CROWN LANDS BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8221, 4 April 1890, Page 6

CROWN LANDS BOARD.

Tee regular meeting of the Crown Lands Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. W. P. Moat (who, in the absence of the Chief Commissioner, presided), Pearse, Lake, and Gill. Mill Sttk at Te Papa.—Mr. A. Blnndell applied for a site for a flour-mill on lot 159, Parish of Te Papa, Tauranga. • There was also a report from Mr. Sheath, the district officer of Tatiranga, on the subject. It was agreed that the Board adhere to its previous resolution to offer the sice for sale by auction at the upset price of .£25. Mr. Gills' motion that it be leased to Mr. Blundell for seven years at the annual rental of £1, was lost. Taupiri Reserve Coal Company.— secretary of the Taupiri Coal Company wrote asking the Board to reconsider its decision regarding the charge of 5d per ton royalty for coal mined from under Lake Kimiha, and asking that some of the directors might bo allowed to attend, to explain matters. Messrs. I). B. Cruickshank, J as. Russell, and F. Claude attended as a deputation. Mr. Claude said that since they made the previous application to the Board_ they nad visited the mine, and also received a report from the mine manager, and they found that evon at fid royalty they could not make it pay. They were, he reminded the Board, paying a heavy rent to the University Council, and owing to the place being surrounded by water, they would nave to ventilate this portion from the other mine. lie read an extract from the mine manager's report, who stated that a considerable portion of the coal would have to be left on the roof. " Mr. Oiaude further added that their mine manager had a large amount of experience in the West Coast mines, and he knew of no mine saddled with such a rent as they were paying. They only paid a royalty of 6d per toil. He reminded the Board that this company had never paid a dividend, and they only worked to pay rent and wages, and provide traffic for the railway. Mr. CruicKshank pointed out that the competition in the coal trade was greater than ever. They anticipated that they would step into the shoes of the old Taupiri Company, and it was also supposed that the Kamo mine would be closed, but both those now were in full operation. They were willing to submit their books for inspection to show their position. Mr. Claude quoted from the Mining Inspector's report, in which he stated that fully four feet of solid coal on the roof would have to be left to prevent the water coming through, and the scam would have to be worked under the strictest supervision. The Chairman said the Board could not deal with the application that day. and if anything further occurred before the next meeting they could reduce it to writing and forward it to the Board. After the deputation retired, it was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Lake, " That the Mining Department be requested to furnish the Board with a report as to the value and mode of working the coal under Lake Kimiha, and more especially as to the question of the possibility of adjacent colliery seams being flooded by any accident in such working, and consequent claim for compensation against the (Government." Transfer. — Turnwald applied for leave to transfer his deferred-payment section, 83. Ahuroa, to W. W. To! ho if. The sanction of the Board was granted. Te Aroiia.— Mr. Hill reported on J. R. Neils' perpetual lease of 29 acres at Te Aroha. The area grass sown was '20 acres. The land was wet and swampy in winter. The selector, who was a railway labourer, resided at Waitoa, not on his selection, which he took up five years ago. It was agreed to call oil Mr. Neils for an explanation as to why ho had not resided on the land. Leave of Absence.—J. J. Large applied for 12 months' leave of absence from his selection, Lot 4, Kerinedac (a small grazing run on Sundav Island). It was agreed to reply that the Board had no power to grant the request. School Site.— Board of Education applied for lot 281, parish of Kirikiriroa, for a school site; also fcr section 18, Block 11, Waihi, as an endowment. Both applications were granted. Crown Grant.— Mara applied for a Crown grant for the western portion of section 04, parish of Mangatete. his was a late application by a pensioner of the 05th regiment, who had selected his land, but neglected to apply for his Crown grant. It was agreed to authorise the issue of the Crown grant. Edmund Bell applied for a Crown grant fur the north-western portion of lot 83, Waipareira. This was an application similar to the last one, but a certificate was necessary to show that the applicant did not leave the colony before July, ISO 7, and it was referred back, in order that the certilicate might lie procured. Mil,i. Site at Matata.—Mr. W. Kelly applied for a reduction of the price of the mill site at Matata, in his occupation. The water supply was not sufficient, and the land itself was not worth more than f>s an acre. It was agreed to refer Mr. Kelly's letter to Mr. J Saber, to repot as to the quantity of water and the fall available. Kauri Timber. —L. Mcßae applied for leave to remove dead kauri from his homestead at Mareretu. A report was received from the ranger as to the improvements made by the applicant. They were not satisfactory, and it was agreed that the Board could not grant his application, he not having fulfilled the conditions, and that he be required to do so forthwith or his selection would la' forfeited. Homestead Land.—C. Peterson applied for (SO acres homestead land at Kaiaka. The application was deferred for further information. Raglan.— Mr. T. Seccombe, writing from Raglan, asked as to what course should be pursued in order to ensure the third of the rentals from perpetual leases, should be expended in the district from which it was derived. it appeared that the land affected was the Thermal Springs, which had Ijoen leased to Mr. S. Wilson, and it was agreed to apply to the department at Wellington for a copy of the lease, and that in the meantime the application lie allowed to stand over. Tauranga Lands.-—Mr. (Jill moved that a schedule of all lands within the Tauranga and Whakatane Counties surveyed, but not open for settlement, be furnished to the next meeting of the Board. The motion was agreed to. Manconui.—K. .7. Subrit/.ky applied to lease 20 acres of land at Mangonui tor a fishing station. The Board agreed to authorise the survey of the land. MAKivru.--C. K. Hughes applied to lease section adjoining the Police Reserve at Maketu. It was agreed to lease; it from year to year on occupation license. There were three sections, and it was agreed to offer them at an upset rental of £1 a year each. Ferry Reserve at Tauranga.—' Land Officer at Tauranga reported on the Ferry Reserve, lot 21), parish of Waiotahi, that it might be leased. It was agreed that the Board decline to deal with the land at present. Unsurveyed Land.—lt was resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, that the Government be recommended to throw open as unsurveyed land, an area of 11,000 acres in the parish of Whangape. Applications for Land. — The following applications for land were received :—Thos. Clowes, for southern portion of lot 79, Te Rapa parish; T. S. C. Mcllroy, 200 acres between lot 85 and the Maori Reserve, parish of Koheroe; I'. Shaimhan, section 90, parish of Makarau ; C. P. Winklemann, land at Pakanae, Hokianga, adjoining sections (> and 7; J. Poland, four sections in town of Tualcau ; C. 11. McCracken, northern portion of lot 73, parish of Karioi; A. Schedenv, southern portions of lot 145, 14a, and 12 a. Lower Mahtirangi district; Lieut.Colonel S. Stevens, area south of section 9, Block IV., Whangaroa; C. Bell, section No. 312, parish of Whangamarino ; W. Garrett, occupation license for section 7, Block 11., Waihi; S. Cochrane and Son, part of lot 54, parish of Tokatoka; J. Trothowen, lot 41, parish of Ivourawhero. Surrender of Lease.—Charles Bradley wrote surrendering his lease of lot 88, parish of Tatarariki. The surrender was accepted. Cutting Firewood. —W. Thorley applied for leave to cut firewood from land leased by him at Wanganui Island. The application was refused, on the grounds that there was no power to grant it. Small Grazing Run. —Thomas McDonald applied for land at Maketu on the small grazing run system. It consisted of 5000 acres of Crown land south of the Maungarangi reserve, and Mr. Baber reported that it was only suitable for a run, being too broken for settlement. The consideration was deferred. Tatarariki. —An application to have 2000 acres authorised to be put up for sale at Tatarariki was considered, audit was agreed to withdraw the lot from sale. The area was about 2000 acres.