TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 36

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Daring the holidays correspondent! are re. guested to SUSPEND THEIR USUAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Any letters on Specially Important Topics intended for the issue of December 28 most reach the office not later than FRIDAY NIGHT, December 23» and letters for issue of January 4 by FRIDAY NIGHT, December 30.

This arrangement is necessary in order that employees should be able to enjoy the four statutory holidays.

The Timaru Operatic Society has "La Masootte" in active rehearsal for production at an early date. The society's previous production, "Les Cloches de Come Ville," was received with considerable favour. William Olay dropped dead on Monday lit Waioura, "Wellington, it >s supposed from heart disease. . Mr Gordon J. Reid, district manager, sends us a copy of the Commercial Union calendar . for 1905. x

| OTA6O LAND BOARD. J The usual weekly meeting of the Land Board, held yesterday, was attended by the Commissioner of Grown Lands (Mr D. Barren;, Messrs H. Clark, W. Dallas, and G. Livingstone. A letter from Mary Shine, lessee of section 88, block 11, Ardgowan Estate, stating that she had now complied with the regulation with reference to cutting of hedges and stubbing of gorse, was received. The board considered an application by P. C. Grant for an occupation lease, under ' The Mining Districts Land Occixpation Act, 1894, ' over eight acres, part of mining reserve in block "VIII, Benger district. The warden forwarded a report. — Application declined, as warden's report was unfavourable. Ranger O'Neill reported on an application by K. M'Kenzie for a license to cut fencing at Back Creek, block 11, Eankleburn district. — License granted for six months at xisual royalty rates. Thomas A. Thornton applied for a lease over section 28, block VI, Akatore district, coal reserve. — Grazing license granted; rent, 20s pel annum. The Tinder-secretary for Lands wrote stating that the application by Alexander W. Scott for an area of 10 acres in block I, Kawarau district, on lease in perpetuity, had been approved. — Application granted; capital value, 20s per acre. Ranger O'Neill reported on the application by James Burke for a license over sections 16 and 17, block XIV, Pomahaka Downs Estate, j for 12 months. — Granted, subjeot to the following conditions: — (1) That the boundary fences be made sheep-proof and kept in repair; (2) that in the event of the section being selected during the term a moiety only of the rent to be refunded. JRent. Is per acre. I Ranger O'Neill jreported on sections 6, 7, and 8, block X, Mount Hyde district, recently held by the late A. B. Hinchcliffe. — Sections to be grouped and offered under optional tenures ; capital value, 6s 8d pei acre; valuation for improvements, £18. John Watkins applied for a lease-in-perpe-tuity over 100 acres of unsurveyed land in block XII, Tarras district. — To be informed that before -further action can be taken it will be necessary for the applicant to obtain the runholder's consent. Application by Samuel Borland for an occupation lease, under " The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 18*94," over six acres in block 11, Benger district. The warden forwarded a report. — Granted, subject io survey. Application by William Thomas Ridd for an occupation lease, under " The Mining Districts ( Land Occupation Act, 1894," over two acres in block 111, Benger district. The warden forwarded a report.— Granted, subject to survey. r F. J. Hansen applied for a license to occupy section 23, block 111, Benger district. — Consideration deferred. I Ranger Mackenzie forwarded an application from E. H. Green for a license over an area i I of about 2500 acres -on the east side of Pyke | River, adjoining Run No. 492. — Grazing license granted, at rental of 20s per annum. The board was requested to authorise the Receiver of Land Revenue to deal with the sum of £15 15s paid as valuation for improvements on section 72a, block XI. Glenkenich district. — Receiver "to deal with as follows : — To revenue: Arrears of rent £S 3s" 9d, and 30s cost of re-entry; to J. B. Macalister, £8 Is 3c!. Dateiell and Haggitt, on behalf of Denis Roughan, applied to purchase an area of three acres fronting section. 10, block IV, Tuapeka East district. — Application to be advertised and referred to. warden, for report. ■* The Maniototo County Council forwarded a statement of proposed expenditure of thirds and fourths for period June 27 to October 1, "1904. — Approved. The board was requested 'to authorise the Receiver of Land Revenue to deal with the sum of £14 paid as valuation for improvements on Run No. 261k. — Receiver to pay to revenue on account of arrears of rent. The board considered as to how section 115, block V, Otepopo district, should be dealt with at the- expiry of. the license held by A. Anderson. — "Referred to ranger for report as to value of fencing on the section. M. Joyce applied for a .license to occupy part of section 6, block VIII, town of Moeraki, he having purchased the interests of the late James Fenton in the same. — License to issue at rental of 10s per annum. Ranger Atkinson reported that T. L. King, lessee of allotment Ba, Windsor Park No. 1 Estate, has not complied with the regulation requiring Bsm to cut all live fences and stub gorse not growing as hedges. — Lessee to be notified that unless he*complies with the regulations within tyro months the board will require to deal with the matter. Mr M. M*Lean reported on the application by Todd Bros, and Co. for a license to cut flax in blocks IX and X. Tuaoeka West district, part of mining reserve. — License granted for 12 months ; royalty, £4. The board considered an application by Mrs E. M. Brown for an occupation lease, under " The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894," over an area of about 35 acres on Run No. 211, Kyeburn district. The ranger forwarded a report. — Held over. Ranger Atkinson reported that T. E. Goodall, lessee of section 17, Teaneraki Settlement, had not complied with the residence conditions of his lease. — To be called upon to show cause within one month why his lease should not be forfeited for non-compliance with residence and other conditions. I District Surveyor Wiltnot suggested rental for section 20, block XIV, Benger district, granted Mrs M. O'Brien under occupation lease. — Rent to be 6d per acre. William Allan wrote withdrawing his application for a license to occupy part of section 13, block XI, Woodland district.-—Re-ceived. William Hanger, on behalf of Ann L. Hanger, renewed her application for an area of about 10 acres in the northern corner of section 86. block I, St. Bathans district, adjoining section 3, block VIII. — Application declined. Ranger M'Dougjall forwarded an application by George Gaudin for a license to exit 1000 black pine posts in Cameron's bush, three miles north of TempCeton's Creek, Makararoa. License granted; usual royalty rates. A letter was read from IT. B. Crawford, on behalf of Mrs M. Evans, -with reference to her application for an additional area of land adjoining the land held by her under occupation lease in block X, Maruwenua district.— Sketch of land required by applicant to be supplied. Alexander Gray applied for a license to occupy section 13, block XIII, Pomahaka Downs Estate, for grazing purposes for six months. — Granted, subject to following conditions : — (1) That boundary fences be made sheep-proof and kept in repair ; (2) that in the event of the section being selected during the term si moiety only of ths rent to be refunded. Rent, 6d per acre. A memo, from the Under-secretary of Lands intimating that the application by J. M'Kenzie for an area of five acres on Run No. 354, Lorn district, had been approved, was received. John Ritchie applied for an occupation lease over 50 acres, part of section 6, block 11, Kawarau district, under " The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894" (Brodrick and Chalmer, agents). — Granted, subject to survey. William Perriam applied for a yearly license over the 50 acres of the mining reserve in block V, Kawarau district, recently held under a similar license by Alexander Scott. A letter was received from Mr Scolt agreeins to the

issue of a license to Mr Perriam provided he (Scott) has the use of the land during his lea,se of the Gibbston Hotel. (Brodrick and Chalmer, agents.) — License granted to William Perriam ; rent 20s per annum, with a condition agreed to by Mr Perriam in favour of Mr Scctt.

Regarding the application by Mrs Mary Young to purchase an area of about two acrg s in block IV, Tuapeka East district, north of section 83, the warden forwarded a report, and th« application was granted; capital value, 20s per acre.

The following applications for rural lands on lease-in-perpetuity tenure were approved : — 4357, James O'Reilly, sections 18, 19, 35 to 39, block VI, Rankleburn district; 4358. W. A. M'Kenzie, sections 6 to 9, block XIV, Greenvale district ; 4359, J. A. S. Jenkins, section 13, block XIII, Greenvale district.

An application by G. M. M'lutosh to purchase sections 5 and 6, block IV, Tiger Hill district, held on perpetual lease, was ordered to be forwarded for the Minister's approval.

The following applications to transfer were approved: — S.C.R. 349 Thomas M'Lay to W. E. H. Elliott, section 4, block VI, sections 3, block VII, and section 5, block VIII, Nenthorn district; small grazing sections 8, 10, and 11, block 111, Nenthorn district, from Winifred E. M'Lay to Mary Paterson.

The board was requested to authorise the Receiver of Land Revenue to deal with the following amounts paid as valuation for improvements: — Section 13, block XIII, Greenvale district, £270. — Receiver to pay over as follows: To revenue, arrears of rent £32 0s lOd. and cost of re-entry 30s; to Messrs Sligo and Hislop (as trustees), £236 9s 2d. Sections 18, 19, 35 to 39, block VI, Rankleburn district, £126. — To revenue, cost of re-entry, 30s ; to J. R. W. Beiver, £124 10s.

C. F. Dunnet wrote asking to be allowed up to New Year ;n which to remove his property from section 13, block XIII, Greenvale district. — James Jenkins, now lessee of the section, wrote asking that he be given .immediate possession. — Dunnet' s application declined; stock to be removed forthwith.

The board was requested to determine as to what action be taken in regard to arrears of rent due by John King on pastoral license No. 1123, Tuapeka. — Minister to be requested to authorise a prosecution for the recovery of the overdue rent.

- Messrs Hallenstein Bros, and Co., of the Zew Zealand Clothing Factory, are presenting to their customers a neat little Christmas gift in the shape of a pocket into which is fitted a supply of court plaster.