SOUTHLAND LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2326, 29 September 1898, Page 7

SOUTHLAND LAND BOARD.

The ordinary meeting, held on Friday, Q3rd September, was attended by the chief coinmis1 sioner (Mr D. Barron), and Messrs J. M'lntyre, A. Kinross, A. Baldey, and D. King. L. Cody appeared to explain the matter of his illegally cutting stakes on sections 7 and 8, block XXXII, Lamelulls. Ranger Rasniua sen had seized about 300 of the stakes. Cody i said that the Wo sections contained bu«h which had been almost worked out. He had ; from time to time got licenses to cut firewood and stakes from the bush, and it was his cur.torn to leave this work whilst the license was unexpired if he got the chance of other work, and then to go and cut again up to the full time of the license (two months). He did not undeistand that the license expired at two months from date of issue. — Cody was instructed to tako out a license for the time in which he cut the timber; Constable Rasmussen to be told to remove the Crown's claim over the stakes. The Under-secretary of Lands wrote to the effect that the law does not permit of block XX, Limehills, being sold to representatives of the Roman Catholic Church without competition. The Surveyor-general wrote re the sub-divi-sion of the township reserve, Merrivale, stating that the sixbdivision can be made, but the boad should reclassify the land in terms of section 108, "Land Act, 1892." — Resolved that the reserve be classified as village homestead land under section 168 of the act. Winton Borough Council declined to accept the additional area to the recreation reserve if coupled with condition of expenditure of JEIOO thereon within 12 months. — Resolved thr^ the board recommend the Government to le serve the whole area originally asked foi p T o vided the borough expend £10 per acre on the whole additional area within two years. Otavitau Town Board desired the reservation of section 5, block 11, as a domain for the township. — Government to be recommended accordingly. L. Cody's application for addition of section 5, Block XXXIL, Limehills, to the township reserve was refused. G-. C. Totbill applied to purchase section 37, block I, Toitois. — Ranger to inspect and report as to value. 11. A. Massey applied for permission to make a deviation in tramway line through sections 39, 40, 41, block VIII, Campbelltown Hundred. — Resolved that a road deviation be made through the sections under section 16 of the Land Act. R. W. Robson, writing re proposed deviation of road through section 41, block VTI, Waikawa, requested the board to take the piece cut off also. — Resolved that the deviation be approved, and the piece of land cut off taken over. Applicant to surrender lease and pay for new lease. John Bray said he would accept present valuation of timber on sawmill area No. 356, Lindhurst Hundred, but considered that as he had paid survey fee he ought not to be chprged double royalty under the existing regulations. — To be informed that board has no power to alter the royalty, but will accept half cash and the balance by approved bill at six months. John Melvin applied for the right to cut sawmilling timber on sections 72, 73, 78 to 83, block XXIII, Invcrcargill Hundred, abandoned sawmill areas, and offered £5 per section. — Can apply for a sawmill are? in the usual way and deposit survey fees. The ranger reported that John Melvin was cutting and removing sawmilling timber from sections 99 to 101, block XXII, Invercargill Hundred. — J. Austin and H. J. Edwards, from whose sections Melvin was cutting, to be called on to show cause why their leases should not j be forfeited for not hrvii.g made sufficient im- 1 provements. j Ja.ne Boxall and Anderson and Harper ap- J plied for section 90, block XXIII, Invercavgill Hundred. — Declined, land not open for application. Hugh Kellen was granted grazing license over sections 8 and 9, block XII, Oteramika, at 2d per aore. i Peter Johnston applied for a reduction of rent en glazing license o\er township reserve, block X, Waikaka, and stated that he would give up the license if the reduction were not made. — To be offered at auction at upset of .C 3. V. Almao applied for the sanction, of the boaid to tempers ry occupation by Mr Russell j of his half interest m section 26, block XII, 1 Inverce.rgill Hundred, during his absence at j Wellington. — Gianted. R. Kmzett was granted time to pay the rent on grazing license No. 4io, sawmill areas NO3. 232 and 233. Martin Callaghan was granted permission to reside in hut on section 118, Waiau, until he can /build on sections 114 and 115, applied for by him. The Ranger reported having taken possession, on behalf of the Crown, of section 8, block XIII, Oteramika. — -To be offered as xuial laud at 10s pel acre. The N.Z. Pine Company applied for right to cut timber on sections 18 to 40, block VIII, Winton Hundred. — Valuation to be made by the ranger, and the timber to be put up to auction. The following applications were granted: — Martin Callaghan, sections 114 and 115, Waiau ; Charles Church, section 66, block VIII, Invercai'gill Hundred; A. T. Church, section 68, block VIII, Invercargill Hundred; Thomas Ward, section 62, block 5, Longwood; Hugh M'Lachlan to make fiesh application for sections 1 to 4, block XX, Chatton village. Henry Barry applied under the Mining Districts Land Occupation Act for block I, Longwood. The Ranger reported that the land was of good quality, that Bairy has not been mining for 10 years and farmed over 100 acres of firstclass land elsewhere; so large an area should not bo grsmted in that locality. — Held over until members visit the ground. Marion Poolo applied to transfer section 13, block XI, Calcium township, to John Lindsay, arid Mary Kirkelly to transfer sections 53 to 55, block XXII, Invercargill Hundred, to James O'Neill. — Held over for amendment of applications.

Transfer of section 4, block XXXVIII, Wailacetown, from James Brunton to David Strachan was sanctioned. Thomas Chvrch applied to transfer section 81, Wairalri, to Thomas Miiean.— Granted, subject to the approval of the Government Advances department. The sections of two tenants were forfeited, and the licenses of two others cancelled, one ow : ng to fomrender and the other to expiry of license. "ihe Knapdale Road Board forwarded a statement of proposed expenditure of thirds and fourths accrued during the j^eriod Ist February to 30th April 1898. — Approved. R. Scobie and Sons wrote re the expediture of fourths on small grazing runs IS, 19, and 40. — To be informed that the question of spending fourths on Rim 18 on drainage has not been, before the board before, and has not been considered. Jiimes Eobson wished to surrender section 10, block VII, Waikawa, but as he could not pay arrears of rent at once desired that they bo taken oxxt of valuation for improvements. — S calender cannot be completed until he pay a arrears. The board ihen went into committee to deal with the roruamder of the business.