LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 26

LAND BOARD.

The weekly meeting of the Land Board, held on Wednesday, was attended by Messrs J. P. Maitland (chief commissioner), J. Duncan, VV. Dallas, and H. Clark.

Robsit Allen wrote complaining of the want of p. road to sections 7 and 11, block VI, Cavlms district, held by him under occupation with right to purchase license.— Referred to the chief surveyor to report. W. R. Nevill wrote asking that an area of about 100 acres on the south side o£ smail grazing runs 220e and 220f, cut off from the rung by a road, be deducted from the area for which he paid rent.— The board had no power to do what was requested. John Coyle requested that the license granted him over section 3, block V, Swinburn district, date from January I next.— The application was granted, on the understanding that Mr Coylo kept the rabbits down in the meantime. Gordon T. Milhngton, lessee of section 5, block VII, Tokarahi estate, who was required to show causo why his leaso should not be declared forfeited for non-compliance with the residence condition of his lease, wrote explaining that tho vrifo of the man who was erecting his dwelling had died, and lit had not yet been able to complete the building.— The explanation was considered satisfactory. A memo, was received from the Under-secre-tavy of Lands intimating that it had been deuni'V Mi.: .dv ••o t tu>c run, No 11, should remain open for application ai the present rental tD the Ist of March nexfc.

mi i '"' <*n extension ot his timber-cutting license over five acrea at Turner's Creek, near Ifinlock. — The bo.'trd had no power to extend the present license, but the ap- )->">■,, . I'Piise for the period under the present regulations. Ranger Mackenzie reported upon the application by Edmund Fitzgibbon for the right to occupy an area of 16 acres, west of section 25, block X, Shotover district.— A yearly license wis granted at a rental of 6d per acre, with

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John Sanders requested permission^ to plough and take a crop of turnips or potatoes off sections 3, 4, f, and 6, block IV, town of Herbert, hell bj him tinder yearly license, in order that the gorse might be cleared from the sections.— The request was granted on condition that the land was sown down in grass immediately after a crop of turnips or potatoes was taken off. Ranger Mackenzie forwarded an application from W. Allan for a license to cut firewood at Rumbling Burn, West Wanaka.— A license was granted over the area applied for at Is per cord royalty. lUu^er Atkinson reported upon an application by David Robertson to purchase portion of reclaimed land in Blueskiti Bay, fronting section 3 of 37, block 11, North Harbour and Blueskin district.— The application was declined, but the board will consider the question of leasing the section in question a fortnight hence if the applicant desires it. The board having consideied the case of William Simpson, leoseo of section 34, block VII, Tokarahi estate, who was required to show cause why his lease should not be declared forfeited for non-compliance with the residence condition of his lease, decided to allow three months in which to effect residence.

Maurice Curran applied for a lease in perpetuity over section 14, block V, Hawea, witu regard to which a report was received fiom Ranger Mackenzie.— The board could not accept tho application, the land being open for cash only; and it wa3 decided to inform the applicant that unless he was prepared to take up the land for cash at once, the board would take proceedings against him for illegal occupation of Crown lands. The uon, Geo. M'Lean applied to be allowed to acquiie the old channel of the Lee Creek, through sections 33 and 34, block V, Maniototo district, and the Taieri County Council recommended that the license be granted.— Referred to Ranger Hughan to leport. An application by E. C. Jopson for section 266, block I, Blackstone district, village homestead allotment, on lease in perpetuity, was approved. The following applications to be allowed to purchase land held on perpetual lease were recommended for the Minister's approval : — George Orr, section 8, block IV, Kurow; John Grant, section 22, block VIII, ivurow. An application by Peter Gallon to be allowed to surrender sections 33 and 34, block 1, Glenorchy district, was referred to Ranger Mackenzie to report. An application by Alexander Spratt to be allowed to transfer section 61, block IV, Maungatua district to Elizabeth Swanson, was recommended for Minister's approval. James Falconer applied to be allowed io transfer section 12, block XIII, Pomahaka Downs estate, to Daniel Sullivan.— Tho board decided that the rent in arrear must be paid before the transfer could be recommended co the Minister for his approval. The board adjourned till Thursday.

The manufacture of china pottery promises to become an industry in the north of Auckland.

Tho arrivals to and the departures from the colony last month were respectively 985 and 1208.

The marriage rate of South Australia, irom being the highest in Australasia, has fallen to the lowest.

Frogs, which are a valuable food-crop in Belgium, are now under the protection of law in that country. A white resident of O'Oonnelltown (Queensland), who is married, and has a family, nas been reported to the authorities as being a supposed leper. Barcelona is now the most populous city of Spain, the result of a census just taken showing- 520,000 inhabitants to Madrid's 507,000. Mr William Chisholm M'Donald, son of Mr Simon M'Donald, of this city, has passed his final examination for M.B. at the Edinburgh University.

The recent outbreak of typhoid in Mcl bourne was the severest on record. There were 337 cases treated in tho Melbourne Hos pital, the mortality being 18 per cent.