WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume LV, Issue 2042, 27 October 1893, Page 4

WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

The regular meeting of the ‘Wellington hand Board was hold yesterday. Present —The Commissioner (Mr J, H. Baker) and Messrs W. A. Fitzlierbert, P. T. Fisher and Fred. Pirani. The Commissioner read the following statementl would like to point out that the action of the hoard, in asking Mr Shannon to explain the position his daughter held in connection with the land taken up by her before allowing her application to complete her purchase and obtain tho title to the land, lias apparently been misunderstood. The Crown Lands ranger, whose duty it is to inspect the land to see that the improvements required by the Laud Act to be made on the land before tho title thereto would issue, having reported there was reasonable ground for suspecting the bona tides of this land purchase, the Land Board, if they are to carry out tho prolusions of the Act they are appointed to administer, had no other course before them hut to make enquiries into the matter to which their attention had been called by one of their officers. They could, without straining the Act in any way, have summoned Miss Shannon before them and required her to give evidence on oath as to tho occupation of her section. As, however, I deemed the matter was one which could probably be explained, I suggested, to save the young lady the annoyance of having to appear before the board, that her father should be asked to appear on her behalf and give the explanation they, on the face of the ranger’s report, had every right to ask for as to her position with respect to the occupation of the land. That the ranger was perfectly justified in calling our attention to the matter, the tracing X had prepared, showing how the several sections would by this family have been fenced, will prove, because, as a rule, when land is occupied for the use and benefit of tho purchaser, one generally finds the division, fence between the two holdings _is erected on the common boundary lino. The hoard will, however, see by a glance at the map tho fence between sections 7 and 25 is not on the boundary, but the paddocks are arranged ns one would expect to find them if the owner of the two sections wore one and the same person. Miss Shannon was not living on her section, so tho ranger could not ask an explanation from tier, and it would not have been much use asking Mr M. V. Shannon, the holder of section 23 adjoining, and tho apparent occupier of .Miss Shannon’s land, for the father himself was not on the ground at the time, and it can scarcely he held to ho tho dnty of the ranger to run about tho country to find the owner of tho land to got an explanation of the way the ground is occupied. Therefore ho had no option, and he would have failed in his duty if he had not reported the matter for the consideration of the Land Board. It is not an easy matter for rangers to got reliable information from persona on the ground, and they are frequently met with a refusal from persons to give any at all, so they can only report on each case in accordance with such evidence as they find to exist on the ground. The following applications to obtain titles were approved : Mangahao—M. Kerrins, Section 41, Block XVI.; and W. Hamhling, Section 18, Block X.; Kopuaranga,J. Donovan, Section 84, Block V. ; Puketoi, J. B.“Whyte, Section 11, Block I.; Mangaoue—T. T. Youle, Section 74, Block Y.; J. Cooper, Section 1,. Block 1 ; B. F. and L. G. Porter, Section 1, Block IV.: Oiigo, Iv Itoper, Sections 41 and 43, Block IV,; Apiti, E. Goodbehoro, Section 15, Block XI.; Pohangina, Sections 17 and 18, Block XIV. ; J. Palmer, Section 24, Block X. ; E. Brosiin, Section 6, Block XIV. ; W. J. Port, Section 5, Block XXV.; Mount Cerberus, A. Meech, Section 2, Block IX.; Mangawhero, J. Lillburn, Section G 3, Block VIII. The following applications for transfers were approved:—P. Finder to M. Y. Denton, Section 11, Block 111., Pohangina; James D. Piper to John D, Piper, Sections 7 and 24, Block VI. and V., Makuri; M. Shannon, deceased, to E. M. Hull, Section 10, Block XVIII., Mangahao; N. Alhrechtsen to G. E. Larsen, Section 75, Block XI., Mangaone; F. Stains and A. E. Hunt to D. MoLachlan, Section 6, Block XIV., Tararua; J. A. Kennedy, to J. Campion, Section 74, Block XVIII. The following applications to capitalise wore granted:—W. Hamhling, Section 18, Block X., Mangahao; T. T. Yonle, Section 74, Block V., Mangaone; W. W. Corpe, Sections 17 and 18, Block XTV., Pohangina; B. Breslin, Section 6, Block XIV., Pohangina. ■ .i' ‘ Mr Young waited on the hoard for Mr Howie, to explain tho occupation of a de-ferred-payment section in the Pemberton Block by Mr Martin, who was doing the bushfelling oh it and utilising tho grass. Mr Howie explained that he and his mother took up adjoining sections in tho special settlement, and lie spent two seasons bush--felling, getting 30 acres down, after which his mother transferred her section to Mr Martin. He then made an arrangement by which Mr Martin was to do the hushfelling necessary to comply with the Act for JUO a year, and to take the land over, when he got the title, for £2OO. In allowing Mr Martin to occupy the land he was not aware that he was contravening the provisions of the Land Act. Mr Young also addressed the board on behalf of the selector. It was decided to allow the title to issue,

Mr Gould waited on the board, in reference to the transfer of Section 7, Block XVIII., Mangahao, from Robinson to Buckingham. He also interviewed the board in reference to the certificate of birth of Mr, Walters, jun. The Commissioner stated that the Registrar did not bear out the parents* statement that tho son*s birth had been registered in Sydney on arrival of the ship in which he was born. Tho Commissioner said the steward’s report on the brother’s section was unfavourable, as well as tho one referred to, and it was decided to take no action. ■

Mr Longhurst waited on the- board in reference to the improvements on Section 70, Block X.; Mangaone. He. explained that the first holder received permission to do all the improvements on the other section he held, and therefore he was short in his improvements on the one. It was decided to enforce tho felling of 36 acres this season, and other improvements to be completed within 12 months, ; ; It was decided that no deputations or letters would be received at tho board meetings unless three clear days' notice had been given.' ’*' : Mr Hutchens waited on the board for leave by Mr McGill to have his Unpaid instalments capitalised and paid off. The concession was granted. ' ' The title of J. Hyde, Section 12, Block X., Apiti, was granted, subject to the completion of improvements. The transfer of P. C. Jorgensen, iu regard to Section 23, Block V., Mangaone, was refused.

Mr P. Claffey*a agent (Mr W; J. Thomson) applied for a refund of money paid on section at Mikiniiki, which did not come up to his expectations. V It was decided to ask the Government to refund the amount, as the land had not been surveyed. The sections of land disposed of since last board meeting wore approved, Mr C, Ball was granted permission to withdraw his application to convert Section 8, Block XIV-, Tararua, to lease in perpetuity, provided he refunded the expense incurred. The recommendation of the ’ that a recreation reserve at Mangahao bo leased for 10 years at 3s per year was agreed to. W. PilkmgtoD, Mangahao, was granted an extension of time to pay arrears. Section 42, Block ll’, Makuri; selected; by D. W. Monk, was forfeited.

Mr Goggins, who caused a .mild-sensa-tion last hoard meeting, when he was refused a hearing owing to the tone of certain letters and his demeanour before the board, applied in a respectful letter for permission to reside on the adjoining section, thus waiving double improvements. It was decided to consider the request when he had completed eight acres of clearing. Mr J. Smith was granted permission to sublet Section 15, Block VI., Apiti. Mr Welch waited upon the board to ascertain whether he could select 200 acres in the Kaitangata Block without having to fulfil the residence conditions, but the board declined to give an answer until the land was surveyed. ■ ” Mr S. Nestor's application to divert the thirds from the Woodville-Aohanga road to a private road leading to hia property was not entertained. An application from Mr | R. Mackay, Makuri, to divert thirds, was referred to the Pahxatua County Council, The board declined to sanction Mr Me Gregor's proposal to divert thirds to a road on tho Ohingaiti side of the Rangitikei river, as it would be unfair to Pemberton settlers.

The Taratahi-Carterton Road Board were requested to send survey plan of road before deferred third proposals could be considered.

The Chief Commissioner submitted the amount of thirds paid to Hoad Boards for each road for the year ending April I, 1893, and it was decided that copies could be obtained by the several local papers on application. The Pahiatua county alone had received .£5200.

Mr J. Anderson’s application for transfer on Section 23, Block XIV., Tararna, was deferred until the necessary improvements are effected. .

Mr M. Scanlon (Foxton) was allowed six months extra to effect improvements on Section 20, Block VIII., Makuri. Mr J. T. Eay. wrote on behalf of the selector. 1

Mr Jenkins’ application for title for Section 21, Block XIV;; Apiti, 1 was granted, after his explanation as to occupation had been considered. ' ~

Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.E., was granted leave of absence from the meeting.

The re-valuation of Mr Mossman’s sections near Pahiatua was considered, the Commissioner stating that the present selling value was about AO an acre, A 3 of which _ was the value of improvements, while the county rating value is M Ids per

acre. It was decided to supply the result to the applicant. A title was granted to Messrs Coe and Balfour for Sections 34, 35, 39, Block X., Ougo. A transfer was granted to Mrs A. K. 5,° x f roln A. 11. Cox for Section 38, Block XI,, Ongo, A list of settlers in arrear with improvements was read, and time allowed to effect what are required. The hoard adjourned till Friday, December 1.