WASTE LANDS BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Issue XVI, 3 December 1879, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

The aljourned meeting of the Auckland Waste L-iuds Bjard »■„ h.li ye.-Urday at the principal ofuje, Parliament-street. Present : Mr. D. A. Tole (Chief Commissioner, m the chair), iMessrs. Tonka, May, Firth, Moat, and Dr. Campbell. The Uec-n-t Land Sale.—The chairman reported the result of the recent land sale, particulars of which we have already published. The total proceeds of the sale were £1184 3s, of which only £30 wero paid in Ecnp, the remainder being cash. He also stated that, in his unavoidable absence, Messrs. Tonks and Co., at a moment's notice, conducted the sale, and it afforded him great pleasure tD propose a vote of thanks to the firm for their kindness on tl at occasion. The vote was seconded, and unanimously agreed to.—Mr. Tonks said, as a member of the firm, he would be always happy to assist in any way—as a member of the board or as a citizen—in settling the land at any time.—Mr. Firth said that brought up the question of whether it was righc that they should continue to sell lands iu an out-of-the-way place like the Lands Olfice. He thought a more central place should be selected, as he thought they would be able to sell more land if a more public place were selected. —Mr. Tonks said that if it was more convenient he would place their room at the disposal of the chairman for his land sales.—Mr.Tolesaid his experience from what he had observed at other land sales which he had attended, was that tho attendance of buyers here was as large as at any other place where land sales were held in town. After some further discussion, the matter was allowed to drop.

Waikato Lands. — The chairman announced that the restriction to the sale of the lands in Waikato had been withdrawn. On receipt of the letter to that effect from the Minister of Lands, he had communicated ■with the chief surveyor, to furnish a schedule, and he had been able to do so in some cases, as the surveys had been previously uiade. One section in the parish of Puketi had been divided into lots of 50 acres each. There were a number of allotments in Cambridge and Te Awamutu, all of which, combined would make a good list for a sale. On the motion of Mr. Firth it was agreed to offer them for sale as soon as possible, and also that the chairman bo authorised to include other sections which might be available before the list was published. Puniu.— The chairman of Rangiaohia Highway Board had written to request that cer:ain Ints in Puniu might bo offered for sale. Upon receipt of this the chairman of the county council and the chairman of the local highway board had been communicated with to ascertniu whether these lots were required for public purposes. No answer had been received from the former, but the latter had replied, pointing out two sections which would be required" for reserves, but there was no objection t> the others being sold. He suggested that the two reserves referred to should be vested in the district board. The question was whether they should wait for an answer fiom the chairman of the county council, or take action at once.—lt was agreed to withhold the two timber reserves referred to by the chairman of the district board, and offer the rest of the allotments for sale. Te Puke Block.—The Chairman said that in accordance with the resolution of the board he had written to the Minister for Lands, requesting to be informed why the survey of the Te Puke had been stopped. The board would recollect that the survey had been stopped by the Government without consulting the board, and indeed it was ooly by accident they became acquainted with the fact. He had received au answer which w&s no answer at all, as it simply acknowledged Ike receipt of the letter coveri.i S tlic resolution of tbo b<,«,.1. JJ„ b„,l heard a rumour that the laud was to be sold to Mr. Vesey Stewart. Mr. May said it was a rascally shame, if true, for there had been numerous applications for laud there. — Mr. Fittli said he considered the answer received was an extremely improper answer. No doubt the Minister of Land 3 had great difficulty at present in navigating the stato ship and that might account for his curt rrply. He moved "That in reference to the reply of the Hon. the Minister of Lands, dated November 13, relative to the stoppage of the survey of Te Puke block, the board regrets that the pressure of parliamentary business appoars to have prevented the Hon. the Minis'.erof Lands giving due consideration to its resolution of October last, and respectfully urges its further consideration, inasmuch as great desire exists for portions of the Te Puke block to be bronght int> the market, raoro especially as the Bay of Plenty, in which the Te Pnke block is situated, has been kept baok for many years from the impossibility of obtaining lands. The motion was unauimoußly agreed to.

Mb. Siieeiian's Acccsationsacjain-st Land .Boauds. — lu reference to the statements made by the late Native Minister relative to Laud Boards favouring certain individuals, the board had pissed a resolution emphatically denying the truth of such statements as reported to have been irude by Mr. Sheehan and requesting to be informed of any occasion in which any favouritism ha 1 been Bhown by the Auckland Waste Lands Board. To this the only reply received was a simple acknowledgment of the receipt of the letter. SrEciAL Settlements.—ln reference to the amendments proposed by the board to be inserted in the new Lands Bill, to encourage the emigration of the English farming classes to Now Zealand, a reply was received, enclosing a copy of the Lands Bill as amended ill committee, and pointing out that the special aettlemsnt clauses coutained in it provided for what was required. Te Aroiia : A New Claimant.—The chief surveyor forwarded a report of certain suburban lots, of from 5 to 10 acres each, which had been laid out in forty-two sections, which were now ready, and he recommended that those should bs sold first, without waiting for a larger number.—The Chairman said that while on the subject of Te Aroha, he had to bring under the notice of the board a communication he had received from Mr. E. Hesketh, solicitor, which affected a large and very valuable portion of the To Aroha Block. The letter enclosed a copy of one forwarded by Mr. Hesketh to the Hon. the Native Minister, olaiming, ou behalf of Mr. Thomas Russell, a large block iu Te Aroha, which he claimed in fulfillment of a promise made to him by Mr. James Mackay on behalf of the Government. Ho enclosed Mr. Mackay's letter, in which it was stated that, in consideration of Mr. Russell not opposing the Government in certain laud purchases they were then negotiating ho would receive a Crown grant for the land referred to when the purchase of Te Aroha was completed. Mr. Russell had accordingly withdrawn from the purchases which he had been then negotiating, aud he now claimed the fulfillment of the promise made to him.—The Chairman said no reply had been received from the Native Minister, and he did not know what action the Government would take in tho matter. Of course this stopped the sale of the laud claimed at present. The area claimed was between 7000 and SOOO acres, and was, no doubt, the best laud in the block.—Mr. Touks thought it somewhat singular that this claim should only crop up now. It did not arise when it w;is proposed to sell the Innd to Broomhall. Other members of the board coincided in expressing surprise at the claim now made, after the beard had been at great expense in surveying this land.—lt was agreed that the

| board should not deal with the portion claimed for the present, and should offer the other portion for sale; also to send a copy of the letter to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. The upset price was fixed at £3 per acre for the auburban lots, and £2 per acre for rural lamle. As to the portions proposed to bo sold on deferred payment?, it was agreed not to deal with them until the new Act came into force, as under the present Act thay could not sell aa deferred payments at less than £3 per aero.—A letter was received from Mr. Campbell and others requesting the board to open up ] an d under the deferred payment system, but the chairman pointed out that the decision of the board was an answer to that request-. Wade.—Major Stoney requested to be allowed to erect a landing-store at the Wade wharf. He had applied to the local board for permission, but it had not been granted. It was decided, as the board could uot deal with it, to forward the letter to the local board.

Poke.vo.—This was an application for a metal reserve, which was grauted. There was a second request, that a timber reserve of 500 acres might be made in Mangatawhiri. J This was also complied with. Mo.ngonui.—Mr. Balders, chairman of the Mongonm district boatd, applied for permission for the contractor for the whirf now being erected there to cut the necessary timber oil Crown lands. It was decided to ask for more information as to what quantity would be required. Ho alao requested that the boundaries of the highway district might be altered, so as to include a certain block of land which be referred to. It was agreed to inform the applicant that his letter should have been sent to the Colonial Secretary not to the Waste Lands Board. ANOTHEr. Waikato Bridge.—A memorial was received from residents in Huntly, requesting that a bridge might bo erected across the Waikato there, on the ground that it would open np a large quantity of waste lands. The memorial asked the board to recommend it. After the members had iu some degree recovered their gravity, they agreed to forward the application to the Minister of Public Works.

Crown Grants—Two aoplications for Crown grants, which had not "been sent in at the proper time, were complied with. OroTiKi.—Permission was granted to Mr. McAuley to temporarily occupy two allotments at Opotiki. Olivk Growinc:.—Mr. Bolton wrote intim»ting that he was about to undertake the growth of olives, and applied for a. section for that purpose at Patutahi uuder the Homestead Act, as he found the lands aud climate there very Eiiitable.—lt was agreed to offer the land applied for under the deferred payment system, with adjoining lands. Applications.—A considerable number of applications to have lauds offered for sale in variou part i of the province were received and dealc with.

This concluded the business, aud the meeting rose.