Land Board,

Otago Witness, Issue 1540, 14 May 1881, Page 18

Land Board,

"' The usual meeting of the Land Board was held on Wednesday. Present— Mr J. P. Maitland (chairman), and Messrs Bathgate, Reeves, Clark, Green, and Bradshaw.

catlin's river. An estimate of tho value of fencing erected by MiHay on the boundary of Run 122 and sections 21 and 23, block IV, Catlin's River district, was submitted to the Board by the District Surveyor. . Mr Connell, who appeared for Mr Hay, said that as he understood tho Board acknowledged Mr Hays rteht to receive compensation for the fencing and other improvements placed by him upon tho ground referred to, he would recommend that tho value of them be added to the upset price of the land. He understood that two shillings an acre would cover these improvements. , It was decided that sections 21 and 23, Cathns Kiver district, be declared as of special value, on account) of improvements thereon, and that they be offered by auction at 23s per acre. BENGER DISTRICT. An application was made by Messrs Connell and Moodie to have blocks XII and XIII, Benger district, at present unsold deferred-payment lands, opened for sale on immediate payment. Mr Connell stated that the land referred to was not of such a quality or in such a position as to fit it for de-ferred-payment settlers, and that though it would suit large farmers, it would never pay small holders to settle upun it If the land were offered for sale on immediate payment, he believed that a considerable portion, if not the whole, of it would be applied for. He stated that there were no Crown lands in the district at present for sale on immediate payment, and persons dosirous of purchasing had to go to other parts of the Mr Green said that he and Mr Clark, inspecting the land in that district, had had it reprepresented to them that if the land were offered on immediate payment it would fall into the hands of the large land proprietors of the district, Mr Connell was not aware that the land referred to was contiguous to that of any owned by the large proprietors, but suggested as a way to get out of the difficulty that the land should be offered in pieces, and that if it was found they were purchased by large landowners, the pieces unsold could be withdrawn. Mr Bathgate did not think the land should be allowed to remain as at present, and if it would not fall into the hands of the large owners he thought they should offer it for immediate sale. It was decided to recommend the Government to revoke the proclamation setting aside the sections within block XIII for sale on deferred payment, with the view of the land being disposed of in some other manner. MINERAL LEASES. Mr George Watson applied for mineral lease over section 7, Hedgethorpe.— lt was decided that intention to grant the application be gazetted. Messrs G. Watson and W. R. Buchan applied for mining lease over section 11, block VII, Mid-Waka-tipu, i Mr Howorth appeared, to object to the application being granted. Mr Stewart, who appeared for the applicants, submitted that the time for objections was past, and that he considered any objection should have been laid at the last meeting, and not at the present. Mr Howorth had an appointment on the day of the last meeting that he could not postpone. He thought, however, that the opinions expressed in the Crown Solicitor's letter should have been sent to him. He i referred to his application for the same lease as now applied for, and said that its not being taken up up was no fault of his, he having done everything necessary. I Mr Reeves : But sign the lease. I Mr Howorth would be glad to give a full explanation, and show the Board how the delay had arisen. After some discussion by the Board, The Chairman said : The Board Is not in favour of reopening this question, and intends to grant the application. Mr Howorth : I wish my protest against the ruling o! the Board to be recorded. I have not received fair play at the hands of the Board. Mr Howorth having left the room, the subject Of the terms upon which the lease should be granted w as discussed, and it was decided to grant the application, and to isßue lease for 30 years at 5s per acre for first 10 yeard, 103 per acre for the second, and 15s per acre thereafter, with provision that the mine be opened within six months of date of lease and worked continuously thereafter, and that if mining operations discontinue at any time after 12 months from date of lease for more than three months, without the sanction of the Board, the Board reserves the right to forfeit the lease. WAIKAKA. Mr Alexander Watson Gordon applied for a license to occupy two acres of section 29, block VI, Waikaka district, for the purpose of raising lignite or coal.— The application was granted, and license to issue to applicant for seven years, at £1 per acre per annum. APPLICATIONS TO PURCHASE. Messrs Smith, Anderson, and Co., on behalf of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, requested the decision of the Board on application to purohase 92 acres on Run No. 330, to which no objections had been received by the District Land Officer. The Chairman intimated that no objections had teen received, and the application was granted. Leave to purchase section 2, block 11, Gimmerburn, •was granted to Messrs H. S. and E. A. Chapman.