WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1683, 1 June 1904, Page 60

WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

The Land Board met on Thursday afternoon, the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr Strauchon) presiding. Thero were also present Messrs A. Reese and T. H. Robinson. The meeting lapsed in the morning through want of a quorum, Mr Robinson having been delayed in transit, and Messrs Dawson . and Stevens being absent through unexplained- causes. In the cases of Messrs Barnett, Brown, Floyd, Vokes and Corrigan, it was resolved that the lands applied for be dealt with as scrub* lands. D. Morrow applied to be allowed to . withdraw his application for section 20, block 10, Mangonui, and that his deposit money be returned. —The appli-cation-wa,s approved, the money not having been paid into the public account. A report was received from the District Surveyor, on the application received for land in the Kaitieke block. It was moved by the Commissioner, and seconded by Mr Reese, “That the recommendation to. reserve the 800 acres adjoining Hesebeck’s selection be approved, and that the applicant for the 800 acres be advised accordingly, and that his application must be, therefore, rejected/’ The motion was agreed to, Mr Robinson dissenting. The rest of the applications for land in tjhe block were approved, subject to conditions suggested by the District Surveyor. With reference to the disposal of sections 21 and 23, blocks 2 and 7, iPuketoi, the Commissioner reported that section 21 had been selected by F. J. Kent and L. M. Davies; section 20 by Robert Morris.—lt was resolved to approve the application for section 21 on payment of £39 for improvements. Approval of the selection of section 23 was made, subject to conditions necessitating a payment of £2lB 16s 7d for arrears of rent, lease fee, rent since forfeiture, etc. Mr Reese moved, and Mr Robinson seconded a motion, “That the Minister of Lands be recommended to waive payment of rental on . occupation of section 21 since the date of forfeiture (amounting to £42 19s 4d), on the ground that the Messrs Morris had not been in oc- ' cupation of that section since the for-feiture.’’-—Carried. The following applications for titles were approved:—E. Tomlinson, sections 50 and 152, block 10, Mangaone; W. L. Meek, section 7, block 9, Makotuku; M. R. B. Hammond, sections 1 and 5, block 13, Hautapu. The following transfers were approved:—S. J., C. E. and A. W. Miller, Tiffin, to A. W. and O. E. Miller; W. Spring,Hautapu, to F. J. Beechey; T. Lynch, Maungakaretu, to G. O. Gibb; A. H. and F. L. Simpson, Hautapu, to A. S. Coleman; J. Richardson, Apiti, to E. W. Haycock; J. Templeton,Potaka, to E. It. Jennings; W. E. Moore, Potaka, to J. E. Smith; D. Smith, Mangahao, to J. J. B. Blackmore; estate of J. Buckipan, TJmutoi, to F. C. Babbage; estate of V. Hickford, Aohanga, to A. Naylor, G. H. Williams and A. H. Hewitt; H. Twist, Rangitoto, to G. Hight; A. Williscroft, Apiti, to W. W. Emslie; T. B. F. Brooke, Puketoi, to F. L. Fulcher. Subject to satisfactory reports from the ranger, the following transfers were approved: —W. TTmsworth, Horowhenua, to E. M. Herrick; P. J. McCann, Mangaweka Village Settlement, to F. G. Krebs; H. Floyd, Maungakaretu, to M. Wilson. '

The Land Board resumed its meeting oil Friday morning, there being present the Commissioner (Mr Strauchon) and Messrs T. H. Robinson and A. Beese. W. Dixon applied to transfer section 67, Mangaweka North Village Settlement, to A. Wanstall, lessee of sections 59, 62 and 63 in the same settlement.— The transfer was approved, subject to amendment of the regulations to enable the application to be given effect to. L. Falconer applied to transfer section 14, block 3, Makuri, to A. Little.— Approved, subject to Miss Little complying with the residential conditions. Exemption from residence to date was granted to D. J. Robinson, in respect of section 19, block 6, Aohanga, and permission to transfer the section to W. T. Williams was accorded. A report was received from the Crown Lands ranger on the proposed transfer of J. McDavitt’s section, sa, block 6, Mount Cerberus, to W. M. Ferrick. — Resolved to inform Mr McDavitt that there was no power to approve the transfer, and to call liis attention to the clause of the regulation. Menteath and Beere (solicitors) wrote, asking that the transfer-of sections part 2 of 287 and part 1 of 281, block 11, - Wainuioru, from W. R. York to R. Bairer, be reconsidered. —-The Board postponed the matter to next meeting. A transfer of section 29, block 14, Tararua, from T. McFadden to J. Har-vey,-was approved. The Crown Lands ranger. reported on .the proposed transfer of sections 52 and 53, block 12, Makuri, from 15. W. Prince to H. Jacobs.—Resolved that Mr Jacobs was not eligible as transferee, as he held over the limits of land allowed by the Act.

A further report is to be obtained from the ranger on the proposed transfer of section -9, block 16, Huangarua, ;i: from 3. Saunders to C. C. Greenlees.

H. E. and J. E. Duckett were authorised to transfer section part 2of 46, block 11, Mikimiki. to H. E. Duckett and G. Pain. Similar authority was given to J. and G. O. Beech, in respect of section block 9, Mangahao, the transferee being A. Pringle. A conversion of tenure to lease-in-perpetuity was made in the case of E. Harvey, holder of section 77, Mangaramarama Village Settlement. It was resolved to pay into the Publio Account, as arreas of rental, a sum of £3 15s, received for improvements made on section 31, block 1, Parata Township. The Rangitikei County Council wrote asking that the sum of £lO 6s 9d be paid the Council (for rates and Court costs) from improvements effected on sections 12 and 25, blocks 1 and 2, Tiriraukawa. —The Board resolved to advise the Council that the matter would be considered when the sections were .reoffered for selection and improvements money received from a new selector. After consideration had been given to a ranger’s report oil the value of buildings on 1/. UussolPs section, 41, block 8, Rangitoto (Linton Settlement), the Board resolved to advise the head office of the various values, and other particulars, with a recommendation that if there was any way in which a reduction could be made, the application of Mrs Russell he favourably considered. A report was received from the ranger on E. Botirke’s action in cutting timber on section 2a, block 8, Wairoa iMomohaki Village Settlement), and it was resolved to advise Mr Bourke that prosecution would follow any further cutting or removal of timber, and that he had already rendered himself liable thereto. • „ ~ , It was resolved to offer section part 0 of 43, Mangaweka Village Settlement, for selection on village homestead conditions, at £SO per acre, weighted with £1 15s for improvements. A report was received from the ranger on section 28, block 2, Tiriraukawa, and it was resolved (on the motion of Mr Reese) that the section be offered for sale on the usual conditions, after giving the statutory three months’ notice required where lands have been resumed for sale.

The District Road Engineer, Wellington, wrote .asking whether one of his overseers could purchase section 17, block 7, Pongaroa Township.—lt was resolved to re-offer the section for sale weighted with the value of the improvements' on it; and at the same time to offer such of the other sections as the Commissioner thinks advisable. An application by D. Ledwards for a slaughteryard site on the road and riverbank reserve fronting section 23, Mataroa Village Settlement, was refused. The Commissioner submitted plans and particulars of Mr Coates’s request rj road deviation through section 16, block 6, Weber, and it was resolved to advise the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier, of the facts of the case, and recommend the request for favourable consideration. * Blanchfield and Stirling wrote applying to lease ten acres of the Kaietihi block for one or two years as a site for an accommodation-house and a store —A report from the District Surveyor is to be obtained. H. Griffiths applied for a dairy factor;, site on section 12, block 7, Tararua (Forest Reserve). —A report from the ranger is to be received. E. W. Cottle applied for the right to graze stock over the unsold sections in the Normandale Settlement, and offered to pay £52 annum for the right.— The Board resolved to obtain a report from the ranger before dealing with the application. With reference to the unsold sections in the Mataroa Township, it was resolved to offer the unsold sections for sale and to ask the secretary of the Dairy Factory Company whether he is ready to have the sections now being improved by the company offered at the same time. With reference to the question of disposing of section 9, block 3, Potaka Native Township (held on lease from Utiku Potaka by Mrs Maher), which lease was forwarded to the Board, it was decided to offer for lease forthwith all the sections available except section 9. It was resolved to approve of the allotment to T. J. Whitter of section 47, block 12, Mount Cerberus, at 27s 6d per acre, after giving the usual three months’ notice. A report as to section 44, block 12, Mount Cerberus, is to be obtained from the ranger. H. T. Ellingham has applied for this section. An application by E. Brenton to be allowed to fence in the rubbish reserve on section 19, Pongaroa Suburbs, was refused. Section 25, block 14, Mangakaretu, is to be offered for sale at 27s 6d per acre, weighted with £835 12s for improvements. The section will not be subject to the privileges given by the Bush and Swamps Crown Lands Act. A report was read from the District Surveyor on Mrs J. M. Pickup’s application for a few acres of the Kaitieke Township Reserve for a residence site. The Board resolved to approve the application on the usual conditions for one year, at a rental of £l. The Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department wrote suggesting that the Municipal Reserve 4, block 19, faihape Township, be exchanged for section 7, block 5. —Resolved not to ap-

prove of the exchange in respect to section 7, but to approve of an exchange for section 5, adjoining. E. Johns wrote with reference to the balance of the payments still outstanding on section 22, block 4, Mount Cerberus, and it was resolved to advise him that the Board had recommended the payment of the £3 12s to him, and would in the meantime be glad to give him any reasonable extension of time for payment of arrears; also that the Chief Engineer be urged to effect a prompt settlement of Mr Johns’s claim. W. Tonkinson sent an explanation of why lie was in arrears with payments due on section 29, block 1, Mount Cerberus. The explanation was accepted, but it was decided that unless half the amount of arrears be paid by June 30th next, the Board will sue for recovery of the full amount then due. H. R. T. Douglas wrote, giving excuse for liis non-residence on his sections at Wainuioru, and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Robinson, seconded by Mr Reese, that a final concession of six months’ time be given the selector in which to take up his permanent residence' on the section. A. Brown wrote further as to his nonresidence on section 35, block 5, Mount Cerberus, and it was resolved to request him to put in an application to transfer, in which act his case would be further considered at next meeting. Consideration of A.' F. Roadley’s nonresidence on section 7, block 4, Puketoi, < was deferred until a ranger’s report on the sixth year’s condition be received. Three selectors are to he called on to show cause why their interests should not be forfeited —P. A. W. Waterson, of Tararua, for non-residence, deficient improvements and payments in arrear, £7 10s; T. C. Revell, of Tiriraukawa, for non-residence and one payment of £4 being in arrear; A. Goodwin, of Marshall Village Settlement, for non-resi-dence, deficient improvements, and one payment of 5s lOd in arrear. The interest of P. Irwin in a section at Mataroa Village Settlement was forfeited at his own request. The case of P. Casey, who bailed to reside on his section at tho same settlement, made no improvements, and was in arrear with one payment of 14s, was held over for consideration until next meeting, Mr Casey to be informed that unless he does something to the section the Board will have to forfeit his interest in it. The interest of A. Bremner in section 1, block 13, Mount Cerberus, was forfeited, as he was not residing, was £6 5s in arrears with payment, and had made no reply to notice sent. S. Hill’s interest in section 18, Pongaroa Village Settlement, was forfeited because of non-residence', payments of £3 4s 6d in arrear, and failure to reply to notices. J. G. H. Duffy’s case, in regard to non-compTiance with conditions under which he holds section 51. block 10, Rewa, is to be held over until a further report can be made by the ranger. The ranger reported on a complaint from a settler as to J. T. Carrs nonresidence on section 28, block C, Hautapu, and his allowing Mr Tansey to run stock thereon. —The Board accepted the ■explanation of the circumstances as satisfactory. J. Fraser applied to transfer section 52, block 14, Ohinewairua, to D. McCracken, junr.—The matter was held over pro tern. A report was received from the District Surveyor on Mr Chase’s statement re certain improvements on the Raetihi block, which were effected by the natives. A copy of the report is to be forwarded to Mr Chase. An. application was received, from Skerrett, Wylie and Weston, solicitors, asking that part of section 83, block 14, Mikimiki, b 6 allotted to A. K. Greenfield without competition.—The Board resolved to obtain a report from the ranger on the whole question of dealing with the Crown lands in the block.