WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 287, 28 August 1908, Page 3

WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tho' meeting of the Land Board was hold at tho District Land and Survey Office, Wellington, yesterday. There were present: Messrs. Jas. Mackenzie (Commissioner), J. Dawson, J. M. A'Court, and C. J. Canton. Applications for leases of Crown land were considered and dealt with as follow: — T. H. Portor, 14.7 porches, Block 11, Heretaunga district, £2 ss. per mo-nth; Patrick O'Sliea, 1 aero, Block IV, Kaitieke, £2 por annum; Matthew Bell, sen., 10 acres, Block I, Maungakaretu, £40 cash; Blundell Bros., Ltd.) 5.28 perches, parts of Sections 214 and 215, City of Wellington, £525 cash (in terms of Section' 117, Land Act, 1892); Patrick J. M'Cann, /2 acres, Block 7, Maungakaretu, 10s. • per annum.—All approved. Mr. A J. Laird applied to transfer a half interest in Section .4,' Block XIII, Tanakira., to Mr. Jos. Greaves. As the section is in unsurveyed selection taken up under The Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement •Act, 1903, with exempt-ion from rental for four years, it was resolved to approve the transfer; also that the concession, which would not start until the rental became due after survey, should continue, as Mr. Laird is not parting.with the whole of his interest in the section.

Mr. E. T. Sinclair applied to transfer Section 28, Rakautoru Village Settlement, to Mr. A. W. Meyer, lessee of Setion 52, Mangaweka Valley Settlement. The Commissioner pointed out that the regulations for tho Mangaweka Village Settlement provide that one person should not hold more than one section, whereas those for the Rakautoru Village Settlement allowed several allotments up to 30 acres in all being held by one person. These sections mentioned, however, did not join, although they are not very far apart. ■ The board resolved t-o decline the application. With reference to the proposed transfer of Section 21, Block XIII, Ohinewairua (Manuni 1.F.), to Mr.. A. P, Grieve, the solicitor wrote' applying for, permission for Mr. Grieve to become tho transferee of the sect-ion oil. the understanding that he will bo permitted to transfer tho holding after ho grass-seod is sown and the title issued, the.grass-seed is sown and-the title issued, without being required to reside on it in the 1 meantime, as he is employed by the Railway Department on tho permanent way, and cannot get to his work from the section. Tho money realised by tho sale to be applied for the benefit of tho present lessee's (Mr. J. K. Grievo) children. It was resolved that the transfer be granted.

Tho Commissioner submitted, proposals for disposing of allotments in tho Kakahi Village | Settlement, viz., 20 lots comprising' an area of sa. 3r. lji. for sale for cash by public auction at upset prices ranging from £27 to £50. Proposals approved.' Also 13 village homesteads, comprising an area of 14a,. lr. 4p. for renewable lease for periods of 66 years at rentals ranging from 17s. Bd. to £1 7s. 4d, per annum. Proposals approved. With reference to tho point whether Sections 1 and -2, Block I, shall bo grouped and offered as one lot, or whetner they bo offered separately and tho owner of tho improvements on section 2 be gi von olio month from'date of sale in which to remove them if ho doe's not become tho purchaser, it was rosolved that the owner should put all the improvements on the ono- block: The owner to be given a month to remove the house on to the section containing the improvements. Mr. G. A. M'Donald applied on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church for the freehold of Sections 21 and 22, Block. I, Kakahi Village Sottlement, as a site for. a church and .c.pnvent, in terms of Section 140 of The Land Act, .1908.. The application was granted. A report was received from the Crown Lands Ranger, .on,.Messrs. Gardner .and Jeoman's 'application,, .for the right to mill 'the timber. on Sections 4 and 5, Block 111, Puketoi. Consideration of the application was postponed. . A report-was received * from the Crown Lands Ranger on Mr. T. Fitzp'&tHckV application -for-the.-right to construct a;tramline .from Sections 8. and 9, .Block

VII, Kaitieke, to tho Owhango railway station along tho Oio Valley Road, and it was resolved to grant tho application, to the usual payment of royalty on line -timber and a rental''of £2 2s. It, was resolved to approve of 15 sections in tho Ohakuno Township being offered at auction for cash at upset prices, ranging from £20 to £65 per lot, and of 71 village homesteads, comprising an area of about 513 acres, ranging from 1 aero to 20 acres, i at rentals ranging from £1 6s. 6d. to £16 7s. 2d. per annum. The Commissioner submitted further particulars with refereneo to Mr. G. J. Carter's application for remission of rental on Sections 21, 22, 53, 51,' 48, 50, and 52, Block X, Kaitawa, owing to losses by accidents and bush fires, and it was resolved to grant six months' remission of rent (subject to consent of the Minister). Mr. W. A. Sandilands wrote asking that tho rental on Section 2,.810ck XIV, Kaitieke, be remitted for tho balance of tho term under tho 'Bush and Swamp -Crown Lands Settlement Act, 1903, notwithstanding that the section was transferred recently. Resolved to adhere to previous resolutions, and to

decline the request. Tho Commissioner submitted a schedule of extensions of time granted to selectors in arreariwith their payments, and it was resolved to confirm the Comirtissioner's action. A report was received from the Crown Lands Hanger on the alleged encroachment of the river on Section 1, Block IV, Haurangi (Dyer Settlement), etc.. and it was resolved that. Mr. M'Leay should himself take steps to protect tho river banks where necessary, as others have done in this settlement. ■ The Kiwitea County Council submitted proposals for the expenditure of thirds accrued from Sections .8 and 9, Block XV, Hautapu S.D., and from Section .41, Block IV, Apiti S.D. Tho board approved of the proposals. Amount approved, £94 18s. lOd. A report* was received from tho Crown Lands ilanger on tile proposed renewal of the lease of Hun 43, Block VII, Apiti- (230 acres), which expires on October 31, 1909. The ranger stated that tho run was not suitable for subdivision. It was resolved to recommend that the lease be renewed for a further-; tern of twenty-one years in terms of Section 209 of the Land Act, 1885, at a new rental of £20 2s. Bd.'per annum, the present rental being £7 3s. lOd. per annum. The value of the improvements is estimated at £588 14s-.