SOUTHLAND LAND BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2097, 3 May 1894, Page 5

SOUTHLAND LAND BOARD.

The ordinary meeting oi the board, held on Tuesday, April 24, was attended by the Chief Commissioner (MrG. W. Williams), and Messrs Cowan, M'lntyre, and Kinross.

The Receiver of Land Revenue reported that the board had granted section 8, block V, Waiam wa, to Mrs W. Fraser in error, the section having been previously sold.— Grant to Mrs Fraser rescinded.

Thomas Wild forwarded a rough plan showing the proposed dte of a dairy factory in block V, Otara.— lt was decided that when the fees were paid and an approved plan submitted, the board would submit the land for sale by auction.

G. R. Ritchie appeared before the board at the request of the chief commissioner to answer some questions- relative to a section at Barkly, for which he is the successful applicant. He stated that his age was 18 years, and that he intended to keep the section as an investment at present. He had never seen the section, nor had he been at Barkly. — Ranger Campbell said that a number of other employees of the New Zealand Pine Company had applied for the section, and had brought a J.P. from Barkly to Invercargill to attest their signatures. — The Chief Commissioner said it was peculiar that so young a man and an employee of the Pine Company should apply for a section he had never seen, and at Barkly, of all places in the world. — The applicant said he was employed in the office of the Pine Company, but had got the money to pay for the section from his father, and not from Mr Barclay or Mr M'Eenzie. He had not previously invested in land. He intended to let the section lie for the present. — Mr Cowan said if the young man's statements were true he did not seem to have applied for the section as a dummy for the Pine Company, and there was nothing before the board to rebut hi 9 assertions. — In answer to Mr M 'ln tyre the applicant said he was fully aware of the terms of the declaration he had made.— Ranger Campbell said every clerk and manager in the office had been an applicant for land at Barkly, and he thoroughly believed that the section was intended wholly and solely for the use of the company. — The Board decided that as there was no prima facie evidence against it the application should be granted.

The Receiver of Land Revenue submitted a schedule of 24 Crown tenants more than two years and a-half in arrears with their rents. — It was decided to inform tfae defaulters that unless the arrears were paid before May 22 the leases would be forfeited.

Charles Harden offered 30s per annum for the lease of about 2100 acres between block XV, Campbelltown Hundred, and the Waituna lagoon. — Lease to be offered at auction at an upset of £5 per annum.

The Southland County Council intimated that they had no objection to the board dealing with the small reserve adjoining the north-east boundary of section 19, block XV, Invercargill Hundred. — Land to be valued and sold to the adjoining owner under clause 17 of the act. W. Frisby wro'e stating that it wauld be bard if the board forfeited his section at Springhills, as he had let it to a Mr Corbett, who had to pay the rent. He asked for a month in which to pay arrears. — To be informed that the section would be forfeited if arrears were not paid by May 22, and further that he must occupy the section himself.

N. L. Falkiner, surveyor, reported that the 230 acres in block VII, Waikawa, applied for by W. Robertson, was part of a village homestead block, and therefore not open for application. — Applicant to be informed accordingly.

' The transfer of sections 9 and 10, block 111, Seaward Bush, from I?. F. Twemlow to William Cumming was sanctioned. * ' John Stirling intimated that he had put improvements to the value of £4 on section 21, township of Oraka, which he had applied for during the previous month. — To be informed that the board could not recognise any improvements improperly made.

The Chief Commissioner recommended that the Government be asked to remove the reservation from the Clifden township reserve, and cut it up, with other available land, into sections of from 20 to 50 acres. — Agreed to. The Chief Commissioner reported that nothing had been done by the licensee of the accommodation house site at Clifden Ferry.—: Licensee to be informed that unless immediate 9feps are taken to provide acponftmodatioa, for

the travelling public the board will resume possession of the land.

The department intimated that the Minister had approved of a lease of section 5, block VIII, Centre Hill, being granted to J. Crosbie while he is mail contractor.

John Stewart having applied for additional land in Flints Bush township, it was decided to recommend the Government to permit areas up to 10 acres to be held owing to the poor nature of the land ; to be offered under the optional system. Alexander M'Rae applied for sections 9 and 10, block IV, Danieltown. — Sections to be offered for selection on the optional system at early date.

C. Basstian, sen., asked the board to reconsider the value (£2O) placed upon a fence removed from a run in the Centre Hill district. The run had been leased to John Basstian, and when it was forfeited a fence thereon had been removed, although the board refused its permission. — After hearing Mr Basstian the board decided to adhere to its former resolution, the fence to be re-erected before May 24.

The following applications for land were granted : — Occupation with right of purchase, George Gray, section 36, block IV, Longwood. Leases in perpetuity : A. A. Wright, section 7, block VII, Waimataka; J. P. Gilhooley, section 10, block XVIII, Ohatton.