WASTE LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 498, 15 June 1861, Page 5

WASTE LAND BOARD.

The first meeting of the new Waste Land Board was held at the Land Office, on Wednesday.: There werCpresent, the Chief Comznissipner, the Provincial Solicitor; the Chief Sturv^dft^andLth^Collector of Customs. The Chief Commissioner read from the Government Gazette of the 7th June, the appointment of the Board. *. -'- "' ''«+■'** XbeAmiriuiteV of« the meeting of the Board, of the Bth tilt, were read and confirmed. Mr. Kenyon appeared on behalf of Mesira. Fiileul, wlio tequettad to have the boundary line between Runs 19 *nd 22, as laid down on the office map, oonfirmed-to a certain extent, &iid r amended «6 as to include a tongue of land in Run 19, which had hitherto formed part of Run 22* *..*,',' Mr. Gillies appeared on behalf of Mr. Atkin-

kinsoti, the holder of Run ' 22. He contended that tnje tine on the map did not correspond jHth the line originally considered as the boundary between the runs; at least, it was doubtful whether that line enclosed a hut of his client's, or left it on Run 19, and he contended that the line should be amended, so as to include the hut, if it were not already on Run 22. A map of a survey of the ground was produced by Mr. Kenyon, showing the boundary of the run. After hearing both Bides, the Chief Surveyor stated the map produced to be defective, and it was resolved — " That the boundary on the office map be adhered to ; and either party might get an authorised surveyor to mark off the boundary on the ground, on which he should be entitled to hold possession, subject to its being proved by another authorised surveyor that the first survey was incorrect. Such survejws to take their instructions from the Survey Office." Mr. Leggatt appeared before the Board to have a decision of his application for land at Moeraki reversed. After hearing Mr. Leggatt it was resolved — "That he be allowed to acquire one quarter-acre section in the Township of Moeraki under the Town Lands Sales' Ordinance, he paying such price for the same as may be determined by the Board ; provided always that he shall have no claim to the land upon which his buildings stand, if it shall prove not to be upon a section of the Township, but upon a street line or other public reserve."

Mr. Cook applied on behalf of, Mr. J.P. Taylor to obtain an extension of time to stock Run No. 371, applied for by Mr. Luxmore. Mr. Cook urged that every effort had been made to stock the run during a three months extension granted to his client, but the state of the Warau River had prevented his crossing the sheep. The Chief Commissioner stated that the Run had been advertised as abandoned in accordance with the resolution of the Board.

The Board enquired the length of time which had occurred since the advertising of the application, and on being informed that it had been held two years, refused to reverse the decision, declaring the Run abandoned. Mr. Kenyon enquired whether the Board would decide at its then sitting questions of pre-emptive right, and was informed that the Board proposed' to consider the question as a whole and make some general rule for its guidance in such cases. An application to allow Mr. Hertslet to acquire an acre of land at Oamaru, at the upset price, and which has been agreed to by the Government, in settlement of Mr. Hertslet' s claims, was granted. The Chief Commissioner read a letter from Mr. Ogg, on behalf of Mr. Thomas Hopwood and others, stating that a Run in the possession of Mr. John M'Lean was not stocked.

Mr. Ogg appeared at the Board and stated that the Run had been occupied by cattle and sheep belonging to a Mr. Jones. Mr. Ogg made his statements on the information of other persons.

It was resolved that there was not sufficient evidence before the Board for it to act in the matter.

Mr. Rees applied for a license for Run No. 346. He had not the evidence of stocking confirmed by the declaration of two stockowners, but he was prepared to make a formal declaration of the fact, and produced the confirmatory evidence of a gentleman who had seen the sheep proceeding to the Run whilst he was travelling in the interior. The Chief Commissioner said he thought the time for stocking the Run had expired, but Mr. Rees stated that he had been allowed 12 months extension by the Board in consideration of his being the first to explore the country. The Board directed the license to be issued; the extent and boundaries to be fixed at a future time.

The Chief Commissioner read" a Memorial from Mr. France, of Oamaru, praying to be allowed to obtain tyro sections in exchange for a road-line through the land held by him there. Mr. Rattray appeared on behalf of Mr. France, and offered to give up the acre which would be taken by the road in exchange for the half-acre or two sections, — which being refused, he stated Mr. France's willingness to buy them at the upset price, which was also refused ; he then offered to pay whatever price the Board mightjfix if he were allowed to occupy them at once. The Board declined to grant the permission. The Board then adjourned.