LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2327, 6 October 1898, Page 34

LAND BOARD.

The weekly meeting of the Land Board, held on Wednesday, was attended by Messrs J. P. Maitland (chief commissioner), W. Dallas, J. Duncan, H. Clark, and H. H. Kirkpatrick. Ranger Mackenzie forwarded an application from A. "Wilson for a license to cut timber at West Wanaka, Daniel's Creek — Consideration, of the matter was deferred for further information. John Thompson applied on "behalf of Mis Helen Dunikowski, to purchase an area of two acres adjoining sections 118 and 121, block XLX, Tuapeka East district. — The purchase was approved at a capital value of £2 10s per acre; survey. fees to be lodged. The Waihemo County Council wrote re. the expenditure of " fourths " accrued from small giving run, section 3, block IV, Highlay district. — Received. James Stevenson requested that a reduction bo made in the rent charged him for 20 acres at Tallaburn, held under occupation lease. — The boaid did not see their way to reduce the rent already fixed. Henry Syrr.es applied for permission, to occupy section 16, block XXIII, town of Alexandra. — Granted. Eraser Falconer applied for a license to occupy sections 11 to 15, block VII, and section 2, block 11, town of Kelso. — Referred to Ranger Hughan to report. The Waiteki and Tuapeka County Councils forwarded statements of pioposed expenditure of ' thirds " and " fourths " for the period from April 1 to July 30, 1898.— Approved. , John Eggers applied for sections 58 and 59, block I, Highlay district, as rural land, for cash. — Approved. Andrew Fraser applied to be allowed to complete purchase of section 1, block TV, Dait district, held by him under deferred payment license. — The application was granted. Charles Hood applied for a license to occupy an area of la'2r in block XX, tew» of Hawksbury. — The application was declined, and it w.ts decided to inform the mayor that the land in . question was not a reserve, and that the board intended having this and other portions of nnsurveyed land surveyed and offered to the public. Alexander Bremner-and James Wilson wrote drawing the attention of the board to the state of the sludge -channel- through sections 27 and 28, block VII, Tokarahi- Estate.— Referred to Ranger Aik'nson to repcrfc. The following applications for land under tho Land for Settlements Act were approved: Henry Fletcher, allotments 9 and 11, Puketapu Ettate; J. F. Rowland, allotment 8, Teaneraki Estate; and F. W. Venn, section 65, block VIII, Moeraki district (Makareao Estate). R. Irving jun. applied for a, license to occupy sestion 8, block XIV, Pomahaka Downs Estate, until such time as the land has been again taken up. — Consideration of the application was deferred for a week. D. Renwicks applied to be allowed to Burrender section 21, block XIII, Pomahaka Downs Estate. — The application was granted, and it was decided to re-open the section for selection at once. Range! Atkinson forwarded a valuation of the improvements upon section 19, block VIII, Tokarahi Estate, and A. G. Sutherland applied to be allowed to occupy the section in the meantime. — It was decided to re-open the section, with valuation for improvements, £22, subject to the approval of the Governor.

A regular "cold snap" set in on Tuesday, and sleet fell dnnijg the afteruoon and evenj ing. On the hills, however, there was a heavy fall of snow, and Flagstaff, Pine Hill, Signal Hill, and Harbour Cone had an unusually heavy coating. In the country districts the weather was very cold and boisterous, and south of Dunedin the fall of snow was severe for October. It is feared that the cold snap will prove disastrous to the lambs in many districts'. Our Arrowtown correspondent telegraphed that the < weatlier is very unsettled in the Lakes district, nr>d the rain which has fallen has Blightly raised the rivers, so that there is some danger of a flood. As the rain, however, is only interI mittent the" rivers will probably not; be so ! high as they were last week. At Wyndham on Sunday last the Rev. J. B. Smellie intimated from the pulpit that he had received an unsolicited call from Australia which he had decided to accept. Everyone present was, he said, aware of the adverse circumstances under which he had laboured for many months past, and much as he regretted to sever his connection with those who had so loyally supported him throughout his recent troubles, he could not but think it was Letter for him and better for the church that he should accept the invitation which had been' given to him. The Kirk Session unsmiipously resolved that while deeply regretting the prospect of losing the services of Mr •Sjnellie, they do not, in the circumstances, offer any opposition to his accepting the appointment offered him in Australia. They, however, place on record their appreciation of his arduous and successful labours as minister of Wyndham parish. The congregation passed a somewhat similar resolution. The services of Mr Middlemiss, bailiff at Gore, are to be dispensed with, the object being to appoint a clerk of court, who will also act as bailiff. Our Arrowtown correspondent telegraphs that William Birth, better known as "Billy the Bear," a very old resident of Macetown, died on Monday night at the age of 85 years. As a lesult of a departmental inquiry, Constables Cotter and Connell, of Oamavu, aie to be transferred to Christchurch. Dr W. A. Fleming is gazetted surgeon-cap-tain of the Clutha Mounted Rifles. The poll of ratepayers of the Borough of Mataura to sanction the raising of a loan of £500 for works required resulted unfavourably, -only 83 out of 172 votes being recorded. Mr S. E. Brent is appointed registrar of marriages, etc., for East Taieri, and Mr A* M. Pearson deputy-registrar for Qamarn,