WASTE LANDS BOARD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 11, 12 July 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

WASTE LANDS BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held on Thursday afternoon the 10th inst. Present— Mr J. T. Thomson, Chief Commissioner (in the chair), and Messrs Strode, Butter worth, Clarke and ReidMr George Gordon applied to be allowed to purchase section 42, Waihemo district. Refused, pending receipt of Attorney General's opinion, which has been sought for. Mr Murdoch M'Lennan applied for a license under the 161 st clause of the Otago Waste Lands Act 1872, to occupy about 1000 acres of open land discovered at the mouth of the Tautuku river. Being the holder of Run No. 446, he desired to have a place on the coast for shearing and storage. Lioense to be granted under the 161 st Clause of the " Waste Lands Act 1872, at a fee of £1 per annum. The matter of the appointment of a District Land Officer for Lawrence came up. Warden to be appointed, subject to approval of the Government. Messrs Connell and Moodie, on behalf of Messrs John and Allan McLean, requested the Board to cause the boundaries of their runs on the Hawea Lake country to be officially laid down upon the complete survey map of the Interior district, and to appoint a day for confirming the same. The Chief Surveyor to lay down boundaries of all runs covered by new maps, for general information. The applications of Messrs Inder and George to be appointed auctioneers for the Board for- the Mount Ida district, was recommended by the Government, and approved at usual rates. Banger Hughan reported on the application of Mr Robson for a lease of Totara island, under clause 169. Robson's applicatisn to be granted under a bond of £1000. Ranger Hughan reported on the application of Messrs George Gray Russell and Co., to have section 37> block 1, Pomahaka district, put up for sale. Approved. The applications of Messrs G. Stephens, R. Francis, and P. Law —transmitted by the District Land Officer — to have their business sites at Naseby offered for sale. To be surveyed and put up with valuation as recommended by warden. The application of Mr Patrick White to purchase his business site Tuapeka Flat. To be sold by auction as land of special value, having been so long occupied, and at the upset price of £20 per acre. To be first surveyed at the expense of applicant. The Naseby District Land Officer reported on an application of the Canterbury and Ota^o Association, to purchase 92 acres of their homestead on run No. 250, Deep Dell. Approved. Mr Alexander Mollison applied to purchase a piece of open land, being part of Bush Reserve, block 1, Clarendon district. Referred to ranger for a report. A petition was lodged against the sale of part of block I, Waitahuna west, applied for by Mr James Smith. The Goverment sent a recommendation that the Board stay proceedings until further enquiries be made. Proceedings to be stayed as requested. Mr D. MoKellar, M.P.C., wrote, forwarding a petition against the sale of land on run No. 354, Nevis district, petitioners having seen a notice of the intention of Mr Harrison, the runholder, to apply for his pre-emptive right. Referred to District Land Officer as warden. The Town Clerk, Naseby, telegraphed protesting against the sale of sections 70, 71, 118, 120, and 121, Naseby. The Government recommended all sections to be withdrawn. To be reserved. Maps of section 13, block 3, and 14, block 3, and 16, block 15, Maungatua, applied for as unsurveyed land, were submitted for approval, and approved. Mr Tolinie (who did uot occupy his seat on the Board) applied to have the plan of survey of a block of land in Waipahee distriot approved of. Mr Thomson left the Board while this case was on, and Mr Strode occupied the chair. Mr Gillies, of Messrs Gillies and Street, objected, on behalf of Mr Logan, to the application being passed, as it was now surveyed. Mr Tolmie said it was only within the last five minutes that he had become awai*e that there was any objection to this application of his for laud at the back of his original purchase. His application was in before any other. He had got the ground, rough hill laud, fenced in, and instead of getting 640 acres fenced in, -there were over 800 acres. It was rough Und, and lie wanted as little as he could of it } and the best fencing line, the one followed, took in over 800 acres. The fencing had cost him £360, and Mr Logan had applied for the land after it had been fenced. Mr Gillies said Mr Tolmie took possession wholly and solely at his own risk. Mr Tolmie said he did so after permission 'from the Chief Commissioner. Mr Gillies said Mr Tolmie' s application 'was for an aroa stated definitely in his own handwriting, and Mr Logan had applied for the remainder of the unsold land there. Mr Tolmie was now going beyond his application, and accordingly went in. upon Mr Logan's,

No man should be allowed to take possession of Government land until he was legally in possession of it, whioh Mr Tolmie wai not Mr Strode asked Mr Prentice to explain why he had surverad the extra quantity of land. '»/<"» Mr Prentice said he had understood the original application was amended. Mr Gillies said there was no proof of amendment. Mr Tolmie did not care for the 100 acres, but complained that after the fence was up this came forward. He had something to risk until the fence was up ; 3000 acres of his land was open. The plan was approved of and Mr Tolmie was deolared the parchaser. The plans of other similar applications were also approved of. It was resolved that a depasturing lease on Pigeon uland, Lake Wanaka, be sold by auction. The Board passed a resolution requesting the Chief Commissioner to communicate with the Executive, to get a batter room for the holding of the Board's meeting.