“WASHING-UP” BILL

Otago Witness, Issue 3213, 13 October 1915, Page 4

“WASHING-UP” BILL

OTAGO MATTERS DEALT WITH. (Fhom Otjb Own Cohbkbpondent.) WELLINGTON, October 5._ The “Washing-up” Bill introduced in, the House of Representatives to-day is an unusually lengthy measure,- containing 130 clauses. A large number of Otago matters are dealt with.

Tho Bill authorises the exchange between the Crown and the Otago University Council of certain lands in the Otago land district. The lands to be transferred to tho Crown comprise 72-10 acres, being an area of unsurveyed land in the Ohau River and Benmore district, and the lands to be granted to tho University comprise 3650 acres of unsurveyed land in the Ohau River district, 2130 acres of unsurveyed land in tho Benmore district, and 1730 acres of unsurveyed land in the Benmore and Benmoroside districts. Provision is made for vesting in the Port Chalmers Borough Council a portion of land at present the property of the Otago Harbour Board for the purpose of forming a new part of Macandrow road, presumably across the reclamation, while a portion of Macandrow road at present in use is declared closed and vested in the Harbour Board in lieu of the new part of the road. Debentures have been issued by the Oamaru Borough Council for a loan of £30,000 for electrical and water supply, and a special rate has been declared as security for the loan. Doubt has arisen as to tho validity of tho special rate and of tho debentures, and a clause in tho Bill declares that they are valid. The Bill provides that the Crown shall acquire certain municipal reserves in Cromwell and grant to the borough council certain Crown lands of equal values. The council will transfer to the Crown the following lands:—Sections 2,3, 4,5, 6,7, 8,9, block XI; sections 1 to 6, block XII ; sections 5,6, 7,8, 13, 14, 15, 16, block L; sections 1 to 14, block LYI; sections 5,6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, block LXXVII; sections--1 to 14, block LXXIX —all in tho town of Cromwell. The lands to be granted to th© Borough of Cromwell are as follow:—Sections 1 to 14, block XXI j sections 1 to 11 and sections 13 and 14. block XXII; sections 1 to 14, block XXIX; sections 1 to 14, block XXX; sections 1 to 6, and sections 8 to 13, block XXXYII; sections 9 to 13, block XLV —all in tho town of Cromwell.

A number of years ago the Alexandra Borough Council acquired a one-tenth interest in certain water rights and mining privileges, with the purpose of utilising them as a water supply for the borough. However, they proved of no value for this purpose, and had to be abandoned as a permanent water supply. The council also secured a supply from another source and privileges for £SOO, and a clause in the Bill authorises the sale._ The Bill defines section 3 of “ The Dunedin City and Suburban Tramways and Water Power Amendment Act, 1912,” and declares that it shall apply to all mining nrivilegcs or -licenses set forth or referred to in the first schedule of the Act, with the exception of license for water-race No. 16, for dam No. 5, and for special site No. 5. Miscellaneous provisions in the Bill are as follow: —Declaring the City of Dunedin and Bay Town District to be one continuous area for the purposes of the provisions relatino- to the union of boroughs with town districts; vesting certain Crown lands, totaling 231 acres, in the Cromwell Borough, and authorising the leasing of them; authorising the cancellation of the forfeiture of the interest of W. H. Marsh in his license on section 27. block VIII, Catlins survey district, in order to allow the mortgagee (to whom notice of forfeiture was not given) to protect the interests; cancelling the reservation for public buildings for the Stock Department of section 67. block_ IV, Sutton survey district, and declaring it to be Crown land available for disposal under the Land Board; to sell by auction section 4. block VII, Peninsula survey district; declaring certain closed roads on the Earnscleugli Settlement to be settlement land; authorising the Otago Land Board to issue to Janet H. Fenwick a lease in exchange ever certain lands in the Kauroo survey district, at a rental of £195 per annum; authorising the Southland Acclimatisation Society to° sell certain Lands vested in it; vesting allotment No. 20, part of Roy reservo, block I, Ooro, in tlic Goro Borougli Council for the purposes of the Goro Domain.