LAND BOARD.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9817, 28 August 1897, Page 10

LAND BOARD.

The Canterbury Crown Land Board met on Thursday. Present—Messrs S. Weetman (Commissioner), D. McMillan, A. C. Pringle, R. Meredith and J. McLachlan. The following lands were allotted :—Run ■221, pastoral lease, 79,000 acres, Wilberforce station, D. Stott; section 4, blook XI., 22 acres, lease in perpetuity, Cheviot, Jas. H. Pierson. A freehold title was granted to David Hawke, lots 27-8, rural section 2331, Oxferd, held tinder deferred payment license. A number of transfers of leases and fioenses were approved. ° It was resolved to re-offer forfeited rural " sections 36475 and 36572 near Rangitata, for disposal under part 111. of the Land Act, 1892, as second class land at the ranger's valuation for land and improvements. It was resolved to include the adjacent Crown land to R.& 36512 when the latter ie se-offered for selection. In connection with lands offered by Messrs Rhodes and Hendry, near Hunter's Hills, it wae resolved that the Board did not see its way to recommend the Land Purchase Board to enter into negotiations for the purchase of tile lands. In relation to defaulters as to residence and improvements at the Highbank settlement the explanation in seven cases was accepted as satisfactory ; in five cases an extension of three months' time was allowed in which to fulfil the conditions, in three eases personal residence on the sections was dispensed with daring the second year's tenancy, and in fourteen cases it was re•olvedto forfeit the leases for non-compliance . with conditions. Tenders for the occupation of unselected lands in South Canterbury, from September let, 1897, to March Ist, 1898, were accepted as follows :—Rural sections 36458-9, Burke'e Pass, John Ross, £46 for term ; 36466, Mackenzie Pass, J. 8. Rutherford, £25 do ; 36220, Hunter's Hills, Edward Elworthy, .£2311 a 9d, do; 36389-90, Station Peak, ', N.Z. and Australian Land Company, £160 do. No tenders were received for rural sec • «ons 36054 and 36228. An offer of £10 for a half-year's occupation of R.S. 36205 from Donald McKenzie was declined. An application was received from Messrs ' Loughrey and Lane, on behalf ot adjoining owners, to purchase the tramway reserve through R.5jj13956, 10057 and 7355, near Lake Ellesmere. It was resolved to recommend the Head Office to take steps to have the land discharged from reservation with a view to sale. In the matter of unoccupied sections in Hie township of South Rakaia, it was resolved that the Board would be prepared to grant temporary licenses on condition that the goree is eiadicated, and the land laid down in English grass. The South Canterbury Education Board applied for lots 8, 9, 14 and 15, Block 11., Orari township, as an extension of the Orari school site. It was resolved to recomnend the Head Oilice to effect the reservation. In the matter of land fund payments to local bodies, the proposals of the Arowhenua Town Board and the Waimate County Council, for the expenditure of thirds, were approved as satisfactory. It was resolved to reopen forfeited lot

40, Block lIL, reserve 350, Hinds district, under Part 111. of the Land Act, 1892, as second-class land, at a capital value of £1 per acre, weighted with valuation for improvements. A number of defaulters were dealt with, and in several instances it was decided u> demand immediate fulfilment of the conditions or the respective sections would be forfeited.