LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1832, 31 December 1886, Page 32

LAND BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of tho Land Board held on the 22ud, was attended by Messrs J. P. Maitland (chief commissioner), H. Clark, C. S. Reeves, J." Duncan, J. C. Brown, M.H.R f J. M-Kenzie, M.H.R. THE HOMES I BAD AMD THE VILLAGE HOMKSTEAD . SYSTEMS. , The following report was received : — Duucdin, Decmbf r 21 , 1886. J. P. Maitland, Esq., Chief Commissioner aud Ciiairznatn of f.he Land < «ard.

Sir,— We '-have the honour, as commissioners appointed b\ the b ard to visit and inspect a block of land at Kankleburn, in th« lVtmahaka Hundred, to inform you that "we have visited the bock in question and made a careful inspection of the same, and have now tbT* honour to report that we consider the land well suited fOr settlement, it being of good quality, well watered' by numerous creeks, and having a yleasant north-taaterly aspect ; its altit.tdi ranging from the favel ot the banks ot the Clutha river to 630 ft above the « ea level The grades of the roads will be easy from the natural contour of the country combine u with the careful manner in which they are being laid off by l)iotrict Surveyor Langmuir. 'i he laud is about la miles distaiitlrom Lawi ence. abou . the same from Waitahuna, and live miles up the river from Dalhouaie. Adjoining the block Ci.ere is a sawmill in full nperatiim supplying first-c'asi timber tor building and other purposes, thua enabling dwellings to be er. cted economically by the settlers. We consider this block in every way equal to Tuape a West, which has proved one ot the most successful settlements in the province. We now.reiiommei'id that an area of 2000 acres, known as biock.Vl, Pomahiika, be opened for so tlement; lOuO acres to be uuder the homestead system, nnd 10 0 acres either under the pe;pe.-tial lea^eor village homestead syattnu. We further rejommend that the Government's ould open up this country by constructing a road along the riverside to the Beaumont, as th's,would render a large area of land available for' settlement, aud a punt placed on the river will give easy access to Lawrence by a good metal roa • already constructed. — Wehav3 &c,

(Signed) Joky M'Keszie,) £ H d!.BB U «S' [Commissioners. Chas.S.Kekyes.J

Mr M'Kenzis moved— "That 1000 acres be opened under the homestead system, aud 1000 acres for perpetual leading." He did not think the land was suitable for village allotments, as it was too far removed from the settled disdistricts. ~

Mr Bbown moved, as an amendment-^" That at least 1000 acres should be cut up into village homestead small farm allotments." Such a course should, he contender!, be adopted, as it would provide homes for the largest number of people. This area would give homes to 20 families, who would have 50 acres each, and they would be in a position to get assistauce from the Government in tho construction of roads and in the shape of advances of money to a&sist them in building their houses. He did not know of a more suitable spot for the homestead aifgl the village settlement systems of settlement. The Chief Commissioner stated that as yet regulations had only been made for the, perpetual leases of land uuder the village small farm allotment system.

Mr Duncan supported Mr M'Kenzie's proposal. The deputation who had met the commissioners expressecfthemselves in favour of the classification mentioned in Mr 31'Kenzie'h motion. The place ' was too isolated, and the settlement of men on small holdings so remote from a market .would simply mean starvation for them. ' l '

Mr Reeves supported Mr Brown's proposal. Mr M'Kenzie thought this small village settlement* qould be 'overdone. He saw no reason at all why people with no capital should be encouraged to go on the land. WLy put a large quautity-of laud at the disposal of: people who had no capital at all ? Instead of opening one-half the block for people who had no means,:., they should make provision for the ■ intermediate c ' ass — those between the large landowners an,^ the labouring men, — who would build" houses and clear the land for themselves.

Mr Brown said, that Mr M'Kenzie's argumeut would hold good if there were a larger area of suitable land iv the district in question. There was only 2000 acres to be dealt with, and they knew very well that many applicants would be disappointed. Mr M'Kenzie said that they would have too much of the village homestead system. How could they have too much oE a system which bar) not bon tried in this provincial district? (The Chief Commissioner pointed out that the system had been tried in various parts of the Land Board district.) He wan not previously aware of it, owing to the fanln of the board .in not ' advertising sufficiently. — (Laughter.) Had the .regulations in connection ■with the village settlements already in existence been gazetted?— (The Chief Commissioner replied iv the affirmative.) Well, he supposed that up to date not more than 500 aqres had been taken up under the system — (Mr M'Kenzie: "More than that."),— and he did not see how a, good thing could be overdone. He claimed that, as bring acquainted with the people in that district, he knew their ideas on the matter.

Mr M'Kcnzie's motion was carried, there voting for it : the Chinf Commissioner, Messrs Clark, Duncan, and the mover ; against: Messrs Brown and Reaves.

Mr Brown gave notice of motion for next meeting — " That a return be furnished to the board at its next meeting showing the area of land set apart in the Otago land district under the village homestead small farm allotments system the number of allotments taken up, with the area of each and the locality of same ; also showing what assistance, if any, has been given by the Government' to applicants by way of small loans for urgent improvements ; what allotments have been taken up by absolute purchase, deferred payments, or perpetual lease, as provided by sub-acction 2 of suction 167 of " The Land Act 1885.'"

(USIMEBBURN.

It was resolved to recommend the Government to set apart sections 27 to 41, block IV, Giramerburn, for sale on deferred payments at 25s per acre. Thfi Presbyterian Church Board applied to purchase section 9, block II (40 acres).—Referred tf> thft district land officer to report, and if no objection to' application, applicants to be required to advertise in local papers as required by the act.

GLENKENICn.

Inspector Miles recommended that the grazing right over section 9, block XII (lately M'CormackV), Gleifkenich. be granted to W. Sheath, oh condition that he ketps down the rat.bits. A letter from Mr W. L. Simpson was read (on behHlf of James Mair) consenting to valuation placed on tbat section, viz , £100.— Consideration deferred to January 5.

LAUDER.

6. Sheppard asked that, the capital value of perpetual lease section 5, block V, Lauder, shoull be fixed at 20s per acre.— -It was decided that the land offered at 20a per acre, capital value. — On the application of -Mr Fyke, consideration as to mode of dealing with the case of D. Koran

holder of perpetual lease section 6, block IV, Lauder, and who is in arrear with his rent, was deferred to January 5. OTAKA. T. Hunter applied for a lease of section 19a, block 11, Otama. — License to issue for seven years at rental of £2 10s per annum, with fee. PEMBROKE. Ranger Adair reported that the greater portion of the earth had been removed from section 9, block XL IV, Pembroke, by Mr Sylvester, and he suggested that a nominal valuation should be allowed for his house erected on section 10, and that tho land be declared of special value. — Report of ranger to be referred to Mr Sylvester for an explanation of his action in removing the soil. WAREPA. H. Cameron applied to have a portion of block IX, Warepa, opened for perpetual leas- ! ing. — Government recommended to open for perpetual leasing section in question. KUROW. James Gibbins was granted a license for deferred payment section 20, block VIII, Kurow. BUDLB. Duncan M'Rae offered to tease sections 18 to 22, block 11, Budle, for a term of years at 4d per acre, and to keep the same clear of rabbits, these sections being at present used by S. Clark ■ merely under a grazing license. — Consideration postponed for three weeks. UPPER WAKATIPU. T. R. Forsyth applied for an agricultural lease over section 12, block 11, Upper Wakatipu. — Granted. BLACKSTONE. J. Graham applied to surrender his perpetual lease of sections 6 and 7, block XIII, Blackstoue, and to have the land reoffered at the capital value of 20a per acre. He also reauented that sections 8, 9, aud 11 in the same block should be grouped with sections 6 and 7. — Surrender accepted ; to be reoffered at the capital value, 20s per acre; the ranger to value improvements with applicant's consent. Government recommended to revoke proclamation setting aside sections 8 and 9 for sale on deferred payment, a*d have the land opened for perpetual leasing.

ROCK AND PILLAR. Murdoch Matheson requested to be released of his purchase of pastoral deferred payment section 7, block XI, Rock and Pillar, and that the land should be dealt with as a small grazing ruu. — Consideration postponed until January 5.

WENDONSIDE. C. J. Thurston agreed to the terms proposed by the board with respect to the surrender of his perpetual lease, Wendonside. Elizabeth BegK applied to surrender section 3, block I, Wendonside, and to be allowed valuation for improvements. — To be considered with other applications of the same description.

SHOTOVER. An application by F. F. Richards for approval of golclmining lease certificate in respect of section 14, block X, Shotover, was approved. John Neilson was granted a renewal of a license for section 123, block 111, under section 49 of "The Mines Act 1877."

TIGER HILL. The Perpetual Trustees, for Helen M'lntosh, applied to have sections 5, 6, and 7, block IV, Tiger Hill, opened on perpetual lease. — Government recommended to open for perpetual leasing sections 5, 6, aud 7, block IV.

CAfWELL AND GEORGE SOUNDS MARBLE QUARRIES.

Mr W. M'Lean, of Wellington, for the promoters of a new company which is to be formed for working the Caswell and George Sounds marble quarries, applied for a lease of 500 acres, with a right to purchase the land within five years. — Consideration deferred to January 5.

EDUCATION BESER.VES.

A communication was received from the School Commissioners stating that they did not wish to interfere with the board's administration of the education reserves which had been disposed of by perpetual lease. — Received aud noted.

DEFAULTING PERPETUAL LESSEES,

The list of perpetual lessees who are in default was again considered. — Consideration adjourned until January 5. DEFAULTING DEFERRED PAYMENT SELECTORS.

A memo, was received from the Receiver of Land Re,venue as to a number of deferred payment selectors who are in arrear with their payments. — Consideration adjourned to January 5.

EXCHANGE OF UEASES

The following applications to exchange agricultural leases for deferred payment wt-re approved: — A. Davies, section 3, bock VII, Dunback; G. Clark, section 3, block IV, Burile.

TENDERS ACCEPTED.

Tenders wera accepted as follow for deferred payment laud : — Mary Grant, section 16, block VIII, Kurow, 113 acres, 25s (upset); Joseph Scott, section 18, do, do, 142 acres, 25s (upsrt) ; F. W. Hill, section 19, do, do. 107 acres, 2ss (unset); R. Cunninghani, section 21, do, do, 114 acies, 25s (upset); J. Cunningham, section 26, do, do, 109 acres, 25s (upset) ; R. W Hill, section 27, do, do, 126 acres, £4 per acre ; D. Simpson, section 28, do, do, 108 acres, £4 ss ; P. M'ltiue«, section 4, block I, Domett, 126 acres, 25s (upset). The board adjourned until Wednesday, January 5.

At the inquest on the boy Morton, reported to have hanged himself «at Waicola out of a morbid desire to emulate a neighbour who lately committed suicide, it was made clear to the jury that death was the result of accident. The neck was dislocated and the feet of the body resting on the floor. It is supposed that the boy had been on a beam overhead and slipped and fell in such a position that the rope dislocated the neck before the feet could reach the floor.

Post Card Proof.

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