SOUTHLAND LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 7

SOUTHL AND LAND BOARD.

The ordinary meeting, held on Tuesday, June 23, was atbende.l by the Chief Commissioner (Mr G. W. Williams), aud Messrs Cowan, M'lntvre, Kiuross, and B.ildey. Mi* Hill, appeared on behalf of John Templeton, asking for three months in which to pay arrears due on land at Waiau. He stated that his client had expended from £200 to £250 on improvements, and some money owing ta him not coming in he had been unable ti pay his rent.— Mr "Kinross said this was another case of a man taking up too much land.— Mr Cowan thought that as so much money had been spent on improvements the lessee should be given an extension of time to pay, and a resolution granting the request was carried. Jno. M'Kenzio applied to lease a two-acre site for an ' accommodation house at Rustic Biy, Lake TeAaau. It was explained that as the site was on the oppoaita side of the lake from the township ib would not bo in opposition to the present )i:eased- bouse. — The Commissioner did no!; favour the .application personally, and considered the home quite unnecessary, and the cost of survey would ba, altogether out of proportion to the , area.— Later Mr M'Kenzie appeared personally and explained that he expected' to work coal '.successfully in the locality and would thus need . the accommodation ; hou c,— The application was granted at a rental, of 10a per acre per year, the lessee to. he prepared to pay survey fees at any time the surveyor 'should be* fq the district to attend to the matter. Mr Russell, on behalf of Bernard Hulton, applied to lease (under the Mining Districts Laud Occupation Act) 100 acres of land iv a run held at Waikaia by Mr Morrab.— The Comraissoiner said' that 12 moaths' notice would have to be given to the licensee and Ml- Hubton would have to pay survey fees.— Mr Kinross said they must ascertain that the taking away of such land would not ssriously injure the valus of the iuu. —The matter was deferred until nexb meeting, pending a report from, the ranger. The Surveyor-general wrote stating that the Minister for Lands had accspted the surrender of the, lease of Run 421, Wallace County, from J. L. M<Donald. With respect to the subdivision of the quarry KB9rve, section 159, Oreti Hundred, for Drummondjextension, the Surveyor-general wrote that action in the matter should be deferred until further instructed. He also asked for- information re the survey of Drummond extension.— Mr C. B. Rawson wrote asking -that Robert Smith's workshop be allowed to remain on the land until the section is offered for sale. — To be informed that no further action is being taken. The raDger reported that Thomas M'Farlane had illegally croppad section 156, Oreti Hundred, and recommended that he be charged £10 . for the use of the portion cropped.— The Commissioner considered- that the board had not power to inflict a fine, but if they considered the licensee had acted illegally the matter might be referred to the Crown solicitor.— Mr Kihroea thought the man should be asked to give' an explanation.— Mr M' lnly re said the land had been oontinnally cropped during the present lessee's occupancy. He. did not think it was any use doing anything, as the man's' ternl was now out.— Mr Baldey thought ib was their duty ' to ascertain if the man had the right to crop. — It was decided to write to Mr M'Farlane asking him to explain why he had illegally cropped the land.-

Dalgety and Co. wrote requesting paymeab of valuation for -improvement on Run 198 a, and explaining thdr position with regard to the'late O. Bassbiau's leasi of the land. — The Commissioner '^omni°nfced/bri'tu9 fact that the writers ..bad.preKiouslylToprislj&ted any conrieotion.jrit'fcr the run.— A. Gray, Centre Htll station, wrota claiming half cost of the boundary, fence between Runs 198 a and 188b.— Mr R. S. Rattray wrote claiming valuation for improvements on Run 193 aon behalf ef the executors of 'the 'late C, BißStiati.— Thomas Bl'Kay,, Centre fiill, claim-id payment for cost of fencing erected by him bounding Run 198 a. —It was' decided thai all the claimants be requested to. attend the next meeting of the board and explain theie positions in the matter ; aUo that ' J. B. B;sjttan ba given 14- days in whioh to pay up the valuation for improvements. The Surveyor-general wrote with regard to the division ot Ran 173' a that the Ministsr'for Landi approved of lha'exteaeion of the lease to A. R, Hare.— With regard to the surrender of small grazing Run 32, Takitimo, be stated that) if could not ba accepted at present. . The Minister was williog to accept ib.aa from- March 1, 1897, and to be reoff -re,* in' Juae next- ab such at rent as bbc bmrd mi^hb consider reasonable. — Mr Brown to be informed accordingly. Aim Turner forwarded £1 6s 6J as half-year's rent for a grazing Hcenseover section 11, ' block V, Waikaw* —Granted. Joseph Fullar offered' 3d p?r acra'for tlie western part of section 3, block I, Waikawa,* making an average of 6d per acre for the whole section. — Accepted. ' ■ R M'Kenzie and James M 'Donald offered £5 for the grazing license of section 796, HokonnL — The Commissioner said that he had seen the land and it wa3 of extremely ' poo? quality, and., although when the offer was before them at? the last meeting they had not seen their,, way to accept ib,as ifc was such a drop from the original valuation, still it would perhaps- bebttt^r. to take what they could gt,t fchaa hava nothing at nil,— Offer accepted.- > . ' % - Mr Archibald Fletcher wrote with regard to the grazing license granted to Edward Roberts for 'Eecfciou^Wblock" XIV, Chalton,* • and an application by Alsiander and George Aitken for section 14 under the Mining Districts- Land ' Occupation A't.— lt wa§ decided that on a guarantee being given that tbe applicants will take up the land, if available, in'a year's time and pay the survey fee, notice be given to* Mr Roberta to give up passessiou at the expiration of that time. James Gardner wrote (1) with respect to Sun 143 a, stating tint he would accept 5s per chain for the boundary -fence rather than v remove ib ; (2) wishing to know his position with regard to adjoining settlers who had paid no share of fenoing ; (3) asking for a refund ot the whole "of the fine inflicted last year for delay in payment of rent, stating that hi 1 falling into arrears bad been owing to a savere illness, and that he had been only five days late with hia payment. — The Commissioner thought the land should be loaded with the value of the fence and the tenant required to pay the same before being - given possession. He also suggested that' the board should reconsider \U former decision with regard to ths fine and recommend the Minister to remit the whole amount. — Mr Kiaross pointed out that the acb did not allow either the- board or the Minister to make inch a rebate, and if the latter did so his action would be.illega!.— Decided that the land should "" be weighted with valuation for fence 3; with reference to Mr Gardner's second question, that tbe matter bo left for settlement nnder the Fencing Act, and that the Government be recommended to remit the whole of the fine. John Newton and J. .and T. M'Kay wrote protesting against the granting of a grazing licen-:e ; f#r secWn'l3] block' VIII, Centr'eJHiU, at 2d,per acre. . It wasttited th*t the section hadi'\npi( been put npPto' auction.— lt was decided jib picft the land up far 1 auction in 12 month's! time. , ' ' ' <• *r* " *-•/"* V Mr' Thomson applied to lease section 2; block 3? llk} Flint'Bjßus.h.T^ecfcion. flpened^fos jippli-, cation; • ,- v • t ■ , , . • • . . * Riohnrd Falkiner applied to leaie sections 39, 40, 41, block I, Waikawa.— N. T. Falkiner. father of the applicant, attended and stated that the acquisition of these sections would enable his s m to batter work his present land.— Tbe Commissioner said that the sections in question had been withheld from sale as it was believed they contained coal, and therefore it would not be advisable -to grant a permanent tenure.— Mr Cowan thought they might leaße the ground to the applicant for a term of year?, and a motion tp that effect was carried. . - Helen Stewart applied to lease sections 31 and 32, block, X, Waiau.— Government to be recommended to allow sections' to ba , leased ac upset rental of adjoining land. The ranger was instructed to report on Anniti Lynch's letter re the disposal of section 22, __ Pahia Village, held on deferred payment by her late hu9batad. Several applications for transfer?, mrrenders, cancellation of forfeitures, &3., were granted, and the board adjourned.