration, together with Ranger Hugban'ii supplemeutary report thereon.—Mr Bastings again appeared in support of the application.—Consideration was further adjourned for a week, in order that the Board's powers in the matter might be looked U Mr Conuell brought before the Board a matter arising out of the sale of pastoral deferred-pay-ment lands yesterday. AMr Moahin had been declared the purchaser 01 a section, for which a Mr M'Cormick (for whom Mr Counell appeared) and Mr Wright had contested. Mr M'Cormick was the second highest bidder. Mr Mechin purchased for a Mr M'Kay, who had made a declaration in Tasmania before a J. P. of that Colony, and Mr Mechin had not paid the deposit as was provided. Mr Connell applied, for these two reasons, fcr Mr M'Cormick to be declared the purchaser. The declaration appeared to mention several sections, and Mr Stout held that the particular section alone should be specified for which a person intended to bid. and that a declaration would be required for each section. Mr Stout said he would move that the opinion of the Board's solicitor be taken on the following points:—(l) Whether a declaration was sufficient in law when no section was particularly described in it; and (2) whether any Justice of the Peace of another Colony had power to attest a declaration which would be used in this —After a protracted discussion It was discovered that the matter was not properly before the Board, and it was withdrawn in order to be brought up in the regular course. An application by John Scott to poison rabbits on a certain parcel of land at Shotover, {irovided he was given a right to graze cattle on t, was referred to the Government. Several sections taken up under the Farming Rural Land Act having been abandoned, it was resolved to recommend the Minister to cancel and re-sell them. Mr W. B, Griffin forwarded resolutions of a public meeting at Macraes, asking that a block of 5,000 acres be laid off for agricultural leases' on Sha» Valley or Stoneburn Kun, adjoining block 1, Higblay, and block 2, Budle.—Consideration of the matter was def orred. Mr Stout said he understood that it was becoming common for deferred payment sections of 200 and 300 acres to be bought up and made into estates of 600 and 800 acres.—Mr MaitLAND: After the freehold has been secured ? Mr Stout : Yes. He was anxious to stop this. He objected to these blocks, which were intended tobe'beld in small areas, be ng made into estates. It had nothing to do with the Board, but it was only possible to obtain the information he wanted through the Board. He would raoye _« That the rangers report on the various deferred payment blocks, so that it may be seen whether or not the holders are selliDg out and the number of holdings is being decreased. Mr Mahxand: This will not commit the Board to any particular view.—Mr Stout: Certainly not.—The proposition was then agreed to. -