THE LAND BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 6262, 11 April 1883, Page 2

THE LAND BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Land Board was held to-day, and was attfetided by all the memberiJ.

ORMnArV BUsiNE&s. . . On the application of Messrs Duncan and Macgregor; the license of section 27; block 9, Snotover, held by A. CL Thomson, deceased, was transferred to Mr Baird. Abbtitidn wal received from residents in the Waihemo and Highlay districts, objecting to the application of Robert Matheson to purchase section 11, block 3, Highlay, as the land, with that adjoining, should bb surveyed into farms and opened on deferred payments and for agricultural leasing.—The Board did not see any reason to alter their decision approving of Mr Matheson’s application.

An application by Hugh Crossan to purchase fifty acres in Naseby consisting of section 5, block 7, under section 66 of the Mining Act, was recommended to the favorable consideration of the Government. Rabbit-inspector Johnston asked that something should be done with section 1, block 3» and sections 1 and 2, block 6, Sutton, as the Iliad Was becoming ft breeding-ground for rabbits.—lt was decided to recommend the Government to offer the sections for sale on the pastoral leasing system for seven years at 4d per acre. The town clerk, Arrow, asked the Board to re-cons,ider their decision with reference to the reduction of the upset price of lands in Arrowtown Extension.—lt was decided to recommend the Government to set apart sections 3 and 9, blpOk 33 ) Section 1; block 34 ; and sections 1 and 2, block 35, as suburban deferred-payment sections, and offer them for sale at the upset price of LlO per nere; and to offer the sections in blocks 2(3, 27, 28, 29, and .31, at Lls per,acre. Michael Nash, lessee of deferred-payment sections 33 and 41, block 11, Tuapeka West, who it was reported was, not complying with the terms of his lease, excused himself on the -ground that his house had been recently burnt down, and he had nbt at yet been able to re-erect it. fie had jiaid three years’ rent (L 64) and expended LlSQin fencing and other improvements,—The Board decided to give the lessee .an opportunity of resuming occupation within three months.—Lawrence Cooney, licensee of section 16, block 9, Tuapeka West; and John Tucker, licensee of section* 23, block ,2, Tuapeka West, were allowed a month within which to comply with the residence condition of their lease.

The request of M‘Leod Orbell that the boundaries of Runs 171, 171 a, 17b, and 171 c should be altered to correspond with the" existing fences was recommended for the approval of the Government.^ J. Welnowski asked permission to purchase the sections in Waihola township recently occupied by him with the authority of the, Government. —It was decided to allow the applicant to purchase at L 3 per acre. The Vincent County Council declined to recommend the application of G. Hardy to have the road line in Poolburn survey district altered.—The application was accordingly declined.

W. Smith, T. % Williams, and J. Morrison wrote stating that, for the purpose of having the bush reserves at Tuapeka West left open for the settlers, they are willing to take charge of the same and to use vigorous measures for putting down the rabbit pest, on condition that their right should extend over twenty-one years ,* that the public be allowed to take bush and graze cattle; and that the applicants should have the right to graze sheep and cattle.—Read. The Board decided to recommend to form into a village settlement sections 21, 60 to 72, block 8, Glenoamaru. James Craig telegraphed that the successful tenderer for deferred-payment section 3, block 5, Kurow, Adam Geddes, was in his opinion a dummy, being an infirm man eighty years old and incapable of managing the section.—T. W. Holloway wrote to the same effect, but forwarded a letter subsequently, in which he stated that he had written without sufficient consideration and making inquiry.—The matter was referred to the Ranger, who is to see that the licensee carries out the terms of his lease, ALLEGED DUMMVISM. The Chief Commissioner said that in terms of the Board’s resolution he had requested Mr Cargill to answer the questions mentioned therein! Just before the meeting he had received the following letter in reply Dunedin, 10th April, 1883. Sir, —1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of ycr letter of daee sth Inst., in which you request me to answer certain questions in reference to the purchase of certain sections of deferred-payment lands in Strath Taiori District, for which I was a bidder at the public auction on behalf of the purchasers. In reply, } have to state: That I have no personal interest whatever, direct or indirect, in the purchases referred to. That the deposit of a cheque of the British and New Zealand Mortgage and Agency Company (Limited)— against which any deposits upon purchases ol sections Knocked down to my bid should bo charged—was simply the banking arrangement usual in such cases to save the incon venience of carrying money to the auction room. That my functions were confined absolutely to the simple act of bidding publicly in the room on behalf of the purchasers who were then present, that immediately each let was knocked down I the purchaser went forward and completed his own transaction wjth the auctioneer without further reference on my part, the auctioneer thus adopting the transaction on the part of the Government. These are the simple facts, which comprise, as it appears to, me, all that it concerns the Board to know in connection with my action; and I must respectfully decline to answer any questions on.matters.outside thereof. For any further information required I can only refer you to the purchasers themselves.— I have, etc., £. B. Caboill. Mr J. P. Maitland, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin. Mr Stout said that in his opinion there was only one course open to the Board and that was to refuse to issue the licenses for the Strath Taieri sections. Mr Cargill’s letter threw suspicion on the whole of the sales, for if there had been no dummyism he could have no objection to give every information. He would therefore move:— ■ 1, That the Board decline in the meantime to issue licenses to the purchasers ol the following sections, viz.Section 2, block 8, Strath Taieri; section 1, bl'-'ck 6, Strath Taieri; section 2, block 6, Strath Taieri; section 18, block 10, Strath Taiori; section 18, block 10, Strath Taieri; section 1, block U Strath

Taieri; section S, block ll.cStrittt fateril sccHoo. block 11, Strath Taieri; section 12, 12, sirath Talorif, section! 8, bl(Hflclßj SttethTatoi ’ ■ .2. That the Board submit the iand resolution to the HOh. the Minister Of lands lor jtia opinion «flo* adtfwnv 'f s ' 8. fflhrtthfeijletCommissioner write to the several; pucohauers stating, that the Board, has declined to issuntoenses tit'Mteoi, and asking; them if they dedW. the tew Issued to apply personally to, the Do you suppose that snspi : cion is thrown on the whole of the purchasers „ .aMr Stout replied that hm m*. purchasers Wotjltl hd.t Stitfer by tn£ action oi the Bbatd, for they could come before the Board at next meeting, and after satisfactory explanations beissued. If Mr Cargill had any personal objections to aasWfer t|s questions of the Board, he would no doubt have consulted his constituents, andof-they wstß-.not dummies they would haVe told him to disclose everything he knew. Suspicion wasihua caat on all the transactions. He did not think it likely that dummies would wait Upon the Board. .• The motion was put and carried rtefii. ton.