LAND BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 9952, 13 March 1894, Page 2

LAND BOARD.

This Board met on Monday. Present : The Commissioner of Crown Lands (chairman), Mr Stock, and Col. Trimble. Application. — John Reddingapplied for sec 16, block XVI., Egmont, with his remission certificate for £30. Agreed to. Transfers. — C. Gooding applied to transfer sec 19, block XVI., Huiroa, to Chas. E. Gooding. Agreed to. The Public Trustee applied to transfer p.l. sec 34, block VII., Kaupokonui, in the estate of D. S. Walter (deceased) to J. T. Eggers. Agreed to. Also, W. H. Keasberry to A. Peters, of sec 12, block 11., Opunake. R. Crockett applied to transfer sub-division 1, block VII., Kaupokonui, to R. Willis. The application was granted. The rent of sub-division No. 2, was fixed at £1 per annum. T. Burckett applied to sub-lease sec. 1, block XI., Huiroa, to Joseph Dunick, for 5 years. Agreed to. Acquiring Freehold. — The following applications to acquire freeholds of deferred payment lands were granted :—: — John Stevenson, sec 17, block XIV., Opunake (to capitalise as well as pay off); P. Murphy, sec 5, block IX., Cape ; P. T. Bint, sec 50, block 111., Huiroa The following applied for freehold for perpetual leasehold lands : — F. Breeze, sec 25, block 11., Huiroa ; H. Packman, sec 71, block 11., Kaupokonui. Granted. AjjplicalioH for Titles. — J. and F. Dunick applied for seperate titles for deferred payment sec 10, block VII., Huiroa. Granted. Mr G. W. Harvey wrote saying that he was not able to fulfil his engagements with regard to sec 12, block XIV., Cape. It was agreed that the section should be forfeited, and the arrears of rent to be demanded. Extension of Time. — The following were allowed six months' time to pay arrears of rent : H. Eason, sec 1, block x., Ngatimaru; A. Weller, sec 5, block x., and sec 7, block ix., Ngatimaru; E. A. P. Gibson, hoc 5, block viii., Ngaire. B. Weale wrote informing the Board that he would pay arrears of rent on sec 9, block xii., Egmont, by 28th February (which he had not done), and asked for time to do necessary improvements. — It was decided that the application for extension of \ time for improvements be not entertained until the arrears of rent are paid, and to demand payment of said arrears before 31st March. Non-payments. — The Commissioner reported that the following, who were three payments in arrear, had been sent notice to pay arrears of rent by 28th February, and that up to date they had not done so: C. F. Stevens, sees 45 to 52, Waipuku Village; C. F. Stevens, sec 291, Moa; A. Peterson, sec 17, block vii., Egmont; S. J. Kennington, sec 15, block xv., Waitara; E. A. Laurent, sec 9, block xvi., Waitara; W. G. Cate, sec 49, block x., Huiroa; E. O'Sullivan, sec 24, block xiv., Opunake ; and sec 15, block IT., Oeo. — The above sections were all declared forfeited for non-payment of rent. Ve-stinf/ Rrbcrve. — The Survej'or-General wrote for a report as to the advisability of vesting Reserve sec 32, block Till., Waimate, held under lease by L. S. Barraclough, in the Hawera County Council. The report ot the Ranger was agreed to on this subject : " That the Council have control of the gravel pit only; giving them the right to chai'ge a royalty of not more than 3d per cubic yard." Asking to be relieved of lease. — Mr Jas. Aiken wrote asking to be relieved of his lease of University Reserve sees 1, block XI., block XII., and sec 6, block XV., Opaku, as the rent he is paying is excessive. — It was decided that the question of reduction be settled when arrears of rent were paid, and that the arrears be paid within the month. Subdivision of Section in Kapara. — Sir Jos. Annabell wrote submitting a scheme for the subdivision of township reserve sec 1 2, block VI., Kapara, and made suggestions with regard to reserves for cemetery, school, and travelling stock. The scheme as submitted was adopted, and the reserves to be as follows: Sec 1 for cemetery, sec 2 for school, and see 5 for travelling stock. The name of the township is to be Matapouri. Hanger's Report. — The Ranger submitted a report on the inspection of holdings, showing that an area of 4459 acres of first class land and 3992 acres of second class land had been inspected. The requirements of the Act are 430 acres in grass and improvements to the value of £1,334. The improvements effected are 1901 acres in grass and value £3,777; other improvements (buildings and fencing) to the value of £1,960. Out of '68 selectors, five are in partial, and two in total default. It was resolved that those in arrears be called upon to explain why they have not complied with the Act, as their sections arc liable to forfeiture High Price of Section. — Messrs Bond and Wright attended the Board with a a complaint at tho price put on their sejtions 5 and 0, block VII. and 9, block XL, Mimi, in the Lopporton Special Settlement, and asked that the matter be looked into, as they considered price excessive. The Board promised to have the matter looked into, and obtain a report from the surveyor. Transfer wanted for a small run. — Mr Okey waited on the Board and stated that he applied sometime ago for a transfer of a small run, No. 6, Opaku, which was refused on the ground that Mr Major had not held the land-long enough, and that the necessary improvements had not been effected. He therefore agreed with Mr Major to effect the necessary improvements which were done. Mr Okey was requested to state his case in writing when it would be fully considered when the land was disposed of. Survey Work required to be pushed on. — The Commissioner submitted tracings of Crown Lands, blocks V., VI., IX., X., XIII., and XIV., Upper Waitara, surveyed by Messrs Skeet and Murcott, comprising about 16,417 acres in 25 sections averaging from 164 to 1850 acres. Tho Board resolved that as the survey of the northern railway reserve through or adjacent to these lands had not been completed (in fact, hardly begun) they would press upon the Public Works Department the importance of energetically pushing on tho survey work, as there would thus be thrown open for settlement land to the extent of about 1 6,000 acres. The plans of Messrs Skeet and Murcott were before the Board, but nothing could bo done till the railway reserve is defined. i The Board then rose.