LAND BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 143, 17 June 1886, Page 2

LAND BOARD.

The Board met at 10 o'clock this niorninp Present : Chief Commissioner Greeufield, and Commissioners Curtis and Hamilton. Occupation licenses were granted as follows : — W. Roberts 80 acres, sections 51 aud 52, block 7, Reefton, sixpence per acre ; G. McMillan, license No. 162, near R.zorback, renewal granted. Occupation L'censei refused.— J. F. Johnston 80 acres, river bed Mawhera-iti, objected to by xWr W. C, Mirfin; Rutherford Brothers 3600 and 6400 acres, Ainuri, blocks not yet reported on. Rent reduced — James Palmer, Sabine district, from £12 10a to £7 10s. Timber licenses granted — J. W. Thomas, 50 acres, Motupiko, fee £10. Prospecting licenses granted — J. Smith, Takaka, 640 acres ; H Abbott, Tukaka, 320 acres. The following memo was received from the Under Secretary to the Mines Department ; — " With reference |to the mineral prospecting license of 200 acres recently granted by the Land Board to Messrs Ford and Sadd, including 60 acres applied for by the Johnston United G.M. Company as a mineral lease, I am directed to state that the Minister of Mines cannot interfere in the matter. He considers it very undesirable that so large an area of land should be locked up for so long a period." To this a reply had been sent by the Chief Commissioner to the effect that the only applicants for the ground were the licensees and Johnston's United Company, the latter for 60 years on lease, and as the Company have held a mineral lease of 97 acres adjoining since July, 1878, without working it, excepting 16| acres, which they hold as a gold mining lease, it appeared undesirable that they should be allowed to lock up more ground so as to secure a monopoly of the gold workings under the pretence of working the minerals. i The application was referred to the Warden , who reported that there was no objection to i granting the license. , Mr Curtis objected to the Department sending such a memorandum, as they had no ; business whatever to express an opinion with- [ out first making enquiry into the circumstances. , The Stanley Vale homestead block, section , 3, was assessed for sule at 20.* per acre, ! The Wai-iti Res -rye, 7d and 05, 74 acres, was '. recommended by the Rabbit Inspector to be , leased. —Resolved that it bs let by auction \ for 14 years. Resolved that three aprea on Section 19 ' block 7, Mawhra-iti, be set aside for a ' gravel reserve, as recommended by ih*: [ Inangahua County Council. [ A petition was received from s.tUyrs in the district for a roid from Admiralty Bnj \ to Waitaka B>»y. — Resolved that the Bjnrd recommend ttie Chief Surveyor to have the ( roud bid off. An application from Patrick Burn foi refund of dopoits on npplicalion for leas* was postponed. ' A goklmining lease was refused to J '■ Jones and others in the Manna district. 1 The application of Charles Taylor for c ■ lease of section 8, block 5, Cobtlen, which had been withdrawn by the Commissioner, was ' considered, and it was resolved to grant a small portion of the section. Mr Pitt appeared ■ for the applicant. The following gold mining leases were „ approved:— J. McGallin, section 10 ( J, block s 11, Reefton ;J. Howoll, section S7, block 7, ) Reefton; W. Heaphy, section 10(j, block li, s Reefton ;J. P. Thomas, section 53, block 11 s Reefton ; J. Julian, section 21, block 11 1 Reefton ;J. K Grant, section 10, block la' 3 Reefton. '■ , Land was assessed for lending to P O'Neill r Pohaiuron, at. 10.-) per aero ; G. Mason 1 Kopaia, at 2U- ; T IF. G-arili (i. Mastiij i> y O'Neil, and W. Tiotfcsr, Huupire distriuij al r 20s; D. Coclnane, Pouularuu, ID;; 11.' \v 3 Ropko, Waugajicku, 10^ ; J. Powell, luaucru. 3 hua, four leases, at, liO j ; E. Tnyh/r, Tuduior s at 10- ; II Trowur, Matiii, at au.s ; II Groo'oy, Ngatimuti. at 10s,