Messrs Sinclair Application Confirmed
The application of the Mayor of Wellington that section 94, Wainui-o-mata, might be reserved from sale again came up for consideration at this afternoon’s meeting of the Waste Lands Board, when the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr J. G. Holdsworth) submitted to the Board a further communication which had been received from the Mayor on the subject. It was dated the 9th inst., and ran as follows:-
Dear Sir, In reference to my communication of Wednesday last, 7th inst., I wish it to be understood that the Corporation is perfectly willing to repay any sum that may have been advanced in connection with the application to purchase section 94, Wainui-o-mata district, together with interest at the rate of 8 per cent per annum. Will you kindly lay this letter before the Waste Lands Board at its next meeting? I have, &c., George Fisher.” The Commissioner also read the surveyor’s report on the section in question. It was dated 12th February and was as follows:- “In reply to your memo., number and date as per margin, I have the honour to report as follows on section 94, Wainui-o-mata, containing 666 acres. The whole of the section lies on a steep sidling, and is covered for the most part with mixed bush of good quality, and would be suitable for grazing if cleared, as the soil is good. The sawing timber on the section consists of rimu and white pine, with a small quantity of totara, all lying within easy access of the Messrs Sinclair’s tramway. Speaking, generally, there is little or no level land on the section – I have, &c., James McKenzie, for Chief Surveyor.” The Commissioner explained, incidentally, that the strip of land in question had not a frontage to water or road, but was simply a frontage to the back line of sections already held by the Messrs Sinclair. Reverting to the Mayor’s letter, which appeared in the EVENING POST on Tuesday last, he produced a map of the district and, after pointing out the locality to the members of the Board, said they would perceive that for all practical purposes the section was a rectangular one, though it was not strictly rectangular owing to certain irregularities in the back line. Mr Bunny enquired whether the strip of land about which the Mayor wrote was included in any mortgage of the Sinclairs’. If not, he did not think any harm would be done by reserving the section from sale, in accordance with the Mayor’s wish. Mr Mason urged that surely the Board had nothing whatever to do with the private dealings of the purchaser of Crown Lands. Mr Bunny said the Board was asked to reserve the land for the purposes of the Wainui-o-mata water scheme, and so far as his views went he would do all he could to assist the Corporation in that direction so long as by doing so they would not be inflicting any injury in the manner he had indicated.
The Board might be doing a great injury to the public of Wellington if they were not cautious in the course they adopted. He moved that the further consideration of the matter be postponed for a fortnight, and in the meantime he would himself enquire into this question of a mortgage for his own satisfaction. Mr Beetham did not consider it was a part of the business of the Board to institute any such enquiries. Mr Bunny urged that the case was an exceptional one, and must be dealt with in an exceptional way. There was no necessity for hurry, and no harm could result to anyone in the matter being adjourned for a fortnight, so that he might satisfy his own mind on the point. Mr Beetham would not object to an adjournment if Mr Bunny wished to satisfy himself respecting any provision of the Act, or difficulty of that kind. The Commissioner held that it would be a most dangerous precendent to adjourn the consideration of an application in order to enquire into a transaction between private parties. The present application ought to be taken on its merits, whether the land belonged to A., B., or C. Mr Mason concurred, and expressed his opinion that the Board ought to fulfill their engagements. They had virtually agreed to let the Messrs Sinclair have this land, and it had been paid for some years ago in good faith. In order to test the feeling of the Board, he moved that Messrs Sinclairs’ application as registered, be confirmed. Mr Taylor seconded the motion. Mr Beetham here remarked that if the Corporation wanted the land in question, the could deal with it under the Public Works Act, when the matter could be referred to arbitration. Mr Mason’s motion was then carried, Mr Bunny alone recording his vote against it. The application was accordingly confirmed.
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