CROWN LANDS BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9832, 29 May 1895, Page 3

CROWN LANDS BOARD.

The usual meeting of the Crown Lands Board took place yesterday, at the Government Departmental Buildings, Customsstreet. Present: Messrs. L. Bagnall (chairman), R. Thompson, D. Lundon, and Major Harris. Mr. Kensington, ohief draughtsman, was present, to answer departmental questions.

Summary of Lands Disposed of.—The lands disposed of from 20th April to 25th May, were:—Occupation, with right of purchase, 3550 acres; leases in perpetuity, 3393 acres; Rotorua leases, 15G acres; cash selections, 115 acres : total, 6S selectors, of 7214 acres. Correspondence.—The Surveyor-General, in reply to a question from the Board, wrote stating that the reason certain lands iu the Whangarei district were withdrawn from advertising was that they contained kauri, and there beiug a glut in the market timber would not fetch satisfactory prices. The Under-Secretary wrote in reference to lots 10 and 11, Port Waikato, leased by the Department to H. Gilmour for 10 years. This was a matter that was before the Board last meeting, but adjourned. The land is Crown laud, and the Board had refused residents in the place to put up the land for lease, but the Justice Department had let it privately. Decided that the section be set apart as a reserve for lease for 14 years, loaded with £60 for Mr. Gilmour's improvements. Crown Tenants in Arkear.—The Hokianga County Council forwarded a schedule of names of Crown tenants that are in arrear with their rates, with the request that they might be dealt with in accordance with clause 124 of the Act, namely, be given notice that unless they paid within 30 days their sections would be forfeited. Agreed to send notice in terms of the Act. The Receiver of Revenue forwarded a list of perpetual lease and deferred payment (selectors that are in arrear with their rents, and on which only one half-yearly payment had been made. Agreed that the whole of sections bo forfeited unless the rent is paid within 30 days from date of notice. The same officer also forwards list of miscellaneous leases that are ill arrears of rent, and recommends forfeiture to the Board. Agreed to declare leases null and void, and lessees to be notified accordingly. He also forwarded a % list of lessees under lease in perpetuity and occupation with right of purchase who have only made one payment and are in arrears two or more half years. Recommended that notice be given of intention to forfeit unless arrears are paid. Thirds."—Schemes for expenditure of " thirds'' have been received from the following local bodies and examined:—Waitemata, Ocamatea, and Tauranga County Councils, and Omaha, Maungakaramea, Waitoa, Waiotahi, Wairere, Whakatane, and Maraetai Road Boards.

Auckland Weekly News and Land Board.—lt was moved by Mr. R. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Bagnall, " That the Commissioner be requested to recommend the Government that ail land advertisements be inserted in the Auckland Weekly News." It was stated by members that the paper had a universal circulation iu the country districts, and was therefore the best medium for advertising Crown lands for disposal or lease. The resolution was carried.

Miscellaneous.—A number of applications for lands were received, aud the usual rangers' reports read.