LAND BALLOT.

RAI VALLEY AND LINKWATER

SECTIONS

There was a large attendance of applicants and the general public in the Blenheim Courthouse this morning, when the ballot for five sections of cutout bush landj. second-class, in Rimu Gully, and one section«»at Wakamarina and another in the Linkwater district, was held.~"'•.■•.-...■

The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr F. Stephenson Smith), having read the regulations for the conduct of the ballot, the applicants were invited .to .appoint scrutineers. Messrs '• Itobert Forrest and M. GrJKensill were appointed, and the ballot proceeded, v The lottery is decided somewhat as follows:—-Marbles numbered from one upwards, equal to the number of applicants for each section, are placed in a small octagonal drum, which is then locked by the Commissioner, lifted, and roughly shaken by the scrutineers and officials. The lid is then unlocked and lifted by the Commissioner, and one marble extracted. The number it bears is compared with that on the official list of applicants, and thus the name of the lucky person is ascer>tained.

The result of the ballots was as follows: —

Section 8, Block 1., Wakamarina S.D., 307 acres; 137 applicants. — George, Perciyal Kellor, blacksmith, Eai Valley. Section 9, Block 1., Wakamarina S.D., 245 acres; 113 applicants. — Alfred? Edwin Barton, train-layer, Peloras.

Section 2, Block 11., Wakamarina S.D., 202 acres; 105 applicants. — Agnes Martha Gilchrist, spinster, Korcmiko.

The iCJommissioner announced that owing to Miss Gilchrist, who was not a "cash" applicant, having drawn a section; in the far corner of the block, and the only contiguous section having been already drawn by another person, her name would be withdrawn from the remaining ballots. He explained that if ehe drew another section, not contiguous, she could not fulfil the residence conditions. .'■'/

Section 1, Block V, 202 acres; 141 -applicants.—Mary Neal, wife of Charles Neal, farmer, Maliaidpawa.; Section 2, Block F., Wakamarina S.D., 157 acres; 195 applicants. — Richard Wandeii; commission agent, Blenheim. :;-|.-,r-7;;: ;', ■•'

Sections 1, 2 and 4, Block XIII., Linkwater S.D., 879 acres; 7 appli-cants.—-No. 6. Henry Newman, coach proprietor, Nelson.

Sections 10 and 11, Block XI., Wakamarina S.D., 317 acres; 33 applicants. —Charles Forrest Hart, farmer, CJanvastown.