WASTE LAND BOARD.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 784, 19 November 1873, Page 2 (Supplement)

WASTE LAND BOARD.

Thursday, November 6. John Mackney applied for a lease of land in the Remarkable Patch, Ttiapeka West, for sawing timber with an eight-horse power steamengine. The application was refused. Mr Doughty, on behalf of Mr W. Black, applied for a license, under the 169 th clause, of section 49, block 1, Clarendon, or to purchase. The application was refused. Mr W. H. Herteadt applied to purchase twelve chains square of land in Run '221, m block IX, Leaning Rock. A report on the application was received from the District Land Offieer. Application refused. The following applications for the purchase of agricultural leases were received: — J. R. Kemp, sec. 53, 54, hi 1., Cairnhill Jno. White „ 28, „ „ „ R. Leslie „ 29, „ „ „

J. M'Donough „ 30, 35, „ „ ~ It was resolved that consideration of the applications should be postponed until the Board has obtained the opinion of the Judge upon the validity of the Reserves. The following applications for exchange of leases under clause 62, were received from Messrs H. and J. Corsan Sections 12, 10, *3l, 32, block 1., Cairnhill. The Government sanctioned sections 12, 13, and 31 only._ The Board approved of the application sanctioned by the Government. Mr Walter Miller applied to purchase section 13, block 10, Hill-end district. It was decided that the District Land Officer's report and advice should be asked. A letter was received and read from His Honor Mr Justice Chapman, relative to a case sent to him direct by the Board, and referring to a statement made by the Provincial Solicitor to the effect that he (the Judge) had expressed surprise at the way in which the case had been sent to him. The following is a copy of his Honor's letter : " Supreme Court Chambers, " November 5, 1873.

" Sir,- -I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 25th of October on the subject of a case recently transmitted to ine, raising a question as to the validity of certain reserves. 44 1 have no objection to receive cases direct from the Waste Land Board on questions not in litigation between parties (as section 19 of the Waste Lands Act contemplates such), and which 1 can answer without argument. I have received and answered such cases on previous occasions. But where there are conflicting interests, or where the question is susceptible of argument (and I think this case involves both elements), it is better that the Board should instruct a solicitor, and have the case set down for argument at the earliest sitting of the Court in Banco. 44 1 did not express surprise, &c., as you seem to have been informed. I merely instructed the Registrar to give notice to the Provincial Solicitor that the case must be set down for argument, so as to give all parties interested an opportunity of arguing it. If no one should appear to argue, I will decide it as i should any other case not argued. In this particular case I think M 4 Lean should at least have the opportunity of instructing and of being heard by counsel. Moreover, there appears to be a conflict between two sections of the Act, which may be elucidated by argument. 44 1 shall retain the case sent to me, having already directed that it shall be set down for hearing.—l have, &c., H. S. Chapman.

" J. T. Thomson, Esq., " Chief Commissioner." A plan was submitted of the pre-emptive right of Run 245, showing the area surveyed as 640 acres, besides 103 A acres adjoining already purchased. The question was submitted: Is the runholder entitled to a lease of more than 536 i acres ? The Board resolved that the plan should be corrected to 640 acres as a whole. The application made by Mr J. W. Robertson for a water-race from One-Mile Creek to Queenstown postponed several times pre viously—now came on for consideration. It was resolved to further postpone the matter till the difficulties between Mr Robertson and the Corporation of Queenstown are cleared up. Messrs Oakden and Booth applied for a pastoral lease of 19,500 acres west of Te Anau Lake. The Board resolved thstt the land should be assessed, and then put up to public auction on the usual terms. Mr Doughty, on behalf of Messrs D. and J. Malloch, applied to purchase on lease for not less than ten years, one acre of the northern end of section 20, block 6, Hawksbury district, for erecting a goods shed and landiug stage. It was resolved that 100 feet frontage (next the bridge) should be given for seven years, under the 91st clause, at LI per annum ; to date from Ist January, 1874. # # An opinion was received from the Provincial Solicitor that a second application could be received for the pre-emptive right refused to Messrs Campbell and Low, for Run No. 244. An estimate was received from assessors of the carrying capacity of Manuka Island, Lake Wanaka, for which a pastoral lease had been applied for. It was resolved that it should be advertised for one month from Wednesday next.