TIMBER RIGHTS

New Zealand Mail, 21 February 1901, Page 19

TIMBER RIGHTS

INVERCARGILL, February 15. The Land Board heard a case yesterday wherein it called on a settler named Smith to show that certain fencing stakes, seized by the ranger as being cut on Crown land without a license, were his property. Smith and two men declared on oath that the stakes were cut on Smith’s own land adjoining the Government reserve. The Ranger based his contention on his belief that no logs had been recently drawn over Smith’s own tracks, while logging signs were recent in the Government bush. Stress was laid on the fact that Smith did not offer to show where he had cut the trees. His reply was that he had not been asked or he would have done so. He complained that the Ranger, Campbell, had said the only place where he could keep him honest was in gaol. Smith’s counsel said it was absurd that the Board should be prosecutor, judge and jury, and hinted at future proceedings. The .course the Board should have taken was to prosecute Smith for theft in the Court of the colony.

The Board went into committee, andi has now decided that Smith had not established to its satisfaction his claim to the timber seized. Presumably this places Smith in the position of having to enforce his right to it in a Court or law.