THE KAUROO HILL ESTATE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1009, 10 March 1909, Page 2

THE KAUROO HILL ESTATE.

A start was made at the Courthouse this morning with the examination of the 670 applicants, less those who were examined in Duncdin yesterday, for the 30 sections into which the Kauroo Hill Estate has been subdivided. The mem-, bers of the Land Board present are Messrs Barron (Commissioner), Dallas, Tough, M'Kenzie, and Livingstone. The printed list of applicants contains the names of many who have contested every subdivision that has been opened for years past, and as previously the "plums" have been sadly disproportionate to the number seeking farms, so in this case will the 30 farms which are at the disposal of the Board do only a little towards satiating the great hunger for land which exists. One applicant, it is stated, is making Ins twenty-second attempt to secure a section under the Lamls for Settlement scheme. At the same time, the absence of certain well-known names from the list is noticeable. Whether or not these applicants have secured land by other methods or whether continued disappointments have altogether choked their eagerness we are not in a position to say. A new method, and one which it is expected will meet with ready favor, has been adopted with regard to the order of examination. Hitherto it has been the custom to examine applicants in their numerical order. On this occasion they are being examined in their alphabetical order, the days on which the several divisions will be taken being duly notified. Thus applicants are relieved of the obligation of being in attendance only on the day set flown. Compared with the number of applicants for Otekaike sections, 699, it will be seen that for Kauroo Hill there are a few less. But it can hardly be taken that the 670 applicants constitute the total of the landhungry, for many who would have applied for Kauroo Hill have been debarred from doing so owing to the stringency of the money market, as evidenced by tiie fact that the banks and financial institutions are not offering the assistance that they have done in the past. For the 30 sections 939 applications have been received, as against 942 for Otekaike. A 'irprising feature is revealed by the fact tin '. tor the run country there are'so few applicants, thus constituting a curious contradiction to the anticipation that the runs would be largely applied for. Two of the sections have altogether failed to elicit competition, but for this those acquainted with their nature will probably have no difficulty in ascribing a reason. It is not likely, however, that these will be allowed to go "a-begging" by the disappointed applicants. Section 9a, a small area of flat, easily worked agricultural land, has demanded most attention, there being no less than 119 aspirants, as against 84 for section 20a, which is next in favor on the list. As usual, Xorth Otago and South Canterbury furnish the majority of applicants, (lisborne, the farthest away point, furnishes one, and there are only a few from Southland. The following gives the number of applicants in respect of each section:— —Kauroo Survey District.— Section la, blocks 11, 111, IV, V, 833 acres 2 roods—-15 applicants. Section 2a, blocks 111, IV, 411 acres 2 roods —-7 applicants. Section 3a, block 111, 217 acres 2 roods—--17 applicants. Section 4a, block IH, 245 acres 1 rood 38 poles—3l applicants. Section sa, blocks 111, IV, 217 acres 2 roods 23 poles—39 applicants. Section 6a, blocks 11, V, 619 acres 1 rood 34 polos—ll applicants. Section 7a, blocks 11, 111, 436 acres 2 roods 25 poles—l 3 applicants. Section Ba, block 11, 111, 247 acres 2 roods 35 poles—lß applicants. Section 9a, blocks 11, 111, 293 acres 2 roods—ll9 applicants. _ Section 11a, block 11, 111, 138 acres 3 roods 25 poles—6s applicants. Section 12a., block 11, 219 acres 3 roods 10 poles—33 applicants. 35 poles—3o applicants. Section 15a, block 11, 333 acres 2 roods 35 poles—26 applicants. Section 16a, block 11, 326 acres 1 rood 8 poles—4 applicants.

Section 17a, block 11, 391 acres 0 rood 15 poles—l 4 'applicants. _Section l&a, blocks 11, V, 614 acres—--43 applicants.

Section 19a, blocks 11, V, 536 acres 1 rood—-21 applicants. Section 20a, block 11, 237 acres 3 roods 10 poles—B4 applicants. Section 21a, blocks I, 11, 146 acres 1 rood, and section 36a, block V, 768 acres 2 roods 30 poles.—No applicants. Section 22a, blocks I, VI, 1229 acres 0 rood 30 poles—l 7 a2>plicants. —Kauroo and Oamaru Survey Districts.— Section 24a, blocks I, X, 110 acres 2 roods 26 poles—sl applicants. Section 25a, block 11, X, 135 acres 3 roods,' 20 poles—76 applicants. —Oamaru Survey District.— Section 26a, block X, 130 acres, 3 roods, 7 poles—6s applicants. —Kauroo and Oamaru Survey District.—. Section 27, block 11, X, 355 acres 1 rood, 35 poles—47 applicants. —Kauroo Survey District.— Section 30a, block V, 498 acres 1 rood 32 poles—4 applicants. Section 31a block V, 111 acres 1 rood 8 poles, and section 37a, blocks V, VIII, 1015 acres 1 rood 25 poles—6 applicants.' Section 32a, block V, 128 acres 0 rood 18 poles, and section 38a, blocks V, VIII, 3248 acres 3 roods 34 poles—3 applicants. Section 33a, blocks 11, V, 517 acres 2 roods 38 poles—6l applicants. Section 34a, blocks EC, V, 747 acres—--19 applicants. Section 35a, block V, 879 acres 1 roodNo applicants. As regards the two sections unapplied for, an advertisement in this issue intimates that they will be 1 open for competition at the local Land Office on Saturday, March 13th.