SALE OF RUNS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5020, 30 May 1889, Page 3

SALE OF RUNS.

The sale of the leases of the Canterbury runs commenced at 11 a.m. to-day in the Assembly Booms, Mr J. 11. Baker Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands, officiating as auctioneer. When the proceedings commenced the room was well filled. It had been anticipated that there would bo a large attendance, and arrangements had been made for an adjournment to the drill shed if the Assembly Room proved too small to accommodate the gathering.

Mr Baker was applauded on mounting the rostrum. He read the general conditions of gale and some special conditions referring to a few of the runs. He also read clause 51 of the Land Act which make it a misdemeanor, with heavy penalties, to interfere with the fairness of the sale by any species of bribery and clause 173 referring to the mode of dealing with runs not disposed of at this sale; also 176, under which any licensee forfeits his license and may be ousted as a trespasser, if any condition or conditions of the lease are not fulfilled, Mr Baker then invited questions as to any points whatever, and the following were a»kcd and answered : Is anyone allowed to lease more country than will'carry 20,000 sheep'?—Yes, with the consent of the Governor. There is only one run of such size, and the Governor’s consent has been obtained in that case.

Is the bush on runs included ? Can it be utilised by the licensee P—A pastoral license gives no right to soil, timber or minerals. Has the licensee a right to pasturage through the bush ?—lt has always been hold that he has. The Government would not think of letting the pasturage in the bush to anyone else. The Government reserves to itself the right in some cases to terminate leases on one year’s notice: Has the licensee the same right? No. But if the Government takes part of a run, the lessee can throw up the rest on six months’ notice.

Were the fence lines laid off by a surveyor ? If not how were the boundaries defined ? The Government would probably allow a surveyor to lay out any straight lines required ; but on the tops of ridges it is not required. I here is cnly one or two cases in which the new lines could be required ns old fence lines have been adhered to as much as possible.

Wore the fences laid out by a surveyor ; or how are the areas defined ? —The fence lines have been traversed by surveyors. Have the public a right of way over those leaseholds ? —They have only a right over such roads as aro shown on the map and over suck tracks as ore defined on the ground, and are generally used as thoroughfares. There is also a right of way for persons engased in mining, and Government officers. Ido not think the Government have a right to go anywhere they like over a run. They must keep to the recognised tracks shown on the Government plans. (Hear, hear.) Mr Baker kept the ball rolling and the proceedings were interesting even to an “ uninterested ” onlooker. Many of the present leases were applauded on having their lots knocked down So them, and this manifestation was not confined to those who had to bid high for their holdings. The runs first sold wore those nearest the plains, beginning at Mount Peel and working southwards. Bun No 2, Mount Peel, found several bidders, and the Hon. J. B. A. Ackland’s respresentative, his son, was run up a third higher than the upset before he secured it. Peel Forest station was also desired by a number of people but they dropped out of the bidding as it ran rapidly up from £l5O to £550 at which Mr W. Postlewaite obtained it. The present lessees are Messrs Smith and Dennistoun. Mr 0. G Tripp was run up £SBO to £B6O for one half of hisOrari station and the rent of the Four Peaks station, was raised from £330 to £6lO. Sherwood Downs was made a shuttlecock between the present holders and a neighbour and run by £lO bids till the upset of £420 was made £IOOO, when the neighbour ceased to nod. The keenest competition of the sale was that for Ash wick Station, for which the upset was £SOO. The present holder and the bidder in the case just mentioned nodded against one another for some time, and then a third joined them fora while. 'lhe present holder was obliged to pay £1340 for it. A sensation was caused when the Otaio run, Mr T. Tesohemaker’s, was dealt with. There were several bidders for this at the outset, but the number was presently reduced to two, and the shuttlecock flew sharply between them. The last bid was £670, and when it was announced that the purcheser was Mr George Rutherford, a storm of hisses and boohoos greeted the news; and this was repeated when Mr Butherford rose from his seat to sign the papers. “ I want it to bury the bones of Princess Eoyal in,” he exclaimed. Our readers will remember that about two years ago the present holder of the run occupied a prominent position in the South Canterbury Jockey Club when a mare belonging to Mr Butherford, named Princess Boyal, formed the subject of a long and somewhat bitter inquiry, of which the conclusion was adverse to Mr Butherford. Hence, as he admitted, his competing for Mr Teschemaker’s run ; hence the signs of indignation given vent to. Bun 61, part of Hakateramea station, was very well competed for, the rent being raised from £4BO to £IO4O, which figure the present holders preferred to pay rather than lose it. The other half was not run so high. The Mackenzie runs, Black Forest, Haldon, Gray’s Hills, Grampians, and Whale’s Back, wore all run up considerably. A determined buyer for one portion of Haldon Station appeared, and ho, Mr Murray, beat down the present holder at £9OO, the upset being £350. For ten of the most mountainous runs,including a few in Otago, there were no bids. The sale was concluded at 1.30 p m. when Mr Baker returned thanks to those present for their attendance and remarked that they had had a very good sale. There were 64 runs offered. Of these, ten, having a total

upset of £1975, were not sold. The aggregate upset of the 54 sold was £20,655. Of them 24 were competed for, with the result that the total rent of these was raised by £7780. The aggregate rent produced by the sale was therefore £28,435. The following were the advertised CONDITIONS OP SALE. The tenures are in each case for two months less than the terms stated. The lands included in the Educational Reserves are liable to be purchased at £2 per acre under the provisions of “ The Canterbury Educational Reserves Sale and Leasing Act, 1876.” The Runs marked * are disposed of with right of resumption, and will bo subject to valuation for improvements in the event of the Government deciding to resume possession after twelve months’ notice, in terms of ‘ The Land Act, 1885.” The said valuation will bo payable one month before possession is given, and shall in no case exceed three times the annual rent, or five times the annual rent when such rent does not exceed £SO.

Runs numbered respectively 91, 95, 96, 97 are subject to valuation for improvements existing on such parts of them as are occupied, under licenses at present held as Nos. N 29, N 42, N 92, NlO4, and NlO5, issued under "The Land Act, 1885.” The said valuation will be payable one month before possession is given,as provided by section 180, Land Act, 1885, and shall in no case exceed five times the amount of the present annual rental. Six months’ rent, must bo paid at the time of sale, and possession will be given on the 2nd May, 1890. Conditions as to further payment of rent, date of leases, to bo announced at the time of sale.

The purchase or removal of any existing fences on the Crown lands offered for license, whether at the date of sale or before the determination of the present license, will be matter of arrangement between the present licensee and the purchaser, during the currency of the present license. Wo liability is accepted by or on behalf of the Crown in respect of any such fencing. Where fences form the boundary between Crown lands offered for license and freehold land, the purchaser of such license will be liable to the provisions of any law now or hereafter in force relating to boundary fonceg.