WASTE LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 919, 10 July 1869, Page 6

WASTE LAND BOARD.

Tho usual weekly mooting of tho Wasto Land Board took placo on tho 30th ult., at noon The Chief Commissioner occupied the chair, and there wero also present Mossrs lteid and Hughes. The mmutes of last mooting woro road and approved. Tho Roy. Mr Grajhirr applied on bohalf of Mr Dosont, for soctionn 2 ami 3, block XVII, in tho town of Palmorston, for a sito for a church. Tho Chairman said that ho did not aeo any objection, as tho land waa not on a main road. , Mr lluohkh asked whothor tho Church had alroady oxcrcisod iU right of aolccThe Uov. Mr Giuno unsaid that ho did not think it had. Tho "Board approved of tho application if theOhnroh liad not alroady oTcrcisod its right. The town aero to bo granted at upaot prico. Tho Roy. Mr Granokh also naked for a ton-aero aoction on behalf of tho samo gentleman, for a paraonagc. Koiorrea to th« Government Tho R«v M* Nwtsoir applied for a 10 *<tr« Motion, lor » glob* for &• Preiby-

terian Church in the township of Palmer■ton., ■ Referred to the Government to see if it would survey it off in 10 acre sections. Mr Gillies, of Gillies and Street, applied on the part of Messrs Coyle and Johnston, to have applications 232 D and 247 JD refused, and the Board to recommend the Government, to return the deposit money, in consequence of its being more than a year since said applications were made, and since the Government undertook to survey the land, and it has not yet been surveyed, nor is there any prospect of its being surveyed soon. Mr Gillies pointed out that application had been made more than a year ago, and that the Government had promised to survey the land. No survey had however as yet been made, and the applicants had in consequence suffered great loss. It appeared by the 37th clause of the Waste Lands Act, that the intention of the Government was that surveys of land for purchase should be made within six months. They had paid the deposit, and were ready to pay the balance. The application was made on the 16th April, 1868. By the 48th clause of the Act, it appeared the intention of the Government to limit the time for survey. Persons ordered to survey the land applied for themselves, had to do it within four months. He thought, under the circumstances, they ought not to be held to their bargain, as it was now fourteen months since the application was made. The applicants were quite willing to go on with it if it were surveyed at once, but that did not appear likely to be done. They did not want the deposit money returned, as there was another piece of land in the same block, which they would take, if allowed, instead of the original piece. Mr Reid asked whether the applicants would have surveyed the land themselves. Mr Gillies said they would have done so at the time of the application, but he did not think they would do bo now. The Government had elected to survey it themselves. The Chairman said that the reason of the land not having been surveyed was that just about the time referred to, the surveyors who were in the neighbourhood then, had been suddenly withdrawn. Mr Hughes pointed out that he did not see how the deposit could be returned as it was in the hands of the General Government.

Mr Gillies said that they did not ask that. It might be allowed to go towards the purchase- money of another section. The application, Nos. 232 D and 247 D, were refused as requested, and the Government was recommended to return the deposit-money. Mr Gilliks applied, on the part of Mr Harrington, for lease of section 28, irregular block, West Taieri, for a sawmill. The Chairman thought that the application ought not to be granted without first being advertised. Considering that the land applied for had bean a bush reserve for twenty years, there might be many valid objections. Mr Reid pointed out, that had some of the settlers in the neighbourhood been aware that there was any chance of its being leased, they might have applied for it. It would be manifestly unfair to them for the Government to sell them land, with the understanding that there was a certain quantity of bush reserve in the neighbourhood, and then immediately step in and lease it. The application was refused. Mr Fullarton replied on the part of Hugh Begg for the purchase of sections I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1G, 17, 18, 19, and 20 block 11, township of Outram, It was decided to put up tho whole township to auction, at tho Survey Office, Dunodin, on Tuesday, tho 3rd August. . . ' . Honry Beer's application for bush license Mid protection for tramway near Bob's Covo, Lako Wakatip, waa roforred to the Warden. % Julius Wonkhoim's application under clause 51 of tho Goldfields Act, to purchaso section 24, block X., Queonstown, waa roforred to the Warden. Thos. M'Alorran's application to purchaso Bcction 3, block 11., of tho township of Clyde. A letter was road from Warden Pyko, recommending that the applicant should ho allowed to purchaso, an ho had built a good substantial houno on tho .land. Referred to tho Secretary of Land and Works, por Clause 51, Goldnolds Act. With regard to Mr Duncan's motion at to tho legality of business transacted by only two morabors of tho Board, when thrco had boon present, and ono had loft, io that no quorum was proaont, tho fob lowing question and roply from tho Provincial Solicitor was read :— Question. — " Admitting that the 2m>rum of throo members of tho Waato ,nnds Board had mot, and that one of thoao loft tho Board room, would tho transactions of tho remaining two roombors bo legalised by the aftor consent of tho abaont member T Opimon.—" Tho 11th Motion of h«

Otago Waste Lands Act,. 1866, requires that all meetings, of {the Board shall be attended by at leaßt three, commissioners. am of opinion that unless three commissioners are present,' there is no meeting, and thatihe business transacted by two commissioners in the,afrseuce of a third would not be legally-transacted in accordance with the requirements of the Act ; and that the subsequent assent of a third commissioner to the decision arrived at by them would not avail to render the proceedings at such informal meeting valid.— B. 0. Haggitt, Provincial Solicitor, June 22nd, 1869." John Curries application, to purchase section 48, Maungatua township, under the 27th clause of the Act, was granted— the applicant to advertise for objections, per clause 27, Waste Lands Act. C. G-. Moore's application, to be allowed to prospect for coal on sections 66 and 66, block, 111, Papakaio district, for 3 months. Application granted, the usual application to be made before a lease, if required, be granted on the usual terms, and to the usual extent. Memorial requiring sale of block 111, Waipori, to be stopped, until re-survey be made. It was decided that the Bale should be confined to block I, sections 13 to 15, and 18 to 28. Blocks II and 111 to be withdrawn.

R. F. Badger for James Stuart, applied for Ferry site at Bannockburn, crossing of the Kawarau. Referred to the Government. • With regard to the sale of the Clutha Island, and Mr Smith's application for same, The Chairman said that it would be necessary to have the island surveyed befor it could be sold. Mr Rkid said that it was a great pity the Board could not see its way to grant the application at once, as Mr Smith wanted to plant it, and the season for planting woiild soon be over. If it were sold by auotion it ought at all events to be sold under a condition that the purchaser should plant it. The sale to be allowed, half a chain, round the island being reserved, and the part applied for to be cut off by a line produced from Mr Smith's fence.

Plan of new survey of block IX, Waitahuna East, was passed. Land to be open for application in the usual way. The meeting then adjourned.