LAND BOARD ENQUIRY. To-Day's Proceedings.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 50, 28 August 1894, Page 3

LAND BOARD ENQUIRY. To-Day's Proceedings.

The enquiry by the Land Board into the circumstances in connection with the taking up of Seolion 13, Blook 13, Makuri Survey District, by Mrs. Q. A. Sbarman, was reBurned this morning. George Moore, Clerk of the Pahiatua Connty Council, proved that sootions 12 and 13 wore in the name of Mrs. Arnot, and that tho rates were paid by Mr. Donald Donald. Jamea Sootfc, buehfollor, living at Pahiatua, was ezaminod as to his transactions with Donald respecting the clearing of the bash on several sections, inoluding section 13. George Moor«, re- called, said that he was not awaro that a domand was recently made upon Mrs. Sharman for the non-payment of rates on section 13. Charles A. Tabuteau, manager of the Bank of New Sonth Wales at Masterton, deposod that in 1891 the Bank took a mortgage from Mr. Donald over the whole of his property at Maknri with the exception of sections 12 and 13. The mortgage was for The Bank also held a firet mortgage over the Masterton proporty, which was valned at J67000. Ho was not aware that Donald proposed to spend money on sootions 12 and 13, and he had never had any conversation with Donald regarding tho expenditurn of money on the sections. In January, 1894, everything Donald possossod was mortgaged to tho Bank, and a reduction of tho amount was insisted upon. The Bank was anxious that soctions 12 and 13 should bo purchased, and was willing to advance Donald tho amount required. No instructions were given in tho matter to Mr. Beard, solicitor, Masterton.' Iho amount duo to the Bank had been considerably reduced through the sale of the Masterton proporty. Donald sold tho property himself. It was not a faot that Donald was now managing tho Makari property for tho bank. By Mr. Gray— Donald's indebtedness was now considerably loss than it bad been. If the bank was willing to allow him an advance of -815,000 last year, there was no reason why he should not now have an advance of .£IO,OOO. The bank had never held any kind of Baonrity over seotionß 12 and 13. (Mr. Skorrott— Mr. Donald has just parted with some of tbo security. That is how he reduced the indebtedness.) Mr. Donald's cheques had always been paid on presentation. Witness had had nothing to dp with the instructions given to Mr. Lowgb for the sale of the Makuri property. Walter Tyloo, sheep farmer, Makari, deposed that he had arrangod with Donald to oreofc a dividing fence between his (witness') land and seotion 13. He had asked Mrs. Sharman what she wanted for seotion 13, as a friend of his wished to purchase. Sho told him that there was another person after it. Nathanitil Tone, Crown Lands Banger, in the coarse of his evidence said that more than tho required amount of improvements had been done on aeotion 13. Donald Donald, recalled, was examined as to tho accounts in connection with his sections. Mr. Gray called Thos. Transom, Mr. Donald's station overseer, who deposed that he had known, (sections 12 and 13 as the property of Mrs. Ainot, and he had also understood that oortain cattle placed on section 13 were for that lady. These cattlo were differently earmarked to others in the locality. There was no means of aooesa to Mr. Donald's sections exoopt through seotions 12 and 13. This closed Mrs. Sharman's caso, but the Board decided not to give its decision until it hoi heard Mrs. Arnot's case. Mr. Gray appeared for Mrs. Arnot, a widow, residing at Masterton, who deposed that sho was the successful applioant for seotion 12. It was understood that her brother— Mr. Donald Donald — was to assist her financially, and was also to manage the property. At that time she had other property valued at something less than .£IOO. Who took up the property because her brother did not want an undesirable neighbour. All through she trusted her brother. She never authorised Mr. Beard, solioitpr, to place her leaso with tho" Bank of New Sonth Waleß Her brother advised her to purchase Mrs Sharman'aaeotion, No 13, saying that it would be an advantage to both- him and witness, as it would give them access to their sections. She did not apply for the land for her brother's benefit only. She oouTd not say how much she was indebted to him on aocount of the land. Did not know how muoh she had to pay to obtain the title. Did not know what her yearly interest was. By Mr. Gray — She had never disputed the aooounta presented by her brother. She had never seen the land. Her intention was to live upon it. No other witnesses were oalled, the evidence of the witnesses in the previous case being accepted aB evidence in the present case. The Board then adjourned until Thursday morning, when Mr. Gray will address the ■ members on (behalf of Mrs. i: barman and Mrs. Arnot.