LAIND BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6127, 14 March 1898, Page 1

LAIND BOARD.

A meeting of the Land Board was held at the Board-room on Friday; present — Messrs Sidney "Weetinan (Commissioner of Crown Lands, chairman), D. M'Millan, A. C. Pringle, J. M'Lachlan and E. Meredith, M.H.R. Small grazing run leases were granted at Burke's. Pass to Robert Guthrie, 4092 acre's 2 roods ; John M'Rae, 4307 acres and Donald M'Rae 2921 acres 2 roods 20 perches. At Hunter's Hills, to John Elder, 369*5 acres, and Thomas Pringle 5703 acres; and at Station Peaks, near Hakateramea, to Rupert Cameron, 4536 acres ; Donald Macf arlane, 8796 acres, and Donald M'Kenzie; 2840 acres. The following applications were also approved : — Edward L. England, section 59, reserve 389, Geraldine ; Patrick Cannon, section 21, J M'Kenzie suburbs, Cheviot ; Mary Rapman, i block VIII., Lowry Peaks, and Alice Grey, I section 5, Wharenui Hamlet. A freehold j title was issued to James Austin. Applications for transfers of leases were approved, subject to the usual conditions, as [ follow : — Ellen Ponsonby to Frederick J. | Brassington, lot 25, M'Kenzie suburbs ; | Thomas Pritchard to George Pritchard, Muruwiti Settlement ; John F. Stanley to William F. Bassett, Braco Settlement. The Crown Lands Ranger reported on Crown lands near Rangitata. It was resolved to approve of the land.* being offered for selection under Part 111. of the Land Act at a capital value of 12s 6d per acre. An application for renewal of splitter's license was granted, and the applicant was warned that he would be held responsible for any fire occurring in Ms area. Mr Watson was granted a temporary occupation of about forty chains on the Selwyn riverbed. The Commissioner of Crown Lands reported that Torewai Matenga had failed to complete the purchase of Glenavy town sections Nos. 61 and 62, offered on Nov. 10, and it was resolved to cancel the sale and forfeit the deposit paid at time of auction. Reserve No. 2997, Chertsey township, was agreed to be offered for lease for five years at an upset rental of 3s per acre, subject to conditions. The Commissioner of Crown Lands laid before the Board the report of the Court of Inquiry held at Oxford respecting the recent fires in the Oxford and Birch Hill districts, and Mr M'Lachlan moved — "That the Board, having considered the report of the Court of Inquiry respecting the origin of the bush fires there, regrets that the evidence obtained is not sufficient to fix the responsibility for lighting the fire on any person in particular." Mr Meredith seconded the resolution, and moved as an addition—" That the Government be requested to issue stringent regulations to prevent the destruction of bush on Crown Lands within the Canterbury land district, and that the same be printed and exhibited at sawmills, railway stations and post offices in the land district for the information of the public." The addition was accepted and the resolution unanimously carried. A memorandum from the head office relative to reducing the required improvements on holdings in the Orakipara settlement was considered, and it was resolved to obtain a report from the Crown Lands Kanger on the matter. A letter was received from the Ashburton County Council objecting to the issue of riverbed leases on account of damage to protective works, &c. It was resolved to inform Messrs Spencer and . Cochrane that their applications could not be granted. Correspondence with Messrs PerrJ, Perry and Kmnerney on behalf of Mr Matthew Burkes Pass was laid before the Board. Appheations for extension of time to pay