School Commissioners of Otago.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 166, 23 July 1896, Page 3

School Commissioners of Otago.

_> The usual monthly meeting of tho above Commissioners was held in Dunedin on the '21st iust., when there were present — Messrs •I. P. Maitlaud (chairman), A. Baldey, and J. Walker Biin. Mr Dallas was prevented from attending through illness. The following letter from the Under-Secre-tary of Lands was read : — " Welliugton, 18th June, IS9G. Sir, — As indicoted in my memo, of the 20th April last, a proclamation was issued on the 30th ult. declaring those education reserves in Wendon and Wendonside districts subject to the Land Act, 1892. The proclamation is published in ' Gazette ' No. 13, of the 4th inst. And in reference to your letter of the 4th May, as to permitting tho exchange of the eleven sections from perpetual lease to lease in perpetuity, and also allowing the two tenants to acquire these freeholds, I have to state that tho Minister is advised, first, that the land having already been bought under the operation of the Land Act, 1877, Araeudui.nt Act, 1882, and leave having been granted thereunder and still in force, no proclamation issued under section ■243 of the Land Act, 1892, would be operative or have the effect of sanctioning such exchanges; secondly, with regard to the acquirement of the freeholds, the Minister is further advised tbat the issue of a proclamation under the Land Act, 1892, would not Have the desired c-ffect. I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, A. Babuox, Under-Secretary. The Secretary Otago School Commissioners, Dunedin." Mr Donald McGregor, of Wendon Valley, wrote asking the Commissioners to assist him in converting his perpetual lease iuto a lease in perpetuity. Mr McGregor also stated that he had sent a letter to the Minister of Lands on the subject. — In view of tho opinion received from the department, it was decided to take no further action. Messrs Fraser and McLean, lessees of the Wairaki runs, wrote to say that their claim for compensation amounted to £2750 The letter was received. The lessee of run 327 a asked the Commissioners to lay an objection before the Warden at Waikaia to Joseph Wallis' application to take a water-race along the face of the run. Mr McKinnell, on behalf of the teuants in block 10, Waikaia, made a similar objection. — It was decided to inform the writers that run 327 a and block 10 were not included in the proclamation bringing portions of the reserves under the Minos Act, and therefore the application to construct a water-race could not be granted. The Warden to be informed that the lands in question were not under the Mines Act. Mr Joseph Davidson, jun., applied for 50 acres on run 254 b. — Referred to Mr McDonald for a report. Mr J. Thornton applied to lease about 809 acres of run 254 b for grazing purposes. — The application was declined. The following transfers were sanctioned on the usual conditions : — New Zealand and Australian Land Co. to John McLennan, section 21, block 1, Mataura district ; Wilson Hall to James Anderson, section 6, block 14, Wendon ; Wilson Hall to A. W. Robertson, section 12, block 14, Wendon ; G. D. Shaw to John Ballintine, section 2, block 5, Gore. It was decided to accept a surrender of tho lease of section 3 of 24, block 9, Invercargill Hundred. Lewis Mathioson agreed to give the upset of £1 per anuum for sections 3 to 6, block 10, Mataura Bridge. — This offer was accepted. Thomas Newall applied for the right to open a lignite pit on section 15, block 1, Wendon. — The right was granted over an area of five acres, at a rent of £5 per annum, payable in advance. The lessee of run Nos. 5 and 6, Wairaki, applied for leave to make certain improvements to buildings, and to elect fencing. — Permission was granted. Thos. Ambrose, Gore, offered to pay rates for the use for grazing purposes of sections 7 and 18, block 18, Gore. — Referred to the Southland Agent. It was decided to extend the lease of part of section 23, block 1, Invercargill Hundred, for one year. * W. Allman applied for leave to mine for gold in tbe gullies on the Otama runs. The application was declined. The following letter from the Southland County Council was received: — "The Secretary School Commissioners. Sir, — I have the honor, on' behalf of the Southland County > Council, to apply to the School Commissioners for the thirds of the instalments, both past and now paid on lands sold on deferred payment by thorn, or let on perpetual lease, ', as provided by section 126 of tne Land Act, 1892, aud also the fourths on rents of small grazing runs (if such are dealt with), and to refer you also to section 249 of the above--1 mentioned Act. I have tho honor to be, etc., i Otto G. W. Hast, County Chairman."— lt i was decided to obtain a legal opinion as to i the liability of the Commissioners ; also on the question of the liability of the Commisj sioners to pny unpaid rates on sections under . lease. s After transacting a large amount of routine [ business, the Commissioners adjourned till 18th August.