Waste Land Bard.

Otago Witness, Issue 1465, 13 December 1879, Page 11

Waste Land Bard.

The ordinary weekly meeting of the Land Board was held on Wednesday, when there were present — Messrs J. P. Maitland (chairman), H. Clark, J. Green, J. B. Bradshaw, H Bastings, and C. S. Reeves. Tho following business was transacted : —

DEFERRED PAYMENT QUESTION.

Mr Eraser, aolicitor, Palnaersbon, applied on behalf of Mr John Drysdale, holder.of deferredpayment section 6, block XII, Eock and Pillar, that he chould be allowed to surrender his license over the said section, on the ground that he was unable to continue paying his rent, while at the same time he wished not to be dabarred from becoming a future selector. Mr Fraser stated that his client had expended about L2OO on improvements on the section, and had paid about LIOO for rent, and ho asked •whether the clauses of the Act relative to compensation for improvements to the surrendering licensee would apply in the present case. In reference to the latter matter, the Chairman said the clauses could only be held a3 operating when a breach had bean committed, and at a breach in this case was only threatened, they could not apply. After a good deal of discussion, the Board agreed that it would be advisable to take the opinion of their solicitor upon the subject j raised by Mr Eraser, and the Chairman drew I up the following questions to be placed before the solicitor : — "If unconditional surrender be made by selecbor, can he at any future time take up de-ferred-payment license ?" "If proceedings be taken to oust under sections 69, 70, and 71 of the Act, can the selector whose license is forfeited salect again ?" OTEPOPO. Mr W. H. S. Roberts was granted leave to purchase the road-line situated in block V, Otepopo dietrict. DEFERRED PAYMENTS. The following deferred-payment leases were granted :— Adam Edgar, sections 23 and 25, block V, Greenvale ; Andrew Miller, section 19, block V, G-lenkenich ; John Johnston, section 10, block X, Waikaka. The following application to purchase was granted :— O. G. Thurston, section 8, block XI, Crookaton. I On the report of Ranger Hughan, a lease waß now granted to Michael Keligher over section 65, block 111, previously refused on account of improvaments not having been effected. An application by Robert Marshall to pur-chaseldeferrad-paynient sections 14, 16, 17, and 18, block IV, Teviot, was approved. AGRICULTURAL LEASES. The followiog certificates of lease were approved : — Jans Ranßmussen, section 122, and Jans Neilson, section 123, block 111, Shotover. The following application to purchase was aDproved :— George Woodrow, section 57, block XX, Shotover. GOLD-MINING LEASE. The following certificate of mining lease was approved : — Thomas Fitzgibbon, section 6, block XI, Skippers. WAIKAIA. The Warden at Switzsrs telegraphed recommending the temporary withdrawal of block I, Waikaia district, recently opened for agricultural leasing. Mr Bastings said tyro residents of Switzers had called upon him in reference to this matter, stating that a lead of gold had been traced into the block, which would therefore be re. quired for auriferous purposes. He thought six months should be allowed for the purpose of testing the ground by miners. The Chairman corroborated the statement that the land was likely to be auriferous, and it wag resolved to withdraw the sections in the meantime. ■ OAMARU STONE COMPANY. Messrs Street and Morris, on behalf of the Oamaru Stone Company, applied for a lease over portions of section 48, block 111, Oamaru district, and offered to give an advance rent to that now paid. — The Board refused the application, on the ground that the granting of it would encourage a monopoly, and would be unfair to the present leaseholders, who expected a renewal. 1 oamaru. Mr M. Holmes applied to purchase portion of road-line in block VI, Oamaru district, and the Kakanui Roard Board consenting, the application was granted. PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHT ON RUN 413. The manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company applied to take up pre-emptive right on Run 413, Waiau, at the rate of Ll per acre, instead of L 2 as previously agreed upon.— The Board declined the request. HIGHLAY DISTRICT. An application by Mr W. E. Griffon, to purchase about quarter of an acre adjoining section j 1, block 11, Highlay district, was refused, the section having been applied for previously, and the Board considering such applicant had a prior claim if the seotion were agreed to be sold. LAKE WAKATIP. Mr Wesley Turton, on behalf of Messrs J. W. Roberison and Co., applied for a jetty Bite site near Kinloch, at the head of Lake Wakatip, and the application was granted, subject to a sketch being forwarded, and to the reservation of a road-line along the margin of the lake. WAKATIP RUNS. With reference to the quection of valuation for fencing on the surrendered Wakatip runs, the District Land Officer forwarded an estimate of such valuation, and it was adopted. The Chairman explained that the Government proposed to allow only half valuation. It waß agreed that the runs referred to should be auctioned in Dunedin. TAPANUI. An application by the Tapatrai Town Council, for a gravel reserve on block IV, Glenkenich, was granted on the recommendation of Ranger Campbell. SPOTTtS HUNDRED. With regard to a suggestion from certain settlers in Spottia Hundred that wardens be appointed, the Board resolved to inform the writers that they had not the power to appoint auch, but would agree to the appointment of a ranger. COAL LEASE AT MOEBAKI. The Palmerston Road Board wrote, calling attention to the fact that the conditions of Mr

Bliott's coal lease on section 57, block 111, Moeraki, were not being complied with. Some discussion ensued on the matter, Mr Reeves urging that Mr Eliott should be required to comply with the conditions of his lease or forfeit it, as other people in the district would be willing to take it up and supply the residents with coal at a cheaper rats, possibly, than now obtained. Eventually it was agreed to inform Mr Eliott that he must at once proceed to carry out tho conditions of his lease. ' ' TABLE HILL. An application made by Messrs Howorth and Hodgkinß with reference to the purchase of portion of section 45, block VI, Table Hill, at LI per acre, and of section 14, same block, 1 at L 2 per acre, was referred to thtf District ' Land Officer for report.

CROMWELL.

Mr Charles Oolclough, on behalf of Henry Searle, applied to be allowed to pay balance of purchase-money on section 1, block XXXVI, Cromwell, or have valuation for improvements placed on the land when offered at auction.

The Board agreed that under the circumstances valuation should be allowed for' improvements when the section was offered at the next Jand sale, and ifc was resolved to aak the District Land Officer to value the improvements.