WASTE LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 904, 27 March 1869, Page 9

WASTE LAND BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board took place on Wednesday. The members present were the Chief Commissioner, the Secretary for Lands and Works, and Mr John Hughes, M.P.C. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed, after which an application from James Henderson, gardener, Hawksbury, to be allowed to purchase a portion of the Bush Reserve, No. 60, block 5, was read and considered. The applicant was owner of section 52, adjoining the ground applied for, and in consequence of a difficulty in finding the boundaries of his section he had inadvertently erected his dwelling-house upon that portion of the reserve he sought to purchase. The Secretary for Lands and Works suggested that the applicant should be instructed, to get a survey of the land prepared at his own expense by a duly authorised surveyor ; and if the applicant's statement turned out to be correct the land should be put up to public auction. That he apprehended would be the best means for drawing out any objections to the 3ale asked for.

Mr Hughes thought it would scarcely be fair to have the land surveyed at the applicant's expense and afterwards put up to auction.

Mr Burns was of opinion that that objection was met in the fact that whoever became the purchaser of the land, would have ultimately to pay the expense of the survey. The Chief Commissioner concurred in the view expressed by Mr Burns, and the matter was disposed of as suggested above.

Mr F. Fulton made application for the sale of section US, block o, Papakaio district, stated by the applicant to be a useless reserve.

After plans of the ground had been examined, the Chief Commissioner said that he could give no explanation of the reason for the ground having been made into a reserve, unless it was a piece of lock, in which case it became valuable for road-making purposes. It was ultimately agreed that the application should be referred to the Government and the Road Board, and kt the case of no objection beiug made, it should be out up to auction at the upset price of L 2 per acre. The application of Mr A. Buchanan for (.0 acres of ground, part of Run 248, was remitted for the report of the Government Surveyor at Hamilton.

Messta Gillies and Street applied for a lease of lignite beds situated within the municipal district of Cromwell. On the suggestion of Mr Hughes, it was agreed to remit the application to the Municipal Council of Cromwell. Messrs Connell and Moodie applied, on behalf of Messrs Clark and Holt, for a lease of pastoral country in the Te Anau District. The application was ordered to be passed by the Commissioner through the usual routine.

A similar application was also made by Messrs Connell and Moodie, on behalf of Mr A. M, Clark, for the lease of pastoral land situated in the district of Waiau. For a portion of these lands application had been already authorised, and it was arranged that the remainder should be subject to a new application when made. Messrs Connell and Moodie also brought under the notice of the Board Messrs Low and M'Gregor's application for Run No. 416, and it was ordered to be passed through the usual routine. A resolution was also agreed to by the

Board, authorising the Chief Commissioner to check any rudeness or disrespect on the part of persons transacting business with the Board. This having concluded the business, the meeting adjourned.