TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1161, 28 February 1874, Page 13

TAPANUI.

Messrs A. Allan and A. Mason, of the Tapanui Progress Committee, waited upon His Honour the Superintendent on Wednesday, as a deputation, to lay before him several matters in connection with the district. Mr Bradshaw, M.H.K., introduced the deputation.

SALE OF LAND.

The first matter brought under the notice of the Superintendent was the proposal to sell blocks VI. and VII , Tapanui, comprisin about 4000 acres.

Mr Bradshaw said that the object of the deputation was to get His Honour, if possible, to use his influence to stop the sale of this land, which was advertised to taVe place on the 2nd March. The matter would be brought under the notice of the Waste Lands Board next day, and it was feared that if the land was put up for sale as proposed, it would all fall into one person's hands. It was desired that the sale of the blocks should be postponed until after the Provincial Council met, in order that this land might be brought under the system of deferred payments. There were a large number of applications for land in that district still unsatisfied, and every acre of the land would be taken up if such a course was rendered possible under the deferred payments system. The Superintendent said that the matter had been before the Executive previously. The land could not be brought under the system of deferred payments until the Council met.

Mr Allan remarked that His Honour could prevent its being offered for sale until after that time.

Tho Superintendent said that he understood there was likely to be very keen competition for this land. Mr Bradshaw said that all of one block that had been offered had fallen into one man's hands. The Superintendent said he would submit this aprl> ca fcion *° tne Executive, and sue what they thought of it. There would not be a meeting until Friday, but this would be in time. COAL.

The Deputation then aaked that His Honour would take steps to see that some land upon which there was coal should be reserved from sale. It appeared from documents produced in the orh'eo that the land had been reserved ; and the Superintendent promised to see to the matter.

THE LOCAL COUKT.

The Deputation then asked whether His Honour could do anything in the matter of extending the jurisdiction of the Court at Tapanui. . The Superintendent said he had nothing at all to do with this question. The General Government must deal with it, and they could petition the General Government through hitu if they liked. The petition must be sent to the Colonial Secretary.

TAPANUI ATHENAEUM. Mr Braushaav said that some resolution had been passed by the Provincial Council in leferenco to the question of subsidies to Athenaeums in different parts of the Province by grants of land or money, and the deputation wished to bring tho claim of the Tapaniu Athenaeum under the notice of the Provincial Government. The Superintendent said that he was not sure that there was not a resolution to^ sot aside Borne land for the Athenaeum at Tapanui. He found, upon referenoo, that a motion had been proposed by the Governpwnt, Mi* carried, to fjio «8W *•* ewfoww

! 8, 9, and 11, Block VIII, Tapanui, would be set aside as a site for an Athenaeum. He had applied to the General Govei ninent with regard to this, and a good many others, to know whether or not they would be Crown granted. He did nofc think the Crown grants would be given, as there was so much objection raised on the ground that these Athenaeum grants were contrary to law. There were many thousands of acres granted for different purposes which the Crown .now refused to grant, and this placed the land so that no one could deal with it. The land set aside for the Tapanui Athenaeum was in the same position as a great deal of other land. He was not unfavourable to theapplii cation, but the issue of the Crown grant depended entirely upon the General Government. He was of opinion that there should | be a grant for Athenaeums generally. LAND SALfiS. The next matter brought under His Honour's notice by the deputation was the want of a land office at Tapanui, and a request that the sale of land might take place there. Mr Bkadsiiaw said that a local land office was badly wanted. | The Superintendent said that he thought there should be a land office at Tapanui, and at many other places besides. Mr Bradsiiaw said it would he a considerable advantage to the district. The Superintendent said that the administration of the Waste Lands laws were not in the hands of the Provincial Government at all. The deputation must appeal to the Waste Lands Board in tins matter. 1 THE COMMON. The Deputation then stated that it was desired to have the commonage placed in the hands of the Progress Committee, in order that it might be better dealt with. The Superintendent said he could not deal with this matter. The Deputation then withdrew.