CULVERDEN ESTATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9272, 26 June 1908, Page 3

CULVERDEN ESTATE.

The ballot for sections in the Culverden Estate, whioh has been acquired by the Government under the Land for Settlements Act, was opened this morning at the Land Board room in the Provincial Council Chambers before the members of th 6 Land Board, Messrs E. C. Gold Smith (Commissioner of Crown Lands), A. C. Pringle, Joseph Scaly, John Allan and James Stevenson. The proceedings were immediately adjourned to the Art Gallery to accommodate the large press of applicants who desired to be present, and the balloting was commenced shortiy after ten o'clock. There was a very large attendance of the public, including a large number of ladies, and the Eroceedings were followed with the eenest interest.

Before opening the ballot, the Commissioner said that tnere were 783 applicants for twenty-five sections. He apologised for the unceremonious manner in which the applicants had been put through the examination, but explained that it had had to be carried out hurriedly owing to the short time available. The successful applicants for the section on which the homestead was would have to allow a week for the owner to dispose of his goods and chattels, and possession could be taken a week after the ballot. Qn section 17 there were stacks of oaten sheaf, which the lessee could buy if he desired at » reasonable price, and they would be left for a little while. On section 20 the Amuri Mounted Rifles had the right to remove their targets. Those were the only restrictions, and possession of the other sections could be taken immediately after the ballot. The Government would pay the water rate for the first half-year, and after that the lessee would be liable. The rate was about three farthings in the £ on capital value. The unsuccessful applicants could have their deposits returned after th 6 ballot at the office of the Land Revenue Receiver.

The ballot was then proceeded with. Lists had been prepared of the applicants for each section, and a number accorded to each. The numbered balls were handed one by one by the scrutineers (Messrs A. C. Thompson and H. S. Bourn) to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, who placed them in the ballot-box, an assistant at the same time calling each number and the name of the applicant, so that any applicant could challenge the ballot if he thought his name had not been called. The box was then whirled round to mix up the balls and a draw took place, the name of the successful applicant for the section being immediately declared.

There were twenty-six applicants for the first section drawn, and the result gave a considerable jolt to popular superstition. The luoky number was 18, and laughter went up when a woman's name was given as the successful applicant. The next section also went to a woman, amid more laughter. The next three sections went to mere males, but then there were two more women returned in succession. A break of four men was followed by another successful female applicant, the last three applicants haying come from Kmaru. The next seotion went to another number 18, and then ' another woman had the luck. Throe -moro men came together and then another woman, but this, ended the feminine fortune, for the five last sections balloted went to male applicants. The largest number of. participants in any one ballot was 96, for a first-class section of 607 acres, of a oapital value of £4580, but the number for the homestead block was only two short of the highest, the acreage being 2982, of a oapital value of £14,100. The number of challenges was small. Generally the applicants had not heard their names called, and were soon reassured by the scrutineers. One man, however, came forward as lan applicant fdr the homestead block, but was told_ that he had not "appeared to be examined, and he went away again' regretfully. The ballot was gone through with the utmost despatch, and oocupied only a little over an hour and a half. There was no hitoh and no mistakes made by the officers. in charge of the proceedings, and with; the* last I ballot the crowd dispersed quietly a little before noon. The results were as follow, the number of applicants for J each section being given in parentheses : — PIRST-CLASS LAND. Section No. 3, 508 acres 1 rood, capital value £2370, half-yearly rental £53 6s 6d— Andrew Joseph Thompson (Culverden). Allotted under the preference clause. Sectioii No. 4 (26), 399 acres 1 rood, capital value £3710, half-yearly rental £83 9s 6d— Edith Ellen Gallagher (Ladbrooks). Section No. 11, 257 aores 3 roods, capital value £2840, half-yearly rental £74— Frank Travers (Culverden). Allotted under the preference' clause. ' Section No. 12 (84), 322 acres, capital value £4200, half-yearly rental £94 10s— Margaret Reid (Seddon). Section No, 13 (85), 228 acres, capital valu© £2270, half-yearly rental £61 Is 6d— Erick Andrew Black (Waikari). | Section No. 14 (20), 378 acres, capital value i £3340, half-yearly rental £75 3s— Daniel M'Gillicuddy (Orari). Section No. 15 (38), 551 acres 1 rood, capital value £4280,- half-yearly rental £96 6s— William Henry Dunstan (Chertsey). Section No. 17 (4), 516 acres, capital value £3290 half-yearly rental £74 Os 6d— Ellen Taylor (Sefton). . Section No. 19 (35), 857 aores, capital value £3190, half-yearly rental £71 15s 6d— lsabella Davidson (Killinchy). Section No. 20 (6), 462 acres 2 roods, capital value £3i40, half-yearly rental £70 13s— John Swaney (Temuka). Section No. 21, 629 acres 2 roods, capital value £3060, half-yearly rental £68 17»—Michael Herlihy (Culverden). Allotted under the preference clause. ■>. Section No. 22 (96), 607 aores, capital value £4580, half-yearly rental £103 ls— Thomas Govan Thomson (Christchurch). Section No. 23 tl7), 558 acres, capital value ] £4070, half-yearly rental £91 lis 6d— "William I Austin (Timaru). Section No. 24 (8), 561 acres 3 roods, oapital value £3580, half-yearly rental £80 He—"Walter Frederick Grueber (Timaru). Section No. 25 (3Jf), 46. acres 2 roods, capital value £4390, half-yearly rental £98 15s 6d— . Sarah Letitia Htmter (Timaru). SECOND-CLASS LAND. Section No. 1 (13), 712 acres 1 rood, capital value £3250, half-yearly rental £73 2s 6d— Charles Davies (Christohuroh). Seotion No. 2 (80), 709 aores 1 rood, capital value- £3620. half-yearly rental £81 9s— Edward Roberts (Blind River). Section No. 5 (16), 897 acres, capital value £3430, half-yearly rental £77 8s 6d— David M, Byrne (Addington). . Section No. 6 (29)', 736 acres 2 roods, capital value £3010, half-yearly rewtal £67 14s 6d— Ann Jane Hampton (Chertsey). Section No. 7 (8), 1852 acres, capital value £5040, half-yearly rental £113 Bs— John Dunbar (Ponsonby). . Section No. 8 (3), 1421 acres, capital value £3320, half-yearly rental £74 14s— Thomas Flower (Blenheim). . , ■ , Seotion No. 9 (12), 1324 acres, capital value £4030, half-yearly . rental £90 13s 6d— George Henry Sharpe (Waiau). Section No. 10 (15), 756 acres, capital value £2620. half-yearly rental £58 19s— Sarah Butler (Upper Waiau). Section No. 16 (76), 660 acres, capital value £4100, half-yearly rental £92 ss— Peter M Callum Hamilton (The Peaks, North Canterbury). Section No. 18 (48), 654 acres 2 roods, capital value £3860, half-yeariy rental £86 17s—Patrick Kennedy, junr. (Fernside). Section No. 26, 1490 acres, capital value £7600, half-yearly rental £171-W. G. Polhill (Culverden). Allotted under the preference olauffe * . THIRD-CLASS LAND. Section No. 27 (94), 2592 acres,- capital value £14100 half-yearly rental £357 16s 3d — David Hampton (Christohurch). ■ Section No. 28 (29), 2532 acres, capital value £9050. half-yearly rental £203 12s 6d— George Henshaw (Culverden). Section No. 29 (72). 2103 acres, capital value, £7660, half-year* v rental £172 7s— Alfred Fisher (Springfield). . Culverden settlement is sixty-nine miles from Christchurch by rail, the present terminus of the railway being tbe Culverden township, which is on the estate. The lands for selection totalled 25.540 acres, and wero open for renewable lease. The area ranges in altitude from 570 ft to 1890 ft above sea-level, and the land varies in quality from good pastoral hills and mixed agricultural and pastoral downs and flats to light stony flats. The greater

mammmmimammmmmmm^maamm^^mmmmmßmmmmmmmammmm portion is watered either by streams^ or water-races. Tbe estate, besides being traversed by the main roads to the townships of Hanmer and Wftiau, is well adapted for tbe breeding of sheep, and has a good reputation for its wool, sheep and lambs.