LAND BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7963, 6 September 1887, Page 3

LAND BOARD.

The Land Board met on Monday, Present: The Commissioner of Crown Lands (in the ohair), and Messrs. Livingstone, Syme, Btaadiab, and Kelly. {Continued from Town Edition yesterday.)

Banger's Report. — The Ranger reported on an application of F. O'Donovan for a farther extension of time to make the final improvements required en sections 11 and 12, block 3 Ngaire. He stated that a similar request was made on September 15tb, 1886, and the applicant was allowed an extension to pay to May, 1887, but no farther clearing has been made since that application, the area cleared being only sufficient to cover the 2nd inspection at the end of the 4th year. He was afraid that it was one of those cases where men take up more land than they can benefioiall/ occupy, and he much doubted Mr. O'Donovan'a power to make up the requested value of improvements (£245). It seemed a. great hardship to refuse the application, but as the Board had no guarantee that the improvements would be made he could' not recommend an extension of time, unless Mr. O'Donovan oould satisfy the Board that the improvements would be made. Mr. StANDISH moved, " That consideration of the application be postponed, in order that the Chairman may communicate with the applicant to ascertain whether he is prepared to give any guarantee that he will proceed with the improvements : forthwith." Seconded by Mr. Kelly, and carried. — The Banger also reported on J. J. Council's application to be allowed on impiovement valne on forfeited section 4, block 13, Opunake. The Banger stated that 10 acres had been felled and grassed, the felling being badly done, as all, the large trees were left standing. £20 was , expended in this work, whioh was done by contract. £46 4s had been paid in all over the section by Connell, who derived no benefit from it. Connell is a member of the Permanent Militia at Opunake, who would not have forfeited had* not his pay been reduced. He recommended that the overdue instalments should be allowed to stand against the improvement value of the section, and Connell should be released from further liability. The section would be applied for by a settler at Opunake if no improvement value was put on it. — The Board decided, on the motion of Mr. Kelly, seconded by Mr. Symb, "That nnder the circumstances explained by the Banger, the improvements be allowed as a set-off against the instalments due, and that legal proceedings be abandoned." Extension of Time. — W. J. Green was granted two months' extension of time to pay instalment due on sec. 27, block 3, Ngaire. Public Trustee. — The Banger reported on a memo. from, the Publio Trustee that allowance should be made for improvements effected on sections 18 and 43, block 3, Ngaire. He said that he found on inspection that on section 18 about 10 acres hud been roughly felled, and a rough hut erected, the value of the whole improvements being about £25. On section 43 about four acreß bad been felled, only two of which had been grassed, the value being abont £7 10s. He doubted ' much if the Board could re-sell them if they placed an improvement value on them, and unless the sections were Bold soon the improvements would become valueless. He would recommend that £15 value be put on improvements on section 18, but none on section. .43. — Mr. Standish moved, " That the Publio Trustee be informed that the improvements have been valued, and that the Board finds that the value would not cover the amount of instalments in arrears."— Seconded by Mr. Livingstone, and carried. Ngaire Road Board. — The Banger reported on the schedule of proposed expenditure of deferred payment thirds of the Ngaire Boad Board, which set out the sum of. £123 15s, not one penny of which was to be spent on road construction or repairs, bat was all to go for reducing the. debt on the various roads, incurred through work already done. He recommerded the approval of the schedule. — Cordderation was deferred in order that the Chairman might request that the Boad Board should forward the usual certificate to show tbat the last money the Board got was spent in accordance with the Land Board's recommendation.

Hawera Ccjtuy Council. — The Waimate Boad Board forwarded a resolution, in which they recommended the Land Board paying to the Hawera County. Council all monies accruing from sections abutting on certain roads which were claimed to be county roads of the Hawera County Council, providing that all existing debtß on these roads be paid off ont of present and prospective credits. It was stated in a letter from the same Board that a portion only of the Opunake Boad and of the EUham Boad were County roads. Sir Frederick Whittaker's opinion on the subject was forwarded by the Hawera Connty, it being to the effect that they were claiming justly. — The Board decided that the whole matter be referred to the Government for an opinion as to whether the roads claimed by the Hawera County Council are really County Boads. Parihaka Road Board. — A letter was received from the Parihaka Boad Botrd, in which the right of the Taranaki Council to receive monies from certain lands after the schedules had been allocated was disputed.—The matter is to be referred to the Gove»nment for an opinion.

High School Endovmients. — A memo, was received from the Lands Office, Wellington, in ars>ver to a resolution of the Land Board that certain sections at Waitara should ba formally reserved and handed over to the Education Board "to complete the New Plymouth High School Endowment." The memo, went on to say that when the open land at Onae'ro had been reserved as a High School reserve it was on the understanding that it was in settlement of all further claims under '.'The New Plymouth High School Act, iB7B." — Memo, received.

Certificates of Title. — The Board recommended the tiovercuent to issue certificates of title to thirteen completed deferred payment sections Bituated in different parts of the district. In Arrear. — Schedules of those in arrear with rente, interest, and instalments were tabled and lead by the Chairman. — The Board decided that all thoße in arrear with two payments or more should be notified to pay by September 30th, 1887, otherwise they would be sued ; and all in arrear with one payment were to be notified to pay forthwith. Moa Road Board. — The schedule of projosed expenditure of deferred payment thirds by the Moa Bond Board was approved of by the Board, but on the Banger's showing that it wns proposed to expend monies Securing from deferred payment land in Iluiroa 1 and 2, on a fortion iof the Junction Bond between uglewood and tho block, the Bourd excepted this item in their resolution of approval. Banger's Report on final improvements, — The Rnnger, in his final report on a number of sections in the Cape, Kanpokon- *, Carlyle, and Ngaire survey districts, Htnted that 83 allotments, comprising an area of 8248 acres, were touched on. He should have reported on a great number of these eorno time ago, ag th 9 *erm of six joar»

from the taking up of the land having in many instances expired early this year, but owing to pressure of duties he had been unable to do bo, and even now he had to 'get the services of Mr. Stannerß, overseer of road works, to pall up the work in arrear. Out of the whole number of selectors, 21 have failed to make all improvements required, but, excepting one, all I could pass tho second inspection at the 1 end of the foarth year, and there are five of them who have improved almost enough to pass the final inspection. 4128 acres of the whole area have been cleared and grassed. The value of improvements amounts to £11,624.— The Board decided that those who were rather backward were to show cause why their sections should not be forfeited. The Board adjourned.