MR BALLANCE IN ASHBURTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1431, 14 December 1886, Page 2

MR BALLANCE IN ASHBURTON.

The Minister for Lands, accompanied by Mr McKerrnw (Chief -Surveyor), and Mr March, of the Lands and Immigration Department, arrived in Ashburton by the express train yesterday, and was met at 'be Hallway station by Mr W. O. Walker and IVLjor Steward, M.H. Iv.’a. In the afternoon he received several deputations at the County Council Chambers.

Mr Jfi. G, Wright, on behalf of a number of residents in the Mayfield district, brought under the Minister’s notice the desirability of opening up land or settlement in small holdings on the village settlement system in that locality, indicating two areas us suitable for the purpose. One of these is situated about three mihs westward of Mayfield, an I contains six or seven hundred acres, and is, we believe, a part of the run formerly held by the late Sir Cracroft Wilson. The other, bet *een one and two miles east of. Mayfield, containing' about lOC'O acres, is a portion of Mr W. C Walker's run 11 was stated that the first mention'd is the better laid, and owing *o its being cutoff by private holdings and a plantation reserve (rom the inn of which it terms » par, it was antici ..uteri that no difficulty would be experienced in obtaining the consent ■ { the ieas-, s 10 Its being taken for Settlement pm poses. I , however, transpired that such c msent is n>t absolutely necessary, as ihe Governor ha» power to te- apart for village settlement purposes under section 166 of the Land Act such blocks or allotm’nts as he may think fit out of any Grown Lands. Mr Balia me promised that a Comaai-sioner should be tent to inspect the lauds in question, and report as to their suitability for the purpos and upon receipt of his report that ihe request of the intending settlers would be given effect to if possible, t‘iat 1, should the report bo a favorable one. Mr Walker and Mr Steward, in the temporary absence from the colony of the hon. member for Wakanui, then submitted to the Minister the case of Mr McOrory, of -South Kakaia, and others, who h-tve claims against the Crown under he Forest Trees Pl.miing Encouragement Act I was pointed cut that althou. h a vote had been passed last session for sitisfying the claims under that. A.O , Mr Vic rory, who claims to hsve plan ed an acre of land in a good and satisfactory manner, had been unable to obtain ati> remuneration in land or money, it beii g alleged by the Depadm- nt th t in some way the conditio-.s had not oeen complied with. Mr McOrory stated that he had asked to he Informed In whit particular-? non-compliance wth tr e regulations w.s adegod, but tad been unable to obtain the information ; also ihat he was wiling hat. the plantation should he inspect d and reported upon by any composent person.- Mr Balance pionrsed t at the matter should be enquired into, and Mr McOrory commun oated with on the subject. The same gan'leme", on behalf of Mr F. S. Tinwald, brought nnd r the Minis'er’s notice the fact hat Mr Shearer had applied to take up a section of 60 acres under perpetual lease at Dro' more, but that his application had been refused because ho is the holder of a half acre section at Tinwald.—-Mr Balance agreed that it was not the intention of the Act, or regulations is ued thereunder. that an application should f aH under such oircumetauoss, and he d rected tha- Mr Shearer be inform? d that his application c-n be granted. Messrs "Walker, Sony, Crisp, FriedUnder. and Qume. on behalf of. the 'shhurton .»co‘m->tiasti. n Society, then detailed the difficulties which had arisen between the local Society and the pa ent <ociefy in Christchurch, and asked that 'he boundaries of jurisdfet on of the local Society might be gszvted.—The matter was discussed at some length, and Mr Bsliance promised that. It should be looked into, and the local Society oommurica*ed with on the subject M- ssrs Shearer, C. Jephson, and Scott, members of the Tinwald Town Board, then interviewed the Minister with reference to the desirability of acquiring land in that district for village settlement purposes. They presented a memorial, sign d by a number of intending settlers, recommencing the acquiring by the Crown of a part of Mr Graham’s estate for the pnn ose indicated, stating that they beli ve 1 the owner would ho wild g to accept the Property Tax valuation with 10 per cent added —Mr Ballan.e said that while the Government was anxious to promote village settlement, it had no power under the law as it stood at present to purchase land without first obtaining 1 a resolution approving of such purchase by both ffouses. Th© clauses in the ct re'ntive to this matter were therefore practically inoperative, except in so far that they were an affirmation of the principle, and had drawn public attention I I the question. He thought that in any case intending settlers should provide a part of the purchase money, a'd enquired whether those who desired to take up this particular land would be prepared to paj r down, sav a fourth. —The deputation replied that they believed that this was the case —Mr Ballance said that h contemplated making proposals to Paliament in that direction, and if the necessary powers were obtained next session such applications as the present could be dealt with on those lines ; blocks to bo purchased for associations of settlers, vhe would bo required to pay down one-fourth of the purchase money, and to ray an annual rental equal to he interest on the baance. —The deputation thvukid the Minister and withdrew.

Sobai quently, accompanied by Messrs Walker and Steward, the Ministerial par'y drove out to Tiawald, and inspected the land which was the subjot of the last named deputation. This morning the par;y proceeded to Mount Somers to visit the local coal mine, and on rt turning will take 'he evening train f r Timam, proceeding to Waimaie-by the last train on Wednesday.