CROWN LANDS BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5996, 4 February 1881, Page 3

CROWN LANDS BOARD.

Tire regular fortnightly meeting of the Crown Lauds Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present : Messrs. D. A. 'Pole, Chief Commissioner (in the chair), J. C. Firth, and J. May. The minutes of last meeting were read, and confirmed.

Te Puke Bkidge.—ln reply to a letter of the Board an intimation was read that the Taurauga County Council would undertake the erection of this bridge. Waikato Laxds.—Mr. Firth said thatsome time ago the Board took action with regard to certain lands in Lower Waikato. There was a quantity of laud about Taupiri the Board wanted to get rid of, and he asked the Chairman what steps had been taken to open it.—The Chairman said the Board had taken action long ago, and the lands were offered, but on account of the insufficiency of the means of access no one took them up, but now he had reason to believe the works were going on.—Mr. Firth said that, looking at the excellent prospects of the country, and the increased price of wool, they, might reasonably expect an increased demand for land.' The lands in this district were available, and if the roads were pushed on the lands would be occupied, aud it would be a great benefit to the district. —The Chairman said he would ask the Chief Surveyor to furnish a report for next meeting. —Mr. May drew attention to the same state of affairs in Tuakau, and it was agreed to ask the Chief Surveyor to report on this district also.

Roads to Deferred-payment Blocks.— The Chairman read a letter requesting payment of sums voted for roads through deferred-payment .lands. He also read a list of roads and of Road Boards affected, and the amounts payable to each. The total was £10S 10s. One of the communications was from the Ormond Board, showing the proposed improvements, valued at £44 19s Sd. The grant was sanctioned. In regard to an application from Pukekohe, for £14 15s Bd, as a plan had not been sent in, it was agreed to forward a plan from the office, and the request was postponed. Wairoa.—The Wairoa County Council asked for an alteration of a road. —The Chairman said he had consulted the Chief Surveyor, who considered the alteration very necessary. According to the plan, the deviation asked for appeared very desirable, and it was agreed to carry it out. The Lincolnshire Farmers. —The Chairman laid before the Board copies of correspondence between Grant and Foster, the Lincolnshire farmers, and the Government in respect to the Te Aroha block. The letter from Grant and Foster objected to the clauserespecting gold and royal minerals, insisted on the whole of the native reserve bein„' included in their purchase, and claimed that "certain drainage was to be done by the Government. The letter was addressed to thePremier, referred' from him to the Minister of Lands, and from the latter to the Hon. t-Mr. Whitaker by whom it was transmits d o the Board. Messrs. Grant and Foster accepted the price, 34s an acre, agreed to by their agent, Captain Steele, although it was 4s above their limit. There was also a letter from Captain Steele, stating the conditions he was prepared to accept on behalf of his principals, and make final.—The Chairman said the first objection was as to price. That was fixed by the valuer, and was not a question for the Board. Then as regards the native reserve, it was not tmderstood it would be included, but the larger portion of it had already been granted: The question of drainage had never been mentioned. — Mr. Firth said this question had never been . hinted to the Board. He would be willing to assent that Grant and Foster be allowed to purchase the remainder of the Manuwaru roserve, and would move to that effect.—The Chairman suggested that they should deal with Captain Steele's conditions. —It was agreed en Mr. Firth's motion that the reservation regarding royal metals should be withdrawn, and that the " remainder of the native reserve included in the block be sold to Messrs. Grant and Foster in the same manner as the other. —Mr. May said he could not agree to this.. He would agree to the former condition, and vote against the motion.—The moiion was carried.—ln regard to the drainage, Mr. May said so far as he knew the Board was under no obligation, and the other members agreed with him—Mr. Percy Smith, Chief Surveyor and the valuer of the block, having been requested to attend explained that he was not aware what had been said to Messrs. Grant and Foster by Mr. Cozens, the District Surveyor, but he had no power to pledge the Government. He might have pointed out what was contemplated. The valuation of 34s an acre was made exclusive of drainage. Had that been included, ior it formed no part of the original agreement, the valuation would have been much higher. Mr. Firth said he believed the general sense of the public would support the Board in makin« a concession rather than see the arrangement break down, although it was no part of the Original agreement.—Mr. May moved, "That the Board was not aware of any obligation to make roads; bridges, or drains, and do not make any recommendation to the Government."—The Chairman agreed with this view of tiifc matter, and Mr. Firth withdrew- his motion, although lie thought it a mistake that it was not carried into effect.— Mi: May's motion was then agreed to. . W\iroa. —A request from the Wairoa County Council for a grant of a section through which to divert a road was referred to the Government as the Board had no power to give away land. ' ■ . Opotiki.— A request from the Chairman oi the Opotiki County Council made an application re a road throu -j. h a swamp to enable settlers to <ret to their farms.-Jt was referred to the Minister of -Lands.—A number of applications to have land offered for sale were considered, and other routine business was transacted, after which the meeting terminated.