The unusual business meeting of the Crown Lands Board was held yesterday afternoon in the Board's Ofiices, Custom-i ---streer, Mr G. Mueller, Crown Lands Com missioner, presiding. A large amount of routine business was under consideration, but nothing of special public importance came up for discussion. The Board sat from 2.15 p.m. till 6 p.m., there being present besides the Commissioner, Major Harris and Messrs Bagnall and R. Thomp son, M.H.R. A.otter was read from the Surveyor-General objecting to the proposal of the Board to reduce the area of the Puhi puhi Gold and Silvor Mining Reserve, in order to induce settlement. The question of the rightful vesting of the trust of the North Albertland Public Hall again came up for consideration, but was adjourned for a month. It was decided to recommend the Govern ment to form a new road through the Maioro swamp, at the request of a number of the Waipipi settlers. The chairman of the IVlangapai School Commissioners wrote protesting against part of section 3. parish of Mangapai, beiug diverted to the hail trustees for the purpose of building a ball thereon. The letter was received. Mr R. M. Houston (Wbangarei) wrote asking what was the position as to owner ship of land of the widow of the late Alex. Maekay, who had been in occupation of a block of 75 acres in the Karaka block, and who had been killed after two years' residence thereon. The matter was reierred to the Surveyor-General. It was decided to fix the royalty on crude petroleum ob tained by Messrs Ross, Rankin, and others, ■who are now boring on Crown lands near Kotorua, at Jd per gallon. Ib was decided to recommend the Government to vest the defence reserve at the end of Point Chevalier in the Point Chevalier Road Board for public purposes.
