WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 7

WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

The regular meeting of the Wellington Land Board was held last week. Present—■ Messrs W. A. Fitzherbert (in the chair), A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., and Fred Pirani, M.H.R. Titles approved, pro\ided conditions complied with : —G. Munro, section 90, block V., Kopuarangi ; J. Barlow, section 2, block 1., Mangaone ; A. J. Wyburn, section 27, block VII., Tararua ; J. Miller, section 13, block VII., Apiti; M. H. King, section 17, block VIII., Ongo. Titles approved : —W. Lawrence, section 11, block 111., Mangaone ; J. Blewett and J. Stone, sections 28 and 28a, blocks XV. and 111., Mangaone; H. Olsen, section 20, block IX., Mangahao ; F. W. R. Bredon, seotions li and 5, blocks 111. and VI., Makuri ; R. B, Holmes, section 7, block 11., Puketoi ; J. A. Beach and G. N. Wilson, section 1, block XIV., Tiriraukawa. Transfers approved :—McKellar and Ker? to P. Brass, section 21, block 11., Makotoku j H. Knapp to W. J. and H. Gooding, section 103, block IX., Wairarapa. Conversions approved: —J. H. Jewitt, section 17, block 111,, Puketoi ; T, Jewitt, section IG, block HI., Puketoi; A. D, Balfour, section 83, block XVIII., Man' gahao. Svu-renders accepted:—G. Pittam, sections 2, 4,6, 8, Poukiore Village Settlement; E. Kiernan, section 4, block V., Karioi ; 4. W. Hogg, section 25, block IV., Moimt Cerbenis, Masterton Reform Association. Sections forfeited, leases not signed : —C. Hunt, section 25, block 11., Rising Sun Association ; D. Mcßeath, section 25, block X , Pahiatua No. 2; C. W- Robert, section 28, block X., Pahiatua No. 2 ; J. Gardiner, section 11, block XL, Masterton Reform ; J. C. Anderson, section 6, block XIV., Maunga? karetu. Mr D. B. Duncan waited on the Board in reference to the improvements on his section at Hautapu, dealt with at last meeting, and asked for a further extension of time till 30th June, which was agreed to, providing a con? tract is let at that date. 'Bj ' .W. H. Booth waited on the Board in reference to his application to transfer section 56, v Horowhenua Village Settlement, to his father. .- He wished to withdraw the application, as he had been offered .£SO for it, and as his father owed £3O for the improvements, he thought it better to sell the section and pay those debts. Mr Pirani explained that the section was really taken up by the father as a home for his wife and six children. The lad present had been away some time, and coming back he found the section improved, and after signing the transfer found he could get £SQ for it elsewhere. He did not think the Board should allow the lad to treat his 4*mi}y iij the way he wanted to, but should agree to the transfer if the people who had money owing to them were paid. The Board agreed with Mr Pirani, and decided to allow the transfer to the father, if proper ments were made with the Levin creditors. Sectipn 16, block X., Mangawhero, was, transferred from John McNair tq his widow, providing a guarantee is given that arrears of rent will be paid, when the transfer is completed. An extension of two months wag giyen to, John Deadick to pay arrears on section 13, block IV., Tararua. The transfer of section 2, block 1., Mangahao, from James O'Brien to himself and W. Campbell was agreed to, as well as section 16* block 11., Mount "Cerebus from E. E. Lewis to P. E. Lewis. The Board refused to reconsider its decision in reference to section 22, block XVI., Hautapu, J. Harris. Under the circumstances, the transfer of section 15, block IV., Tiriraukawa, from J. G. Rush to Stanley McDowall was granted. J. C. Wrigley applied to convert section 6, block XII., Kopuaranga, from occupation with right of purchase to cash. The Boar had no power to consent. Leave was given to G. H. Kemper to reside off section 51, block XVIII., Mangahao, for balance of 10 years' term. It was decided to pay A. J. Abbiss for the improvements on section 79, block VII., Ongo. Forfeiture of section 273, block VIII., Wainuioru, and section 16, block 1., Umutoi, rescinded. In regard to the forfeiture of section 23, block VII., Makuri, it was decided to protect the value of the improvements. T. Sullivan was allowed to surrender section la, Momohaki Village Settlement, and protect improvements. Forfeiture of seotion 8, block VIII., Puketoi, T. Baker, to be rescinded if rent paid .by next meeting.

Forfeiture of section 6, block VIT., Tiriraukawa, A. Kusb, to be rescinded if rent paid by end of February. Several settlers were allowed till 26th March to pay arrears of rent. It was decided to inform 39 special settlers that if their rent is not paid by next meeting their sections will be forfeited. A number of sections in special settlements were forfeited for non-payment of rent. It was decided to call upon O. E. Farrelly to explain why section 13, block XTV., Mangahao, should not be forfeited for nonresidence. Forfeiture of section 25, Horowhenua, J. Webber, to be rescinded if rent paid within a month. It was decided to inform the Rangitikei County Council that the Land Board does not collect rates for local bodies. It was resolved to accept the valuations of additional improvements made by the Makuri settlers who have surrendered. Resolved that the Board, as at present constituted, ha 3 no objection to A. J. Toxward converting his section No. 13, block VII., .Makuri, for the purpose of revaluation. The Beard then adjourned. Mr J. McKerrow has returned from his visit of inspection to several large estates and pastoral runs in the Marlborough district, which are under offer to the Government under the Land for Settlements Act. Mr J. D. Ritchie (chief inspector of stock) has also returned from his official tour of inspection through Marlborough. He accompanied Mr McKerrow, and inspected for departmental purposes the country from the Wairau to the Awatere, and thence to the Clarence and Kaikoura districts. He found the settlers' outlook to be very satisfactory. There is a decrease in the rabbits, and stock on the whole is looking well after the severe winter, lambing on the high country will be under the average in consequence of winter rigours, but the lambs are in good condition. In the Kaikoura district the rabbit pest may be said to be a thing of the past, owing to the activity of the natural enemy—stouts, weasels and ferrets. The country appeared to be very much in need of rain, but, despite that, feed was still plentiful. Mr J. B. Mac Ewan, Government Dairy Expert, has just completed an official visit to the Cheviot estate and to Christehurch and Dunedin. It was his first visit to the Cheviot estate, and he found that the dairy factory there has made a good start with about 26 suppliers of milk. The settlers were busy and hopeful in spite of the fact that a succession of nor'-westers and a run of dry weather were causing them seme little anxiety. Rain will be welcome. At Christehurch Mr MacEwan went over the cool stores in company wichthe Government grader, and at Dunedin he visited several dairy factories in the neighbourhood and carried on some experiments in the manufacture of cheese from different qualities of milk. In the course of a few days Mr Mac Ewan intends visiting some of the dairy factories in the Taranaki district, and making arrangements for next winter's dairy school for the North Island. Sixteen runs in the counties of Ashley and Selwyn, Canterbury, and having in the aggregate an area of 502,700 acres, have reached the end of the term for which they were leased, and are to bo offered to public competition at Christehurch on the 28th of February next for lease for a further term of 21 years. On the same date at Dunedin 30 runs in Otago, the leases of which have expired, are also to be put up for a further term. The Canterbury runs which are to be offered are the following: Esk Head station, 37,900 acres; The Lakes station, 30,000 acres; Snowdale station, 47,000 acres ; parts of Glentui and "Wharidale stations, 19,040 acres ; part of Wharl'dale station, 11,200 acres ; Woodstock station, 9000 acres ; Grassdale and Benmore stations, 15,800 acres; part of Snowdon station, 18,020 acres ; Brookdale station, 21,200 acres ; Castle Hill station, 33,800 acres ; Avoca station, 8300 acres ; Cora Lynn station, 43,200 acres ; station, 22,000 acres; Mount White and Lochinvar station, 122,000 acres ; Acheron station, 12,200 acres ; part of Lake Coleridge station, 18,000 acres ; Glenthorne station, 36,400 acres; Rakaia Forks station, 41,400 acres.