AUCKLAND LAND BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13192, 1 June 1906, Page 3

AUCKLAND LAND BOARD.

THE monthly meeting of the Auckland Land Board was held yesterday, there being present: The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. Jas. Mackenzie), Messrs. A. R. Harris, M. AY. Armstrong. J. Renshaw, and W. W. McCardle. The last-named took his seat for the first time, and was welcomed to the Board by the Commissioner.

Tramway Lease: At the previous meeting it was resolved to stand by condition No. 3 in the proposed lease for tramway through OhuraS.C.. 2, section 1, . t* be. issued to the Paketapu Sawmill Company, which gave the right to the public to travel over and along such tramline. The company demurred to this, stating that if trucks and waggons are allowed upon the line i by outsiders it would cause considerable damage to the tramway. A suggestion was made that the condition be amended so as to confine the right to use the tramway to horsemen and pedestrians, anil to require the company to carry goods if necessary at rates to be fixed by the Commissioner. Tho matter was left in the hands of the Commissioner. Proposed Scenic Reserve: It was decided, subject to the approval of the County Council, that the Minister be recommended to. auviso the Governor to declare a portion of the Taipa kauri gum. reserve, applied ■, for by G. Carton, to be no* longer subject.to the. principal .Act, and that it, he withdrawn from: such reserve with a. view to making it a/ scenic reserve.

' A Flax Lease: Mr. G. T. Scotcher'a'application tor 1000 acres, at Waikaka, for liaxgrowing, subject to-such conditions as may be equitable as to drainage, etc., which was postponed from last meeting of the Board, was dealt with. It was agreed to grant 500 acres.

'Remission of Rents: A petition was received lrom three of the Te Rau-a-moa. settlers praying that their arrears of rent tc December '30, 1905, be cancelled. It was decided that the petitioners in special cases he given the benefit of section 4 of the Act (which provides that one year's rent may be remitted), provided they do not increase the. amount of indebtedness, and that all future rents be paid regularly. ' ApT Application Declined: A petition was : , reoetyed from' a number ' of» selectors on the Waikawaii Block, Whareoriho S.D., asking to be allowed to hold their sections for four years rent fee from December next, on account of the impossibility of getting their stock or cattle on. the land. They missed coming under the provisions of thn Bush and Swamp . Crown; ; Lands Settlement Act, 1903. r The application 'was declined. Bangers' Reports: Hanger Shannon report-, ed for the month, of April that lie had visited in the Miuigonui and Awt.nui counties 43 selections, of an area of 5392 acres. Value of improvements required, £2446 and effected £7834. There were eight defaulters in improvements and three in residence conditions. Residence conditions were, complied with in 26 casesTwh.ereV-due, and hi"three cases where not due, and there were 11 not residing where not due, and three defaulters. Banger Kensington reported that during April he visited 15 selectors in the-iWhitianga and Kafikati survey districts, comprising a total area of 1624 acres. Value of improvements required. £724;. effected. £1565. There were eight defaulters in improvements and residence conditions, and there were nine residing where not clue. Expenditure of Thirds: The following schemes for the expenditure of thirds were apnroved :— Hobson Countv Council, £258 0s 3d: Kawhia County Council,'. £84 18s sd; Bagbin County Council, lis 8d and £130 lis 3d; Rodney Countv Council. £115 Is 7d: Waitemata County Council. £20 lis 10(1; AVaitomo Countv Council. £50 8s 3d; Whangarei Countv Council. £12 93 10(1: Mareretu Road Board, £12 10s 9d; Parua Road Board, £8 8s 2d; Warkworth Road Board. £1 6s Id; Huntly Road Board. £33 Is: Waipa North. £12 6s. Public account:—Manukau County. £37 Is 3d. The following scheme for expenditure of halves was also approvedOhinemuri Countv Council. £151 10s 3d. Acclimatisation Lease: It was resolved to grant the .Auckland Acclimatisation Society a, year to year lease of 24 acres of section 81.Selwyn Settlement, adjoining: the society's hatchery, under section 116 of the Land Act. 1892, at 20? per annum, and lis lease fee, subject to one. month's notice of termination of leaie and without compensation for improvement--. Hokiansa: It was decided that the Minister for Lands be requested to advise the Governor to approve lots 243 find 246, town of Jlokianga. being declared subject to the provisions of the Land Act, 1392. with a view to their being submitted for sale by public auction. ' '.-,;." . .