CROWN LANDS BOARD

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 21, 26 January 1898, Page 2

CROWN LANDS BOARD

The ordinary meeting of the Crown Lands Board was held yesterday at the Government Buildings, Customs-street, Mr R. Thompson presiding. Onerous Duties. —C. Nairn applied for permission to live off his section 8, block 1, at Harataunga, on the ground that he was postmaster at Port Charles. As the " post office" in question consists of a wooden box stuck upon a pole on the beach, the reason given for non-residence was not considered a good one, but the Board decided to allow the postmaster till June 30lh to reside offhis section.

Timber Floatage.—lt was decided to issue a timber floatage license to Messrs Smith Bros., over the Awaroa, Matakohe, Paparoa and Pahi Rivers, on completion of bond for £500.

A Contract— The Board decided to complete a contract made with Mr Walker, of Tatarariki parish, by submitting 250 acres of adjoining Crown lands to auction and buying them for Mr Walker, as compensation for roads, etc., taken. ■ Uretara Island.—The Board decided to recommend to the Minister of Lands that notice be given to Mr Thomas Allen that his grazing license on the Uretara Island, Ohiwa, would not be renewed after October Ist, 1898, and that the Governor be recommended to permanently reserve it for recreation purposes. Application for Lands.—An application from J. Grant for a lease of certain land at Waiotapu was approved, also an application by J. H. Cartwright for the southern portion of section 140, parish Omaru, 23 acres, at £1 per acre. Lands Disposed of.—The following is a summary of lands disposed of from 18th December, 1897, to 22nd January, IS9S :— 0. R. Purchase, 5,617 acres; leases perpetuity 3,273 acres ; cash selections, 2,514 acres: total, 42 selectors of 11,404 acres. Timber sales, 319,000 superficial feet for £119 12s 6d.

Forfeited.—A large number of forfeitures were made by the Board, for non-payment of rent. Perpetual leases, 12 ; occupation leases with right of purchase, 22 ; leases f>erpetuity, 13; small grazing runs, 2; eases Thermo Springs, 17 : total, 66.