WASTE LANDS BOARD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 10, 5 July 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held on Thursday afternoon last, the 3rd inst.

There were present the Chief Commissioner (Mr J. T. Thomson), in the chair, and Messrs Tolmie, Strode, Butterworth, and Clarke.

THE MAREWENUA BLOCK. The Hon. R. Campbell, through his agent, Mr A. C. Begg, made his adjourned application for the purchase of this land. Mr. Stout opposed. The Inspecting Surveyor, Mr M'Kerrow, now reported to the following effect : -The application comprises 1 1,586 acres, of which fully 5000 acres consists of level terrace land and easy sloping spurs. The remainder is steeper and higher, and purely pastoral country. On the 5000 acres the land is not generally suitable for small holdings of from 80 to 100 acres ; but for settlers, having 400 or 500 acres, who could combine cropping with grazing, it is well adapted. The land is about the only area left in |North • Otago suitable for settlement. As to its auriferous nature, he and Messrs McQuade and Thomson, of the Mining Association, prospected for two days with- tin dish and shovel in the Ofcekaike, Doctor's Creek, and Otiak Valleys. In Otekaike Valley only two or three minute specks were detected at the most in any dishful. No trace was discovered in Doctors creek or the Otiak, but in the gullies running into the Otiak minute specks were obtained. Conglomerate appears on the east border of the land applied for, and a piece of it which wa* pounded yielded two specks of gold. Gold does exist, and will only be payable if the ground ia washed on an extensive scale. It would take some months to bring water in, and to sink shafts to .ascertain the payableness of the ground. If the application were granted, it might prevent the diversion of water for the proposed water race from the Otekaike to the auriferous ground already reserved, as in tne case of the proposal to divert the Kakanui. He recommended the application should be granted intact, or declined. Sale confirmed and survey approved, Mr Clark dissenting. MISCELLANEOUS.

The District Surveyor reported on an application 'of Messrs Wm. and David McCreedy for an extension of their coal lease at Kyeburn. Mr Bathgate opposed on behalf of Mr John Durward ; Mr Turton for applicants.

Extension not to be granted. Ranger Hughan reported that the Wairuna, Merrie Creek, and Popotunoa Bush Reserves, leased to Mr Pollock, were in better order than when he had taken them.

Proceedings proposed to be taken against Mr Polio jk to "be withdrawn. "

Mr Alexander Pullar applied for section 18, block 1, Waikouaiti, to plant trees and complete a property. Declined.

Messrs Hughes and Jaggers' postponed application to purchase the site of their brewery on the Clyde and Cromwell road came en. The consent of the runholder, Mr McLean, to the sale was produoed. Approved. Land to be sold at upset of £20 per acre. Objections were lodged to a resolution carried at a meeting in the Tuturau, that no sheep should bo depastured thereon. The Board considered the matter one in which they should not interfere.

A letter was read from Mr H. H. Homer, submitting that he was entitled to a free grant at Martin's Bay. If claimant proves he has resided on the land for two years from date ot authorised occupation, a free grant to issue to him. Applications from Messrs McAlister, Blair, and Coffey, to purchase laud held by them under agricultural lease were approved of. ' A number of applications to exchange leases from the old to the present Act were granted. The sale of land under agricultural lease, at Cromwell, to Mr Jay, was declined. Messrs Smith and Anderson appeared for applicant. ri^

We take the following from the Taranaki Herald' :— « We have receivea information from Patea that the line of road behind Mount ligmont is being pushed on with considerable energy. Captain Blake has now a force of some sixty men -Europeans and Natives— and good bush hands are being taken on. The advanced party, who are exploring and blazing t\e track, are now some twelve miles forward, and . o far the country it very favorable for road construction. As the count y Is^bo level at boti' ends, we may fairly assume that no greal difficult 3S be encounte. 3d iv carrying the line through. We ho >c" ;that tle ivork will be etaived at this end at an early date, so tha'j the whi al laay be completed during the ensuing summer,"