WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4027, 14 January 1875, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

'The regular 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 Butterworth, Bastings, Clark, Strode, and nlteid. ' :■■■•-' APPLICATION FOR RECTIFICATION' OK ERROR IK LEASE. Mr B. C. Haggifct, for Messrs M'Laren, Greig, and Co., apt lied to have an error in their pastoral lease of -run 221 amended. - The matter was referred to the Chief Commissioner *.lor rectification. THE HAWKSBURY LAGOON. The Board re-heard the case of Mr Donald Malloch -on behalf of the Committee of East Hawksbury, requesting the Board to limit the area under license ap-,-plied for by the Corporation of West Hawksbury, and jrecommeuding that it should extend from the road ".line made across the lagoon to the mouth. Mr J. S. 'Webb represented the Corporation of West Hawksbury. The Corporation of West Hawksbury, it ap■peared, wanted to have control of the lagoon that they .might dam the water to such a height as would cover -certain mud banks that, if exposed, would be dangei--ous to the health of their neighbourhood, while the Progress Committee of East Hr.wksbury objected to land in their district being covered with water, and to ■other land being rendered liable to flood. Finally, a decision on the matter was deferred, pending levels -being taken. APPLICATION FOR PRE-EMPTIVE. Warden Simpson reported on the application by Mr -Andrew C. Thomson for a pre-emptive right of 100 -acres on run 337. He had not visited the place, but irom all enquiries made, found that the ground was not auriferous. The application was approved of, subject to the Survvoyor's plans and reports. APPLICATION FOR REFUND. Mr Peter Leitch requested a refund on sections purchased by him at Hull, the auctioneer having offered •the land at £5, instead of £3 for each section. It was Tesolved to recommend the Government to refund £2 ;per section to the applicant. POSTPONED. The application of Johanna Lewis by her solicitor, Mr Frederick Chapman, that the lease oi sections IS, block IV., and 24, block IV., Tuapeka East, should be •cancelled, ana that the value of the improvements effected on the land be paid to her, was postponed at the request of Mr Chapman. JTOKOMAI. —APPLICATION TO OPEN A DEFERRED PAYMENTS BLOCK. A memorial was brought up from settlers, requesting that a block of land should be thrown open for sale under the deferred payments system on run 214, Nokomai, occupied by Mr J. Rodger,. The application was referred to the Government. •CHATTO CREKK. —APPLICATION TO CONSTRUCT A WATER RACE. Messrs Chappie and North applied for a license to construct a water race for irrigation and domesticpurk poses commencing at Chatto Creek and terminating I at section 33, block 1., Tiger Hill. J Kesolved—That an actual survey be submitted before consideration be given to the application.

AUIUCI/LTUKAL LEASKS FOR PRE-EMPTIVE IUUUTS Were made as follow :— Thomas C. Low, on run 326, Waikaia, C4O acres. » David M'Kellar, on run 194. Waikaia, 640 acres. Alex. Grant, on run 327, Waikaia, 640 acres. The applications were agreed to, subject to survey and m accordance with regulations as to frontage. One pre-emptive right of 040 acres could only be allowed for each run. PROTECTION TO PROSPECT. Mr Robert Short asked for protection to prospect for slate on runs 12a, 12ii, 217 a, 217h, North-eastern' district, Otepopo. Protection for nix months was granted. APPLICATIONS TO PURCHASE. Mr Daniel Stevenson appeared to purchase section lock VII, Waitahuna Kast, 40 acres: aud Mr Wilnam Smith, section 27, block 11., Tuapeka West, 4S acres. The applications were referred to the Government. DEFKRRED PAYMENTS LEASES. The matter came up of the fixing of dates at which exchanged agricultural for deferred payments leases, and deferred payments licenses, were to commence. It was resolved that the Ist January and Ist July be fixed as the dates of commencement of leases and licenses, the rent dvie for any broken period before the commencement of the first regular half-year, to be charged with the rents of the first half-year. OAMARU DISTRICT.—APPLICATION FOR SECTIONS. The postponed application by Mr M. W. Hawkins, on behalf of Mr Hood, to purcha c or lease sections 1 2, 3, and 4, block LV., Oamaru district, was adjourned to a luture meeting. THE WAIKOIKOI lIUXDRED. The Chief Commissioner wished to explain that it was not at his instance that the special meeting of the Board was called to consider Mr Logan's application.' He had obiected to the special meeting being called, and told Mr Connell that he would have to obtain the Provincial Secretary's sanction : and then, after leaving his office, he found, on his return, a letter stating that Mr Reid had consented to the meetin"being called. Mr Reid mentioned that Mr Connell had come to him, and had asked him if he had any objection to a meeting being called. He asked Mr Connell for what purpose he wanted the meeting, and Mr Connell answered to consider the case of the Waikoikoi Hundred. He (Mr Reid) replied that the land was not open lor applic ition. Mr Couneli again asked him if lchad any objection to the meeting; and .'.c (Mr Reid) said, "Of course, it the Chief Commissioner wishes to hold a special meeting, I have no control over him." If the Chief Commissioner had wished to consult him (Mr Reid), he should have approached him by communicating with him directly, or through an officer of the department, and not through an The Chief Commissioner said that he did not wish to approach Mr Re d—that Mr Connell acted in the matter on his own responsibility. Mr Strode made the remark tint the matter was one of no importance—that it was very slight. "Mr Reid said that if ho had attempted to stop the meeting being held, or had not consented to the meeting being called, the next thing that would be said was that he was interfering with the Waste Lauds Department. He knew his business better than thit, lit hoped. » The matter then dropped. Mr Reid moved that the minute No. 2 of the meeting of the 30th December, 1574, be read over, that it might be compared with the same minute as extended. He moved that the minute in the minute-book be rectified so os to conform exactly to the rough minute of the same date and number. The part referred to in minute No. 2 of 30th December, in the rough minute book, was as follows:—" Land to be soM on 7th January, 1575. Upset price, 40s. T,> be sold uuler power given m clause S5, W. L. Act, 1572 ; being land of special value from improvements and compensation having been paid to runholder." In the minute book it was—" It was resolved that the land should be sold on the 7th of January, 1875, as of special value, in terms of clause S5 of the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1572, valuation lor improvements and compensation havin" been paid to the runholder." It was resolved that an exact copy of the rough minute should be entered on the margin of the minute-book. Mr Hkid moved that the unsold lands in Waikoikoi Hundred, being lands of special value, be again advertised for sale by auction, in terms of the Ssth section of the Waste Lands Act, 1572 ; sale to be held at Lawrence on Tuesday, 23rd February, 1575; upset price, as before, £2 per acre. Agreed to.