THE DEFERRED PAYMENT SYSTEM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1355, 17 November 1877, Page 11

THE DEFERRED PAYMENT SYSTEM.

From tiaie to time the members of the Waste Lands Board have expressed their determination to enforce in the most stringent possible manner compliance with the conditions under which land can be occupied under the deferred payment system, more especially the conditions with regard to personal occupation. Ai, the meeting of the Waste Lands Board yesterday the cases of Stewart and .John JVrComb, holders of deferred payment sections in the Tuapeka West .District, were , taken into consideration, and we publish the following particulars, in order that the action of the Boaid may obtain as much publicity as possible. On the 29th September Eanger Hughan forwarded the following report to the Board : — " I have the honour to report having inspected deferred payment land in block- 111., Tuapeka Wast district. I find that Stewart ATCoinb, licensee of sections 56, 57, and 68, block 111., Tuapeka West, is not personally occupy ing his land. There is only, a small hut on the land, the value of which I could not estimate at more than 20s, as a man cculd put it up in a .y> There was no appearance of any percon 'living in it, as there was no bedding or cooking utensils, or in fact anything to show that any person was living in it. The land is fenced in with the exception of the division fence between sections 57 to 41). I have also to report that William M'Comb, licensee of sections 48 and 49, same block, is not in personal occupation, A licuse has been put up on section 48, but no person is occupying it." The above report was taken into consideration by the Waste Lands Board some weeks ago, when the matter was adjourned for further inquiry, and the District Land Officer at Lawrence was requested to advise the Board on the matter. In a communication, dated November Ist, Mr E. H. Carew forwarded the following report : " I examined these holding on theslSth ult., but from press of business have inadvertently omitted to report before now. The two allotments, together with a portion of the Eailway reserve, held under license, are fenced with a ring fence, which encloses the whole area in cne. The house on John M'Oomb's allotment has no appearance of having been occupied. The hut on Stewart M'Comb's allotment is as stated by Mr , Eugaan, and was probably erected as a place of temporary shelter for the men who fencsd the land. On my visit I found that a hut had lately been erected of timber, with a sheetiron roof, in size abont 14 by 10 feet, and about half an acre cf lard had been recently cleared of flax. I believe it to be highly probable that the inferences drawn by Mr Hughan are correct, but I cannot positively state that either of the licensees is a dummy. I think that the or.ly way. to secure personal ' occupation of allotments would be to cause some officer to make periodical visits of inspection to -each holding. If the Board were to decide that personal occupation means such a continuous residence on an allotment as would beincon sistent with the occupation of another residence in the same district, I believe there would be no difficulty in obtaining proof that both of the licensees have violated .the law in. that respect. . Mr Hughan could, I believe, give information on this point, in respect to one, if not r both, of the licensees." In answer to a question put by the Chief Commissioner, Banger Hughan stated that Stewart M'Comb resided on the mining reserve at Munro'a Gully. John M'Comb was employed upon the Hiber nian Water Race, and had to be there night and morning. His family *w*s there also. After consultation, . the Board came to the following decision : — t" That Stewart M.Comb, being licensee- of de-ferred-payment allotments sections Nos. 56, 57, and 68, block IIL, Tuapeka Weßt District, .having failed to the satisfaction of the Waste JLands Board to fulfil, the conditions under which' his license "was granted, namely, that within six months of the issue of the license,' and- thenceforward during the continuance of such license, he should personally occupy one of the said allotments, the Board hereby declares the said license soßbf allotments 56, 57, and 68, Tuapeka West District, to be revoked, and the same is hereby revoked accordingly, sad the Boardresume possession' of the land.'"' " -"""