Land Board.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 46, 7 December 1894, Page 2

Land Board.

* " a The Land Board met on Monday* Present: The Coniuiisioaer of Crown Lands (chairman), Messrs Stock Heslop, Roy, and Hon. T. Kelly. FREEHOLDS. The following applied for freeholds of perpetual lease lands: —C. C. Woods, Section 6 and 7, Block 15* Ngaire; G. Algie, Section 16, BlocirST Ngaire. Agreed to. D. Murphy's application for freehold of O.R.P. Section 10, Block 9, Cape, was also agreed to. TRANSFERS Mrs M. Graham applied to transfer O.R.P. Section 14, Block 9, Ngatimaru, to Messrs W. P. Mark and T. L. Lockton. Agreed to. C. E. Betts applied to transfer his interest in perpetual lease Section 4, Block 16, Ngaire, to Frank McGuire. Agreed to. CONVERTING TENURE. E. B. Eastwood's application to convert tenure of perpetual lease Section 10, Block 8, Hawera, to lease in perpetuity, was agreed to. REPORT. The Crown Lands Ranger reports that E. Wells was apparently not holding Section 58, Block 6, Hmroa, for bona fide settlement, and. moreover that he had not complied with the requirements of the Act in regard to fehe second year's conditions of improvement. It was decided to notify the selector that if he does not comply with the conditions of improvement for non residence the land is liable to forfeiture.

REASON. The Surveyor-General wrote stating that it was not thought that the Land Act gave power to reduce the rent of the Pungarehu dairy factory site, and asked where there was authority for the Governor to do so. Mr Kelly moved that the reason the Board recommended the reduction of rent in the case of lease 101 to Mr J. C. George and others is because in the first instance the Board had agreed to sell the land for £25, which ultimately fell through. Mr George was also unfortunate in losing the dam erected by him, and thus incurring considerable expense. Under these circumstances the Board recommended the Minister to accept £5 per annum as a resonable sum for rent. Although there is no express authority given by the Land Act, 1892, the Board and the Minister ooncurring can give effect to such a recommendation. EXTENSION. P. Twpmey and W. Mulhane applied for an extension of time till August next to commence the necessary improvements on Sections 5 and G, Block 2, Omona, Gatton Special Settlement. The extension asked for was granted. R. Exely applied for a two-years' extension of time to complete the purchase of Section 60, Block 8, Waij mate. It was decided to allow the applicant a period of six months* from January Ist next to pay up. NO AUTHORITY. M. O'Neill asked that the price of Section 3, Block 11, Ngatimaru, be reduced, as he had lost the frorJtage to the East Road by a deviation of the said road.' The Board had no authority to grant the request. . NGAIKE BLOCK. Mr, McLean attended the Board with reference to the right to cut timber from the Ngaire Block. #lt was decided that a right to cut timber be granted to Messrs Henn Bros, and Willy for three months from date over Sections 82, 83, 84, 85, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 100, and .101 at a royaly of 6d per 100 superficial feet, all arrears to be paid to date. NGABIKI ROAD. # A letter was received from M. Carroll regarding the proposal to raise a loan for the formation of the Ngariki Road. The matter was referred to the Road Board interested. NATIVE LAND ACT. The Commissioner submitted the portion of " The Native Land Court Act, 1894," concerning the Land Board. Also a letter from Mr J. J. Freeth offering his services as ■ a licensed interpreter should the Land Board have need for one when dealing with native lands under " The Native Land Court Act, 1894."—Herald.