WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XI, Issue 756, 16 March 1878, Page 3

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

{From the "Daily Times.") The ordinary meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held on Wednesday. There were present— The Chief Commissioner (J. P. Maitland, Esq.), and Commissioners Bastings, Clark, Green, and Thomson. TTXAPEKA WEST. Interim certificates granted by the Board of Enquiry, Lawrence, to Stewart M'Comb, for sections 48, 49, and 66, block 111, Tuapeka West, and John M'Comb for sections 57, 56, and 68, block 111, same district, came on for consideration. MrDenniston appeared for the Dartons, who, at the Board of Enquiry, obj acted to certificates being issued to the M'Combs, and Mr Mouat appeared for J. M'Comb. Mr Denniston asked the Board to exercise its right of veto, and urged in support of his right to be heard in support of the objections that section . 52a ' of the Land Act gave the Board the fullest powers to take all points into considera-

tion, and that it was not open to the Board to interpolate into those large and distinct powers such words as "upon grounds of policy. " The Board should not leave the Board of Enquiry to decide legal questions of groat nicety without any appeal. The Chief Commissioner was strongly of opinion that the Board had no right to review the decision of the Board of Enquiry. Mr Bastings was of the same opinion. If Boards of Enquiry were interfered with they would not act at all. After farther discussion the Board declined to review the objections already considered and dealt with by the Board, of Enquiry. CROOKSTON". The Board considered the question of dealing with blocks XVI and XVII, Crookston district ; also a memo, from ! the Under- Secretary for Crown Lands, stating that applications from Tapanui and Roxburgh for endowments of 2000 acres respectively, situated within these blocks had been received, and were being considered ; also a list of valuations by the Chief Surveyor. — It was decided that the Governor should be recommended to put aside sections 1 to 5 and 7 to 16 in block XVI, and sections 4 to 18, block XVII, Crookston, for agricultural leasing ; and sections 1, 2, and 3, block XVII, for deferred payment.