CHEVIOT RUNS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19846, 15 January 1920, Page 5

CHEVIOT RUNS

.TO.DAY’S BALLOT. SUCCESSFUL' APPLICANTS. The chamber of the Provincial Council Buildings was crowded at 1 o’clock to-day, when the Canterbury Land Board held a ballot amongst returned soldiers for three grazing runs in the Cheviot Estate. The board sat in the chamber, Mr H. I>. M. Haszard presiding, and Messrs T. Gee, W. Cunningham and D.‘ Stowell attending, with Mr 11. Leckie, chief clerk, and a stall of officers and clerk s Additional seating accommodation had been provided in the chamber. This was soon occupied, and many men stood. The Strangers’ Gallery in the north and the old Press Gallery in the south, which have not been used for many years, were thrown open, and were completely filled. A lady, who applied for a section on a. nurse’s qualification, was present. She occupied a position in the front row of the Press Gallery, above the old Speaker’s chair. The proceedings, which occupied about two hours, were watched wixh deep interest. Occasionally a returned soldier saw something humorous in them and made a joking remark. There was some laughter when the winning number in the second ballot was found to be a trebly odd one, 333. Tho greatest interest centred in the third section, and when tho successful applicant was known, somebody shouted “Good luck to him.” The successful candidates aro;—

) Section No. 1, 695 acres, Mr F. C. Do Lambert, To "Weka Road, Timaru. Section 2, 514 acres, Captain W. J. Rodger, M.Oi, D.C.M., Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch. • Section No. 3, 2000 acres, Mr D. W. Smith, The Grange, Ashburton. Captain Rodger was the only successful applicant present. He was applauded when he came forward to sign the declaration. He served in the war with the Main .Body, and won the distinguished conduct medal in Franco, and the Military Cross in France. Before the war he was a sergeant in the Canterbury Highland Rifles. Mr Haszard, in opening the proceedings, said that he wished' it to bo understood that on the third section offered, there was no fence on the north-eastern' boundary. The adjoining owner would be responsible for half the cost _of the fence, and the successful applicant would be responsible for the other half. A cross-fence marked on the plan of that section should bo shown further to the west. Mr D. Archibald, the adjoining owner, had suggested that that fence was not required at the place- it occupied, and that the successful applicant might be allowed to utilise it for the north-eastern boundary fence. The suggestion would bo discussed with the board. By that * means the expense, of ring-fencing the section might be considerably reduced. The number of applicants for the three sections, after examination, and after the number had been reduced on account of informalities and so on, wait 63.2. The applications for each section were;— No. 1 v s B 429 No. 2 , # , 368. No. 3 , v ~ , 475 The Commissioner asked if any of those present wished to ask questions. Mr A. S. Clarkson asked 'when possession would he given of the sections. The Commissioner: At once. ~ln reply to another question, the Commissioner said that he. could not Kay if there was stock on the third section.

Ih-i Commissioner called on those prosent to_ nominate the scrutineer.;. Messrs N. B. M’Callum (president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association) and L. Stone wore ’nominated, and stepped forward to •’the>' Commissioner’s table. As tho name of each applicant was called by a, clerk, tho Commissioner picked a, marble from a tray and dropped it into tho box. This was done at too rate of about twenty a minute, 100 Comnnsisoner then took a marble from tho box, read the number on it and the clerk, from his list, gave the corresponding name of the successful applicant. A second marble was drawn in each ballot, and tho name of the second applicant was announced, in case the first applicant did not comply with the conditions.

The following are particulars of the sections;—

(1) Lot 1 of section 2, Blk. XIV area 695 acres 3 roods; near Etholton i ail way station; capital value £5020 • instalment on deferred pavment (excludes interest) £251; half-yearly rent on lease, ;-il2 19s. This section includes in y, undulating and flat land; about ioO acres being ploughablo. About UK) acres have been ploughed and grassed. Iho whole section is well watered bv the Kaiwara River and small streams ; 420 applications— Frederick Charles D e Lambert, sheepownor, To AVcka Hoad, limaru. '

(2) Lot 1 of section 1, Blk. XVI]., area, oil acres; near Etboltoii raihvaV. station; capital, value £1320; instufment on deferred payment (excludin'lll te:3S oo-~p 6; half-yearly rent on H &S p> 4s. The formation consists of limestone, sandstone and clay ■ 3bS applications.—Wilbam James Rodger, M.C., D.C M. lieutenant (temporary captain), 23b, Moorbouso Avenue onho I>art £cction ] - Jjlk - VII. ‘ area -000 acres; two miles and a half from bpots.voad; capital value £13,020- instalment on deferred- payment (excluding interest), £651; half-yearly rent on lease, £292 10s Th o area is well watered by the Gower River and other streams. There is a gcod homestead site on the Leamington Road • 475 a,jpbcatious.—Donald Williamson Smith, lamer, .the Grange, Ashburton. Li an interval in the pioccecliims the Commissioner said that in the Canterbury Land District up to December i'l last, 2-_l soldiers had been repatriated ■ii respect to land atid bouses. Of tint numhor more than 2000 had been rut into possession since April last. The for repatriating soldiers was o-3,00b acres, some allotted by ballot and some, by transfers. On December 31 last there wore 275 applications for t/,1b3 acres under consideration. In tho Lanccrbuiv land district ‘>2 m-r , of , tJ , le re mined, soldiers deniobi!rmd had been repatriated irrespective ot the proportions m the Marlboroug:,, iNelsoii and Westland land districts