LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1987, 24 March 1892, Page 11

LAND BOARD.

The weekly meeting of the Land Board was held on Tuesday, and attended by Messrs J. T. Maitland (chief commissioner), H. Clark, W. Dallas, A. M'Kerrow, and J. Duncan.

Maniototo. — Mark Roberts applied for a lease of sections 11, 19, and 21, block V, Maniototo, for grazing purposes.^and offered (id per acre rental. Andrew Kearney applied for a grazing right over sections 11 and 21, block V, Maniototo^ district. — Both applications were allowed to stand *over until a report had been received by the board from the chief surveyor with regard to them. A Forfeited License.— The Receiver of Land Revenue reported that Andrew Kearney had now paid arrears due on deferred payment license No. G175, and requested the board to consider the question of rescinding the minute declai ing the license forfeited.— The resolution declaring the section forfeited was resciuded

Kakanui.— William Gardiner desired to ascertain if section 2, block IV, Kakauui district, could be withdrawn as a small grazing run and offered under pastoral license.— The board could not make any alteration in the present arrangement, so as to dispose of section 2, but would add another chain to the width of the road along the northern boundary of the section, thus making a road three chains wide ; the chief surveyor to be" informed accordingly. Fiianktox.— E. T. Wing, manager of the Wakatipu Steam Shipping Company applied for a reduction in the fees for licenses r> o. 182 and No. 338, jetty sites at Frankton.— When license 338 expires on December 9, 1892, the board decided that they would favourably consider an application for the issue of one license for two jetty sites. Shotover.— Ranger Mackenzie reported on the application of John Allan to be allowed to purchase the water leserve, section Bfi, block V, Snotover district. — A letter was also received from the county clerk requesting that the matter be held over until the council had an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the matter. — The consideration of the matter was deferred until the board lieanMrom the county council on the subject.

Bl.vckstone. — District Surveyor Barron forwarded a lithograph showing the proposed grouping of sections 07 to 70, 71, 73, 7-1, and 75, block I, Blackstone district. — The board did not consider ie necessary to take any action in the matter. Application for Rural Land. — Donald Nicolson applied for rural land on perpetual lease—.section 14, block XIII, Blackstone district.— The application was granted. Application for Village Settlement Land.— An application by R. C. Stevens for village settle*

meiit iand (section 39, block XIV, Lower Wanaka) was granted. Applications to Capitalise.— The following applications to capitalise were approved : — Geo. Lindsay, section 2!), block IV, Gimmerburn district ; and Win. Marshall, section 21, block XIII, Blackstone district.

Transfer of Perpetual Lease.— An application by T. M. Durward to transfer perpetual lease section 9, block X, Kurow, to Geo. Philpot, was approved.

Kyeburn.— The board was asked to accept surrender from David M'Cready to her Majesty the Queen of portion of perpetual lease, part of section 15, block V, Kyeburn, the land having been resumed by agreement for mining purposes. — Surrender was accepted over an area of 214 aOr 31p ; the rent on the balance of leasehold to date from January 1, 1892. Skipper's Creek. — It was resolved to recommend for the Governor's approval an application ,by Thos. Hardy to purchase under agricultural leaso sections 32 and 86 f block XI ( Skipper's Greek district.

Arrears of Rent.— The Receiver of Land Revenue reported that It. M'Leod, J. Coyle, and 'M. Mulvdnia, pdi'ilctiial lessees whose leases were on tho Ist ilist. declared forfeited for non-payment of rent, had now paid up arrears. — The i'esdlutioh passed by the board on the 16th inst., so far as it applied to the lessees in question, was rescinded. The Receiver of Land Revenue having forwarded the names of a number of lessees who had failed to pay their rents on the date due) but had since paid up, the board did not consider it advisable under the circumstances to take any action under section 188 of "The Land Act 1885."

- Lower Hawea.— The board was requested to decide as to how forfeited deferred-payment section 3, block VII, Lower Hawea, should be dealt with. — To be offered at auction, with valuation for improvements amounting to L 22 2s 6'd, at the reduced upset of 12s 6d per acre. 1 The "Waitaki Islands. — The following letter was received from Mr Thomas Duncan, M.H.R., of Oamaru :—": — " I beg to be excused for addressing a few lines to explain how the Waitaki islands were proposed to be let to Mr William Simpson. -During last session the subject of the large expense of paying men and supplying them with a boat to clear the islands in the Waitaki of rabbits, so that Canterbury might escape this scourge for some time to come, were discussed. I asked, Why not let the islands to some person that would be -responsible? The Hon. Mr M'Kenzie said the great difficulty was to find one man that would take the responsibility. Mr Ritchie was consulted, and he said that something must bedone to keep down the expense, as it seemed very large, the result being "that I undertook to make inquiry, and, if possible, find some person willing and capable of taking the islands and carrying on tl>e duty of keeping the rabbits down. . . . Some months ago I submitted the name of Win, Simpson as a man that was capable and willing to lease the islands from the rabbit fence at the Kurow to the sea. ... I might point out that, in my opinion, if the Government are likely to get clear of this c: pense they will have to let the whole, or from some specified point, such as a junction of a 'river. ... I believe Mr Simpson is prepared to give reasonable security that he will perform his part of the contract if the islands are let to him. , . ." — The letter was received, it being understood that the matter would be again brought before the board shortly.