LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1959, 10 September 1891, Page 20

LAND BOARD.

The weekly meeting of the Land Board, which was held on Wednesday, was attended by the Chief CommUsloner (Mr J. F. Maitland), Messts H. Clark, Dunoan, and W. Dallas. Oatuns -Mr P. Wright, of Catling applied for a lease of section 8, blook VIII, Catlins distriot, for grazing purposes .—Referred to chief commissioner to arrange. Uppbb Wakatipu.— Messrs P. B. Boult and Mark Harris requested the board to forfeit the perpetual lease of section 38, blook I, Upper Wakatipu, held by Julius Wenkheim, as the lessee was not complying with the conditions of occupation.— Referred to Banger Mackenzie to report. Loweb Hawka.— Mr John Fox, on behalf of the trustees of the Hawea Cemetery, requested to be allowed to exchange present cemetery site for one on the north side, and adjoining section 6, block I, Lower Hawea distriot.— lt was decided to recommend the Government to reserve the area referred to as a cemetery site, the former area reserved not being found suitable. Blackstqnk.— Messrs J. Ewing and W. M'Connoohie applied for the grazing right over tailings reserves between sections 2, 8, 9, 10, and 11, blook X, Blackstone, and the Manuherikia river, and section 11, blook X, Blaokstone, and Dunstan creek, in consideration of their keeping the same clear of rabbits. —The land referred to being within a hundred the board had no power to grant the sole right of grazing to any person. Kireow.-McJ. D. Collins applied for permission to ase the old building on coai reserve, block VI, Kurow distriot^as a coal depot. —Referred to Banger Hughan to report. The board having considered the cases of Peter and J. 0. Harrington- the holders of small grazing Buns STos. 56 and 117 respectively, who on the 29th of July last were given one month in which to pay np rent, and had not done so—resolved to forfeit the leases, and instructed the ranger to make valuation of improvements. Moukt Hydb.— The Receiver of Land Revenue reported that Mr Fred K. Singer had not paid rent due on small grazing Run Ho. 19, Mount Hyde district.— Bent to be paid within one month from date ; otherwise the board would forfeit the lease of run without further notice. Applications — The followiug applications were approved : — Rural land on deferreS payment : John Haugh, section 21. blook XVII, Crookston distriot. Bural land on perpetual lease : Anna Maria Bamcay, seotlon 6, blook XUI, Rook and Pillar ; Robert Wilson, seotlon 3, block VI, Gimmerburn; John Hambly, section 4, same blook ; Stanley Blaoklaws, section blook VI, Glenomaru district ; Walter Beid, section 33, same block. To transfer perpetual lease : John Hore to Samuel George Inder, section 13, blook 111, Maniototo district. ; Charles Robimon to John Robinson, seotion 7, blook VIII, Waipori district ; James Wilson to Madeline Robinson, seotion 6, block VIII, Waipori distriot. To complete purchase of deferred payment : Robert Sneddon, section 68. block IV, Table Hill distriot. Nobth Habbovb and BiUESKm.— Banger Hughan reported on an application by Mr J. B. Davidson to have section 90, block VII, and section 27, blook I, North Harbour and Blueskin district, dealt with. He recommended that the sections be notified open for selection at 10s per aore,— Consideration was deferred until the board obtained further information in respect to the application. Wabepa.— Messrs Stewart and Findlay, on behalf of Mr William Hay, applied to be allowed to purchase seotion 8, block XII, Warepa distriot.— The application was declined. Silver Peak.— Dugald Ewing applied to complete purchase of pastoral deferred payment license seotioa 1, block 11, Silver Peak.— The application was approved. Glhnkbnioh.— Mary Grace Bellamy applied to purchase section 24, block IV, Glenkenioh, held under perpetual lease.— Recommended for the approval of the Governor. Bum— A number of runs, the licenses of whioh had been cancelled, were dealt with as follows;— The board recommended the Governor- in-Counoil to reoffer for pastoral license Bun 468 (containing 34,300 acres) and Bun 468 (23,100 acres), Lake County ; the two to be offered as one run for 21 years at an upset rental of £10 per annum. Hun 493 s To be offered for 10 years at an upset of £5 par annum. Sections 2, 3, and 4, blook VIII, Blaokstone : The warden to be aiked if there was aay objeotion now to the sections being notified ; the chief surveyor to be requested to allow Barrow to make valuation for improvements and to suggest price per acre for notification. Sections 9 and 33, block IV, Table Hill : The warden to be requested to state if there was any objeotion to the sections being notified.

Zeehan Gold and Silver Fields. TO THE EDITOR. Sib,— The writer of the enolosed letter is an old resident of Dunstan, or to apeak more exactly, of Tinkers, where he and his mate held, and I believe still hold, a valuable olaim, I have known him for many years, and feel assured that his letter may be accepted aB an authentic record. The party went to Zeehan owing to their water supply being locked up by the reoent frosts.— l am, &c, . Vincent Pike. Lrhe letter appears in our mining page.— -Ed,]

Butter In the Frozen Chamber. TO THB EDITOB. Sn*r-I would be muca ODl *ged if you would publish the enclosed letter, which confirms the views expressed in my letter of Ist September, published by you on Saturday, also that of Mr Bpragg re frozen butter. The matter is a very important one, otherwise I would not trouble you I have made testa at th« Bunuside workß similar to Mr Burbury's, with the same satisfactory results, and there is no doubt in my mind that the frozen chamber ia the proper place for our butter for England. I don't know how with proper packing apples would do in the frozen chamber, but I know that years ago when ships with cargoes of ice were landing in Calcutta, they used also to land apples in splendid order from Amerioa.—l am, &c, Dunedin, September 8. James R. Scott.

"Fairfield, «i« t "Ofrnaru, sth September 1891. Middle Island Dairy Association, Dunedin. "Dear Sirr-Having read your letter of the Ist ia to-day's Otago Daily Times supplement, I have thought you would be interested in hearing that during last summer I sent to the local freezing works all our Burplus butter, to be kept until we might require it in the winter, and I nave forwarded to you by present opportunity a small 'pat' of some that we took oat of the

works last Monday (six days ago), and I think yon will agree with me that it is superior in taste to most of the butter made at this season of the year, being free from turnip taste, &c, &&, and should I mention that the butter was made in the ordinary farmhouse fashioD, with the exception that it was made up into ' pats ' weighing 101b to 20ib each, wrapped in a cloth, handed into the freezing works, where it was trozen as bard as a stone, and remained there for— say six months. It thaws in a few hours, when it can be ' made up ' as if newly churned. — Yours faithfully, E. P. Burbuby. " P.S. — The butter was worth 5d per pound when put into works, now it is worth Is 3d." THE OTHER SIDE OF THE QUESTION. Mr Chester, a representative of a syndicate of Home firms in the dairy produca trade, takes quite an opposite view to the above. In an interview with a Wellington reporter a few days ago he said :— " With regard to sending butter in the freezing chambers, although the butter carries well and can be landed in excellent condidition when frozen, it does not stand the gas AND HEATED CONDITION OP THK BETAILBBS' shops. It loses flavour and colour in a couple of days and rapidly deteriorates, so that in three OR FOUR DAYS AFTER EXPOSURE IT IS WOHTHLKSS AS BUTTER." Irrigation for the Interior. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— As the question of providing by artificial means against the reourrence of droughts in Central Otago is of vast importance to our settlers, I ask the favour cf insertion in your widely oiroulated paper of the enclosed letter just received from the Minister of Lands. Department of Lands and Survey. Wellington, August 31, 1891. Sir,— l have the honour by direction of the Hon. Minister of Lands to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd inst., urging upon the Government that oontour surveys should be undertaken ia the interior of Otago, to asoertain where water storage could be most advantageously effected ; and that experts should be employed to test whether artesian wells oan be successfully sunk In the Maniototo and Manuherikia and Ida Valley. In reply I have the honour to inform you that the Government will consider the question of setting apart money for the above purpose when preparing the estimates. I have the honour, &c, Vincent Pyke, Esq., A. Barkon. Dunedin. If I can only succeed in obtaining some practical solution of this matter, which is of truly national importance, my experiences during the last electoral campaign will not have been altogether in vain.— l am, &0., , Vincent Pike. Pa Taotara, September 8.

In the Legislative Council on Wednesday the debate on the second reading of the Female Suffrage Bill was adjourned until to-day. A □umber of Bills were advanced a stage, including the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill, and the Otago University Council Election Bill, whioh were both read a second time. The Selectors' Lands Revaluation Bill was passed. The Premier intimated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday that the Government hope to bring the session to a close at the end of next week, and possibly because of this announcement a lot of work was got through. The Property Tax Bill and the Water Supply Bill were read a second time, and at a later stage passed. The Stamp Act Amendment Bill, which imposes a tax of 1^ per cent, on totalisator investments, was read a second time. The Land for Settlement Bill was debated, but nearly all the speakers on both sides of the House were in favour of the measure, which was read a second time. Supply was intercepted by an amendment to appoint a commission to inquire into the matter of profitably utilising ironsand, bub this was rejected, and the Estimates were proceeded with, and were under consideration when the telegraph office closed. Mr Jacob Frankel, a dealer in second-hand goods, when near hi 3 residence in Bowen street, Wellington, was attacked on Monday night by two men, who robbed him of 25s and several papers. A purse containing a fair sum of money was missed by the robbers. Mr Frankel, who is over 70 years of age, was rather roughly handled. Intelligence has been received in Melbourne from Stratford that a farmer named Joseph Freitog, residing about two miles outside Stratford, was murdered by his nephew, John Ross to whom he had given a home. Ross hacked his victim about the neck with a knife. Freitog's wife went to her husband's assistance, when Ross stabbed her in the face and arm. Her injuries are of such a serious nature that the is not expected to recover. The murderer attempted to get into the children's .room, but he was baulked in his efforts. Freitog was a highly respected grazier, and John Ross was in his employ. Mrs Freitog, in attempting to save her husband, was frightfully stabbed in two or three places on the neck and arms, the weapon being a batcher's knife. The murderer, who is of unsound mind, buried his victim in the garden, where he was digging at the time. Constable Walsh arrested Ross, who pointed out the spot, and with the assistance of Mr Kelly, J.P., and Dr Matthews, unearthed the body, whioh presented a sickenißg appearance, the head being nearly severed from the body. In answer to questions, Ross simply said, " I had to do it." At the inquest a verdict of wilful murder was returned, and Ross, who had no questions to ask, was committed for trial: There was an unusally large attendance, with a fairly equal representation of ladies and gentlemen, at the monthly meeting of the Otago Institute on Tuesday evening, the special attraction being the delivery of Dr Hocken of one of his series of papers upon "The Early History of New Zealand." In the present lectnre Dr Hocken dealt with the settlement of Canterbury, but did not exhaust the subject, which will be continued on a future occasion. The lecturer sketched the history of the negociations which eventuated in the scheme for the foundation of a Church of England province in the colony, and described some of the troubles and difficulties with which the association bad to contend before their scheme was brought to a successful issue. He paid a warm tribute to the memory of the energetic and wise John Robert Godley, of Edmund Gibbon Wakefield, whose labours, though not so prominent as those of Mr Godley, were of the utmost value, and of Captain Thomas, the pioneer of Canterbury, who, arriving in the colony in the Bernicia in 1847, selected the settlement for the association. At the conclusion of ths lecture, the President (Professor Gibbons) expressed to Dr Hocken the< thanks of the institute for the entertaining and instructive evening that the members had spent; and Mr H. F. Hardy, who said he was probably the oldest colonist present, also referred in appreciative terms te the lecture. The election of Messrs James Richardson and Spencer Cook as members of the institute was reported.

The following information has been supplied to vs :— The Union Steamship Company of New Zealand has kindly placed at the disposal of General Booth an all-round ticket from Sydney to toelbourne, via New Zealand. The company few also recently donated half a dozen life belts

to the Salvation Army officers stationed on the Wanganui river. General Booth has made a triumphal progress through South Africa. At Capetown he was received with unparalleled enthusiasm, the Governor, several judges, military commanders, and mauy members of Parliament joining in the welcome accorded him. The Hon. Sir Gordon Sprigg, ex-Premier, presided at the meeting. All classes and creeds endorsed the General's proposal for the esfabltetment of salvation colonies in South Africa. While in CapefcowD, tho General was the guest of Sir J. Gordon Sprigg. The Salvation Army will keep their annual week of prayer and self denial in New Zealand from October 4 to October 10. Last year the army's funds were supplemented from this soorce to the tune of over £30,000. Of this amount New Zealand contributed over £1000. This year it is anticipated that £1500 will be raised. Over 66,000 people were present at the Salvation Army anniversary held at the Crystal Palace in July last. This is several thousands in advance of last year. In spite of web weather, it was a very successful affair.

Some weeks ago (writes the London correspondent of the Argus) reference was made to the fact that arrangements were being carried out in London with a view to the distribution to various parts of the world, Australia included, of the Russian Jewish refugees who found their way hore from the Continent. This procedure is likely to be taken up on a much more extensive scale before long. Mr Arnold White has just returned to London from a two months' tour through Russia, having been commissioned by Baron Hirsch to make a personal investigation into the treatment of the Jews, their suitability for agricultural pursuits, and the willingness of the Government to sanction a scheme for their emigration. Oo the two lastmentioned points Mr White's inquiries have been very encouraging, whilst as regards the treatment of the Jaws Mr White finds that, although there has been a good deal of exaggeration on the part of the press of Western Europe, yet, on the other hand, "the sufferings, especially among the children, are touching in the extreme, and involve the necessity for energetic action." This is the conclusion arrived at by Baron Hirsch, who has now resolved to form a great English company, in which he will take " all or most part of the shares, not for the purpose of gain, but to secure a business-like administration of this philanthropic enterprise." The idea is, I understand, that this company will work in' conjunction with committees in Russia, Germany, and elsewhere in securing the regular and methodical emigration of the refugees, enabling them to proceed to British colonies and elsewhere, and providing them with such funds as will give them a reasonable chance of settling down in those countries.