WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3254, 11 July 1872, Page 2

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held yesterday. There were present, the Chief Commissioner (Mr J. T. Thomson), in the chair, and Messrs Reid and Hughes.

Mr Alexander Oallender applied to have the whole or part of the bush reserve, section 25, block VIII., Dunedin and East Taieri, put up for sale. It was resolved that the land be sold as being of special value, having been so long withheld from sale as a bush reserve, and at the upset price of 21s per acre. Mr J. C. Brown objected to the sale of section 69a, block XIV., Glenkenich, in one lot. It appeared that if the section were sold in one lot' the purchaser would have the entire command, of the land behind. It was resolved that the section be sub-divided ; that that part, of abont fifteen acres, on which, the house stood be put up in one lot, and the other piece, of about eight acres, be sold separately. The sale of the section, which waa to have taken place on Friday, tho 12th inst, was ordered to be countermanded, and the land to be re-advertised for sale as subdivided.

Mr G. F. Ileid, for Mr J. C. Paterson, applied for a saw-mill license for the area recently held by Messrs Boult, M'Kay, and Co., on Lake Wakatip. It was mentioned that though Messrs Boult, M'Kay, and Co. had erected a saw-mill on the land they had not taken out a license for the current year, and that whoever got the sawmill license virtually got the plant, which was now for sale, on his own terms. It was resolved that the, area should be advertised for a month as being open to be licensed. Mr G. F. Reid, on asking if the application he now made would then receive priority, was told that all the applications would be considered together, and was advised to put in a new application.

Mr G. F. Reid, for Messrs Brown and Turner, applied for a reduction of the fee for the license granted to occupy section 42, block V., Shotover, from £5 to £2 10* per annum. The members expressed themselves as being- averse to making a reduction, as it would be gerous precedent, that would bring in any number of similar applications ; but on it appearing tltat although the Board had agreed to grant a license, Messrs Brown and Turner had not taken it up, considering tho rent too high, tho Board resolved to reduce ike amount to £2 10s per annum. An application had been lodged by Mr Alves, contractor, instructed by Mr Jenour, to apply for a coal lease m favour of Mr Robert E. Dagg, Mr Thomas Primate, and Mr Joseph,Bennet, of five acres adjoining Richard's Point, 1 on the north side of the Kawarau River. No one appearing- in support of the application, it was not entertained.

Applications to purchase hinds as under, held by the applicants severally under agricultural leases, were sanctioned : —Mr Walter Miller, section 1, block LV., Tokomairiro district; Mr Samuel Currie, section 12, block V,,, Waitahuna East; Mr W. H. Miller, sedtons 14 and 16, block IV., Table-Hill: Mr I). Corsan, section 20, block VI., and 78 and 79, block JI., Table Hill; Messrs Sutherland and Poison, sections 14 and 18, block V., Waitahuna East.

The District Land Officer, Invcrcargill, requested to be informed whether the dojwfsit paid by Messrs John and Patrick Burke, on applications for sections 32 and 33, block VII,, Waikaka, might be returned. The applicants, it appeared, said that in making thoir application they mistook the creek in pointing out on the map the piece of land they wanted, ami it was found after survey of the niece that the land they intended to apply for was situate on nm 131, ami, being in a rnn, could not be sold. A refund of the deposit was agreed tx>.

Mr T.O. Hill wrote, stating that the occupiers of a run in Canterbury had encroached on lvis rtin 421), in Ofcago, and requested advice as to the course he should pursue in ejecting them. This \ being ;t question of determining the boundaries of the Provinces by a mirvoy it was referred to the Government, as it was thought, the runholder co'»ld hardly bo called upon io make tlm survey. A memorandum from -Me Philip P. Boult, withdrawing- his 'application for section 6, Upper Wakatip, and on run 419, was received. The plan nf subdivision of section 10, block VIII., Dunedin and East. Taicri, for consideration in connection w th the application of Mr .John M'Coll to purchase 15 acres thereof, was noted. The price of coal from the pit on the coal lease of Mr G. A. Smith, Teviot district, wns fixed at 20s per Urn at the pit's mouth, maximum price. It was stated that thin wns the maximum limit allowed to the lessees of the other coal pit in the district.

Mr H. W. Smythies, for Messrs Bengo and Robertson, wrote as foliowb :—"Sf cinq in the Otago Daily Tunes of the 27th ult. a report of a resolution (apparently passed by tho Waste Lands Hoard) anent the coal lease granted to Mr Wrightuon at the Kawarau Gorge, and my client, Mr Bcnge, fearing that other portions may havo seen it also, and may try to deprive him of the property he has paid for, and having just instructed me to apply de now for a lease of the same ground, to be granted to him and Mr,J. Robertson, I hereby make application, on their behalf for the coal pit site originally agreed to be leased to Messrs Wrightaoti and M'Geo. Benge and Robertson having formally pegged out thegrouud again, I presume that as the ground has already been surveyed by Mr Arthur, there will not ho any occasion for another survey. Possibly it may be thotight premature to make this application before I have received an answer to my first letter in tho matter, but I did not deem it advisable to give other parties an opportunity of being beforehand with my clients." It wns resolved to inform Mr Smytliies that, as soon os the present occupants were ejected, the land would be advertised as being open for application.

The Cromwell Town Council, reporting on the application of Mr .John Scott to purchase section 40, block 1., Cromwell, advised that it bo put up for fialo by auction, ft w»8 resolved that (he section be sold by auction at tho usual sales.

Mr Andrew Thompson applied for 25 acres of land at Ha» knbury Bush, and adjoining to that held by Messrs Crocome and Sisemore. The application was approved of, and it was resolved that the district Hiirveyor be instructed to Burvey the land.

Mr Robert Fraser, on lielialf of the miners at Blacks, applied tliat " your honourable Board would be pleased to proceed with the immediate sale of the land surveyed on the north side of the river Manuherikia for a township for Blacks, and named the township of Manuherikia, and which was approved of by your honourable Board iui room of J'e survey made by Mr Arthur, so that allotments may be purchased, and permanent improvements made ; aluo tliat you would be pleased to cancel the former survey made by Mr Arthur, and wliich was withdrawn from eale, as tsuch survey withholds from occupation by the miners of the place about 20 acres of auriferous land. Two different parties are working within the limita of the survey with a result of from one to two ounces to the load. The ground hod-been: withdrawn from the Goldfields at the time of the sm-vcy, and lias not been returned within the same, so that miners cannot receive the benefit of occupying it under mining right unless the survey i» cancelled." It was resolved that the sections of the now township whould bo offered at the next sale. No decision was given on the other matter. Mr John JReid applied to purchase section 13, block V., Otakia district. The application was referred to the ranger, for hia report thereon. Messrs Con noil and Moodie, for Mr John Shaw, submitted plans by the district surveyor of islands in the Clutha river. The plans were approved of, subject to survey check, the land to be sold by auction as land of special value, hay- j ing been so long withheld from sale, and afc the upset price of 21s per acre ; coat of survey to be added to the upset price, and to be paid to applicant in the event of another person being the jiurcltasor. Messrs Connell and Moodie, for Mr David M'Kellar, applied to have sections 1, 2, and 3, block X.y Waihola, put up for sale at 10a per acre, applicant to survey road, and cost of survey to be added to the upset price. The application was sanctioned. -•■■.- ;

Messrs Connell and Moodie submitted plans of sub-division of block X-, Waipori, and XV., Maungatua. It was resolved that sections 3, 8, and 10 be set aside as bush reserves, and the plans were approvf d, subject to survey cheek. Mr W. S. Douglas applied, on behalf of Mr John Willeta, for the lease of 20 acres of land adjoining secti.m 170, block VIII., Awamoko, for coal mining purposes. The application was declined. The Hon. Robert Campbell appeared, and handed in the following letter:—

High street, Dunedin, 10th July, 1872. The Chief Commissioner of the Otago Waste Lands Board—

Sir —I hereby agree to the suspension of 10,000 acres on my runs, Nor.. 17 and 28, and opening the same for sale, under, sections 83 and 123 of the Otago Waste Lands Act, 18CC.—-.1 *m, &c., ItoKKRT Campbell.

The letter was received, and it was agreed tt open the land. for application ; ; the Chief Commissioner not voting. Plans, as- follows, of unsurveyed land were submitted for approval, and ap-: proved, and applications to have the respective applicants declared the purchasers were approved:—G. andtW* Playfair, section 14, block 111., Wyndham; A. Noble, section 35, block 1,, Wyndd»m; E. Smoothey, section 19, block VL j i Wyndham; J. Brand, section 20, block I VL, Wyndbim.