CROWN LANDS BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6212, 14 October 1881, Page 3

CROWN LANDS BOARD.

The regular meeting of the Crown Lands Board was held yesterday at the office, Parliament-street. Present : Mr. D. A. Tole, Chief Commissioner (in the chair), Messrs. J. May and W. P. Moat. Delays is Surveys.—The Chairman said that at the last meeting of the Board a letter had been received from Messrs. Bruce and Gerrard complaining of the delay in the completion of their surveys. This had been referred to the Chief Surveyor to report on. He now reported, stating that he was aware that a large number of surveys were standing over, some for a3 long aa two years, but owiug to the large and scattered district he did not, with the present staff at his disposal, see a chance of working them off.—lt was agreed to send a copy of the report to the Minister of Lands, and request that further provision be made" for the surveys in this provincial district.

Tattraxga Water Supply.—The Undersecretary of Lands referred to the Board an application from G. "V. Stewart, Chairman of the Tauranga County Council, asking that certain lands specified might be temporarily reserved from sale till the Council had an opportunity of selecting what would be most suitable for a water supply. Mr. Stewart forwarded the report of their own engineer on the subject. The inquiry from the Lands Office was whether the lands were available and whether there was any objection to witholding the lands from sale.—Mr. Moat thought they ought to have a report from their own surveyor in Tauranga.—The Chairman said they could communicate with the land officer in Tauranga, but there was no objection to temporarily withholding the lands in question from sale.—This was agreed to.

Reserves. — The Under-Secretary for Lands drew attention to Gazette notifications of reserves made for cemeteries, recreation grounds, and other purposes, made in accordance with the desire of the Board.

Aratapu Village.—The Chief Surveyor reported the completion of the survey of this village, and recommended reserves for Courthouse, and other public purposes.—lt was agreed that the village should be called Aratapu, that the land should be disposed of on the village settlement arrangements at £3 an acre, and that the sale should be held at Aratapu by the Crown lands ranger. Port Waikato. — The Chairman reminded the Board that at last meeting a letter had been received from Mr. Marshall, desiring that the lands at Port Waikato should be sold as rural land, there beinp now no likelihood of a township in that place. This had been referred to the Chief Surveyor who nowreported thatthere was no likelihood of the land ever being required for a towuship.—lt was agreed to ask the Government to sanction the sale of the laud as rural lands.

Prospecting for Galexa. — Thomas Roberts had applied for a license to prospect for galena, in the Waikawau district, and, as the land was within the goldfield, the application had been referred to Air. Warden Kenrick. He now reported that there was no objection, and recommended that the application be granted.—lt was agreed to ask the Governor to accede to the application.

Rangiaohia.—The Chairman of the Eangiaohia Highway Board forwarded amemorial from forty settlers, praying for a right-of-way through a certain Government reserve which was being fenced in, and which would cut off the communication which had hitherto existed.—The Chairman said he could not recommend that the request be complied with. There was no objection to a temporary right-of-way being granted, but the distance to go round the corner of the reserve was very short, and there was a good road.—lt was agreed to grant a temporary right-of-way as recommended by the chairman.

Te Arojia Hot Springs.—Mr. G. S. O'Halloran wrote re the hot springs reserve at Te Aroha. Tlip. npr.lin.-uit was a hotelkeeper at Te Aroha, and stated that lie had placed the plans issued by the Board on view at his hotel. He pointed out that the condition that a first-class hotel must be erected within twelve months was prohibitory, for a hotel was not now required.—The Chairman said he tnought they should offer the lease under the present conditions. Mr. O'Halloran evidently thought that only publicans could compete, but if they got no offer on the 31st instant, under the present conditions, they could then offer it without this restriction.

Transfers. — Elizabeth O'Dowd asked leave to transfer her interest in her deferred payment section at Ormond, to Alfred Austin. She had fenced in and improved the selection.—The District Land Officer recommended the application as a bonafidc one, and stated that Mr. Austin would make a good permanent settler. It appeared the applicant was about to get married.—The application was granted.—There was a similar application from E. Corbett for lea\ - e to assign his interest at Te Puke to Thomas Prout.—Tin's also was recommended and granted.—Neil Nicholson applied to have Colonel Leckie's lot at Te Aroha transferred to him.—-The Board had no objection, provided the back payments v ere made before the necessary advertisements were issued.

Te Pukk.—The Chairman said at the last meeting the Board had granted permission to Mr. Skinner to transfer his interest at Te Puke to Mr. MoCormick, on the ground of the illness of the applicant. A Mr. Leighton now sent in a protest against the proposed transfer; but the Board decided to adhere to adhere to its former decision, Mr. Skinner having complied with all the cenditions up to the time of the transfer.

Wairoa South.—The settlers applied to have a block of land opened at Maungatawhiri under the deferred payment system.— As the land was available, the Board agreed to comply with the request.

Applications for liAxu.—A number of applications to have land offered for sale were received and considered.