CROWN LEASEHOLDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 228, 26 September 1893, Page 8

CROWN LEASEHOLDS.

THE AWAKINO BLOCK.

FORFEITURE OF SECTIONS.

The Awakino block of land, in the extreme soubh-weab of the province of Auckland, just) north of tbe Mokau Kiver on the Wost Coast, was tho subjfjcD of an important discussion today at the meeting of the Auckland Crown Lands Board. Thia Board has jurisdiction over tho waste lands in that district which are now being settled by Taranaki men, who have taken up largo areas of the block.

Several casea of alleged "dummyism" came up at last meeting of the Board, when ib was decided to torfoit tho perpetual lease sections of A. Bluck (45 acres) and F. Bluck (oC acres), also tho grazing runs of Thos. Bayley, junr. (11,000 acres), and J. McNeiceiS64 acres), all at Awakino, for non-compiiance with tho regulations of the Land Act. The regulations violated provided for residence on the land and for non-affecting of improvements. It was stated that these lands were acquired by the holders for speculative purposes, ana not for bona fide eettlomont. This afternoon a doputation of settlors from tho Awakino, consisting of Mosara F. B;uck, John Elliott and McNeico, waited on the Board with roforenco to the forfeituro of their 6ecDions. A letter was read from F. Bluck protesting ygainst tho forfeiture of hia seciion of tho Board. Ho had disposed of businoaa at Waitara with tho intention of settling on his wife's section ab Awakino and working his unsurveyed section. He had endoavourod to comply with tho regulations, and stated that ho had offoctod double tho improvements requirod. lie cskod the Board to ro-consider their decision to forfeit tho section.

A EE-HEARINCI. Ib was decided that a ro-hearing bo granted by the Board with regard to the forfeiture of the Awakino sections. The iirsb case dealt with wa3 that of Mr F. Bluclr. The Commif-eioßer stated that the Board at last mooting had had the ranger's reports before them, and the Hoard would always consido a ranger'a report on such ltiUßoholds quite sufficient. ■ y. BLDCk's STATAMENT. Fredorick Bluck stated on oath that he wont on the section at Awakino in 18S8Jle had lived ab tho Mokau for about two months, and then burnod oft' bush and j clcarod the land. Ho had done consider- J able work on his section whoro ho lived off, and on for two yoara. Ho loft tho; section in 1890. Ha had endeavoured to obtain tho adjoining native section. Ho handed tho section over to a Mr Kiordan, v/ho, it was arranged, was to pay him tho cost of hia improvements (£35) Eubject to tho Board's approval. His wife's section had never been worked by himself or his wife. It wus utilised by Mr John Elliott, the arrangement buinj* that ho waa to have it until another piece of land could bo got: Mr Eiliott waa merely keeping tho land for him, and paid tho rent to witness. Tho kind was in a very remote position, and he was moroly keeping it till he could get a large piece- of land for his home. Riordan waR to pay him rent for the other section. The Commissioner said that Mr Bluck's case had bean a rather hard one. He was endoavouring to get a native section, for liia section was too small. llr Bluck had had formidable diffinillblOH to contend with. Tho principle point tho Commissioner said, was that. Mr Bluck had not used the land for hia own purposes. Mr Bluk : Tliat I contend I have." Tho Commissioner: " Oh, no, you have not. You have not used it altogether for your own benefit, though you havo intended right enough to do so."

Mr'Bagnall said that he believed Mr Bluck was a bona fide selector, but at tho same time ho lind not obsorved tho strict letter or the law.

Tho Commissioner said ho also was satisfied of Mr Bluck's bvna tides, but he had brought hiunsolt under the lash of the law. When he found ha was unable to utilise tho section ho should have got the Board to transfer it. ilo remarked that to present land laws of tho colony did not give bona fide Bottlers sufficient facilities for acquiring land, for they ofton had to wait a very long period before beiny able to got sufficient sections of land togather to form a home. Mr Bluck, though actuated by tho uiost straightforward motives, really had a "dummy" on ihe land, keoping it for him till he wanted ib. His mistake was that ho had not mado himself acquainted with fcho land laws of the colony. Mr Bluck asked that the transfer Bhould bo granted trorn him to Riordan, so that ho should not loso his labour and money. Ho paid that it took a lawyer to understand the land laws of New Zealand. Mr John Elliott said that he paid Mr j Bluck for ti:c right to graze on his land, so j that Mr Bluck was using the place for his ! own use and benefit. He considered it; very advisable that they should facilitate settlement in tho Awakino district. [Left Sitting.]