WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1201, 8 March 1895, Page 6

WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

The regular meeting of the Wellington Land Board was held last week. Present —The Commissioner (in the chair), and Messrs W. A. Fitzherbert, T. W. Fisher, A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., and Fred Pirani, M.H.R. The following applications to obtain title were approved:—L. R. Bryant, section 1552, Kairangi; L. T. Brown, Section 12, Block V., Pohangina; J. McDonald, Sections 17 and 51, Block VI., Mangaone. Titles to be approved if conditions complied with : —R. McDougall, Section 19, Block XVI., Ongo ; L. C. Christensen, sections 1304, &c., Bunnythorpe; H. and R. Cooper, Section 6, Block XV., Mangahao. Title not approved: J. Vile, Section 79, Block Vl.,|Mangahao. Capitation approved: —A. E. Barnes, Section !?, Block V., Mangawhero; A. R. Mackay, Sections 100 and 208, Block V., Kopuaranga. . Transfers approved : —L. T. Brown to R. Saunders, Section 12, Block V., Pohangina ; R. H. Millett to F. Madden, Section 32, Block XII., Mount Cerberus; H. Fowler to J. C. Fowler, Section 5, Block VI., Apiti; H. C. Clarke to A. D. Bryant, Section 14, Block IV., Mangahao; J. McLeod to A. Ross, Section 2, Block XII., Haurangi. Transfer refused :—R. 11. Millett, Section 3, Block XVI., Makuri. Mr C. P. Skerrett waited on the Board in reference to an application for the transfer of certain sections at Mangaone from two of the sons of the late T. Hodgins to one of the trustees in the estate of the

' father, in accordance with the latter’s will, with the object, of administering the total estate for the benefit of the whole of the children. After the matter had been discussed, Mr Skerrett withdrew the application to transfer to M. Hodgins, as trustee, and the Board decided to consider the other application subsequently. At a later stage the Board agreed to the transfer of Section 27, Block IV., Mangaone, from T. Hodgins to M. J. Hodgins, as trustee. The following surrenders of Small Farm Homestead Sections were accepted : —K.

O’Leary, Section 8, Block XVI., Somerville Association,- A. Butts, Section 20,810 ck IV., TTmutoi; J.W. Hammond, Section 11, Block 11., Makotoku ; M. Tierney, Section 3, Block XIV., Maungakaretu; C. Clapcott, Section 25, Block XII., Apiti. Mr Reid, of Sandon, waited on the Board in reference to the township of Livingstone, in the Sandon Special Settlement Block, and asked that the settlers should be allowed to pay the purchase money for the whole township (<£242) within six months, and to let the timber be sold to a sawmiller. The difficulty appeared to be that the reserves and roads

were included in the area to be paid for, although titles were given only for the sections. A deputation from the Wellington Fruitgrowers’ Association, consisting of Messrs H. A. Adams and Booth, waited on the Board in reference to the transfer of sections in their block of land at Waikanae. Messrs Adams and Booth explained that they wished to transfer their section, as the original purpose of the settlement (fruit-growing) had not been adhered to, and there was no possibility of getting a living off 20 acres out of grazing. Mr Gray also appeared on behalf of Mr Cruickshank, who wished to obtain the transfer of . about 250 acres from members of the Association to himself, and explained the position at some length. The Board went into committee, and eventually decided that as the original intention of the Association could not be carried out, and as the land is not fit for small settlement, the transfers will be granted before the new leases are issued. The re-appointment of Mr Fred. Pirani as

a member of the Board, from 17tli January, 1895, was read. It was decided to grant the transfer of Section 3, Block XVI., Makuri, from E. H. Millett to F. Madden, when the necessary improvements are completed. The transfer of Section 52, Block VIII., Mangahao, from B. Parker to James M. and Helen D. Boscoe, was granted, the latter, being exempted from residence as long as her brother resides. Messrs Skerrett and Gray addressed the Board in reference to the forfeiture of Mrs Sharman’s interest in Section 13, Block XIII., Makuri, and, on a division, it was decided to adhere to the original decision, the Commissioner and Messrs Hogg and Fisher voting for and Messrs Fitzherbert and Pirani against. The transfer of Section 3, Block 11., Mangahao, from E. G. Thorne to J. Wiggins, was agreed to. ■ The transfer of Section 13, Block 11., Makotuku, from James Baird to George Berry, was granted, provided the former had made the improvements himself. An application from T. Brightwell to take in Joseph Motley as a partner in section 3, Block 1., Hall Special Settlement,

was deferred until the selector produced satisfactory reasons for his application. The same course was followed in regard to a similar application from C. Hiscox, Bulls, and J. C. Blanchard, for Section 17, Block 111., Makotuku. . , ~ , , The Commissioner was instructed to have the surrendered sections in special settlements offered for sale as soon as pos- i **'John Collins was allowed to surrender Section 12, Block XVI., Makohine Village Settlement. . The following applications to convert village sections to lease in perpetuity were granted :—W. Higgins, Makuri j and C. T. Kohke, L. Grant, W. C. Daldy, J. Sloan and F. Helps, Mangahao. It was decided not to forfeit Section 1, Block XIV., Mangahao, for non-signing of lease at present. John Kraiger was granted permission to reside on the Government Eeserve next the Kawatau Settlement until his section was fit for occupation. , It was decided to ask A. Jar dine for hia reasons for not residing on Kun 17, Nukumaru Survey District.

I The Commissioner was authorised to withdraw four sections in the township of Taihape from sale until they can be loaded with the value of improvements. John Savage, Section 19, Block XII., Puketoi, applied for a remission of one j year’s rent owing to non-completion of survey, but the Board had no power to grant the request. The same decision was arrived at with regard to Section 7, Blocks VII. and XI., Makuri; owner, G. T. Wilson. The ranger was instructed to report on W. Galloway’s application for Section 69, Pahautanui. The Board refused to sanction the transfer of Section 25, Block IV., Tararua, from M. Smith to C. F. Nelson, but offered to accept a surrender and weight the section with improvements, provided the felled area is grassed this season. The Board then adjourned till next morning. The Board resumed on Friday. In reference to part of Section 25, Block 11., near Marton, it was decided to offer the 80 acres by auction as land of special value at an upset price of <£7 an acre. R. Horne was granted permission to sub-let a right-of-way 10ft wide on Section 4, Forest Reserve, to W. Welch. B. Berg applied for an alteration of the boundary between his section 24, Block X,, Tararua, and M. Hughan’s, owing to a mistake in selection. The Board decided it had no power to grant the request. An application from F. Cliffon for road access to Section 7, Block X., Makuri, was not granted, as the Board had no power to accede to the request. It was decided to recommend that Section 23, Block 1., Makuri, be set aside for a recreation reserve.

Walter R. Symes’ request for permission to divert the thirds from Section 1, Block XIV., Rareti, was referred to the local body concerned, with a recommendation that the Government Engineer be authorised to spend the money. P. Norman and others applied for an alteration in the Totara road, Kumeroa, upon which their thirds were po be spent, and they were requested to apply to the local body. W. J. Batt applied for permission to take totara posts from the River Bank Reserve for fencing. It was decided to ask for a definite sketch of the land referred to.

J. Hoffmeister, Section 21, Block XII., Tararua, was granted twelve months’ extension of time to complete improvements. The following applications for land were approved : —John Sage, Block 1., Tiffin, 200 acres; A. Daysh, do., 360 acres; J. Leineweber, Block XI., Hautapu, 250 acres ; M. C. and C. A. Radcliffe, do., 340 acres; W. H. Smart, Block 1., Karioi, 200 acres. It was decided to offer the unsold sections in the Wainuioru Block at a future date.

A number of deferred thirds were passed for payment to local bodies. An opinion was read from the Undersecretary for Lands adverse to any rescinding of the cancellation of Messrs Atkinson and Farrelly’s leases in the McKenzie Special Settlement. On Mr Hogg’s motion it was decided that a schedule be prepared of the position of the various reserves within the Wellington district.

On Mr Pirani’s motion the Manawatu Road Board was authorised to hand over the thirds from H. Derby’s sections at Bunnythorpe for expenditure on the railway road to the Manchester Board. The Board then adjourned.