MARLBOROUGH LAND BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 144, 16 June 1909, Page 3

MARLBOROUGH LAND BOARD.

The Marlborough Land Board met yesterday, when there were present: The Commissioner (Mr F. Stephenson Smith), and Messrs Fulton, Reader and McCallum. W N. Fisk applied to surrender his present lease of Section 31, Block XIV., Wakamarina S.D., for a : renew - able lease, under Section 193 ot lne Land Act, 1908."—The application to exchange was approved, and the application for extension of land would be considered when the Wakamarma lands are being dealt with. The following applicants were examined for forfeited sections m Flaxbourne, as shown on Poster No. Mrs Gertrude Ruff Elvy and Herbert William Elvy.—The Board declined Mrs Elvy's application, and approved of Mr Elvy's application. The application of Ellen Mcßride for Section 6, Block IXa., Seddon, was approved. William James Simpson's application for Section 14, Block fX., Cape Campbell District, was approved. Bernard John Chapman applied for Section 30, Block VI., Cape Campbell District, which met with the Board s approval. Catherine Andrews was granted bection 4, Block V., town of Ward. Mary Morrison applied to lease Section sa, Block X., Wakamarina S.D. —Deferred for further consideration. J. Maddock applied for a year to year lease of the piece of waste land between Section 343, Block X., Mt. Fyffe S.D. and the sea. —Granted, subject to Mr Bremner's lease being diminished by a like area and under similar terms. • Mr John Harnett, of Kaikoura, applied under Section 129 of "The Land Act, 1908," to select about eight acres between his Section 9, Block 11., Mt. Fyffe S.D. and the Hapitku riverbed to be added to his lease.—lt was decided to grant the application sub-., ject to all necessary conditions being fulfilled.—lt was pointed out that the value of the land was assessed at 37s 6d per acre. The question of tenure was referred to the head land office. C. L. Diamanti waited upon the Board in relation to an exchange of tenure in M.D.L.O. Act to L.1.P., asking for information relative to an exchange, which was given. J. Ahem applied to lease the River Reserve adjoining Section 4, Block X., Wakamarina S.D.—Deferred for further consideration. H. C. Madsen applied to lease Section 120, town of Picton, and offered a rental of £1 per annum for same.—

It was resolved to accept Mr Madsen's offer to ; lease Section 120, town of Picton. for one year at a rental of £1 per annum, no improvements to be allowed for. The Kaikoura County Council applied to have the reserve fronting Sections 49, 54 and 58, Block VI., Hapuku Reserve, vested in _ their Council, and also drew attention to the encroachment of,, the Hapuku River.—The Board decided to recommend the Minister to vest the portion of land between Sections 49 and 54 and the Hapuku River in the Kaikoura County Council for river protective works. The Kaikoura County Council wrote asking the probable cost to tiave the County map—now hanging in the Courthouse, Kaikoura—made up-to-date.—Referred to' the Chief Surveyor, with power to act. The Kaikoura County Council applied to have the landing place reserve fronting S.G. Run 95 (Section 7, Block XV., Hundalee S.D.) vested in their Council.—C. P. t Goulter wrote objecting to the application.— Ranger Townshend recommended that Mr Goulter be allowed to retain the lease of the above reserve, or failing this that he be allowed valuation for fencing.—The Commissioner was instructed to confer with the chairman of the Kaikoura County Council anu Mr Goulter on the matter, with the object of arriving at an>..amicable settlement. H. Wiifen wrote asking for an, alteration in the boundary of S.G. Run 184. Mr Wiffen also applied for road access to the aboverun.—lt was decided to inform Mr Wiffen that his application had been declined, but that consideration would be given to it when the question of dealing with the Kekerangu run was discussed; and also that the matter of his road access would be referred to the Minister for Lands. R. B. Tapp renewed his application for road access to the back portion of his S.G. Run 72.—Mr Tapp to be informed that the Board could not see its way to incur any further ex-( pense in connection Avith the matter; and that he be advised to make his own arrangements and terms with Mr Roach.H. Vallance applied to surrender his lease of the Railway Reserve at Flaxbourne; and also asked permission to plant willows on the side of Lake Elterwater ,to protect his property.—Granted, the willows to be exit under the supervision of the Ranger.

Messrs Conolls' and Burden applied on behalf of Geo. H. Monro to purchase the freehold of sections 16 and 17, Block X., and 38 and 39, Block XL, Gore S.D.—Ranger Ward reported on the above sections, and after hearing the report the Board granted the application. J. W. Perano applied to lease the waste piece of, land between Round Street and section 191, Town of Picton.—Ranger Ward reported on this a-plication, but it was referred to the Commissioner for a further report. Wm. Jones applied to be allowed to erect protection works on the riverbank. Endeavour Inlet, sections 36 •and 37, Block XII., Gore S.D.— Granted. The following applications to transfer were approved : — ' G. Hamilton to Walter Hamilton, S.G. Run No. 131 (Block VII: Orieri S.D.). G. Hamilton to Walter Hamilton, section 4, Block VII., Orieri S.D. H. Hamilton to G. Hamilton, section 6, Block 11., Mt. Fyffe S.D. The question of granting a transfer from Arthur Schwass to C. F. Schwass of section 8, Block XXII., Taylor Pass S.D., was deferred for further inquiry. Mr Reader moved: That as there, is a scarcity of land available for settlement in Marlborough, and as the drainage of Lake Grassmere gives promise of securing a considerable area of valuable land at a moderate expenditure, this Board would strongly urge the Government to take the necessary steps to put this work in hand, and so reclaim a valuable property to .the State, and also thus further settlement. He said it had been said by many people that there were 4200 acres in Lake Grassmere if it was drained. The matter was brought forward by Mr Duncan, who desired that it be referred to the Minister for Lands for a report thereon. Mr Fulton said he was strongly in favour of Mr Reader's motion; it was a thing that had been mooted for several years, and he would second the motion. Mr Reader said the main object was to get a report on the matter. The motion was carried.