WAITOHI PEAKS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16858, 11 June 1920, Page 6

WAITOHI PEAKS.

( BIG BALLOT TOE SOLDIER SETTLEMENT. The demand for land by returned soldic~s shows no signs of r bating, for close on 500 applicants jtook part in the ballot for sections in the Waitohi Peaks Settlement yesterday. Tfco property, which is situated some 14 miles from - Ilawarden, was sold by tlie owner, Mr G. Rutherford, to tho Government, for soldier settlement, at much below its market value. It is safe sheep country. the altitude ranging from 12o0ft to' 2760 ft. The whole property was cut up into ten sections, and homestead sites were provided on a flat, where no suitable sites existed on the sections themselves. Tbn examination of applicants closed on Wednesday afternoon, after lasting all day, and the ballot was fixed for 10 a.m. yesterday. A postponement was, however, made until 3" p.m., and at about 330 the process of bnllotting started, tho Provincial Council Chamber being crowded with applicants. By ■ 6 p.m. only three sections had been drawn, and an hour's adjournment took place, the ballot being completed in the evening. Messrs X. P. Digby and R. W. Lochhend were appointed scrutineers by the applicants. « ; Before the ballot opened the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr Haszard, said that the Department had purchased from Mr Rutherford some 4000 sheep, bred and used to the country. The price of the sheep was fixed by arbitration, the average price being a little over 38s. The sheep were an excellent class, and included*some 70 rams and 621 ewo hoggets, and ho understood tho remainder were owes. Tho successful applicants, if they wished, : could put in an application for the number of sheep they required. A fortnight would be allowed successful apnlicnnts to state their requirements. Three of the sections, Nos. 8, 9, and 10, liad been set anart for TB. men, and , those men would not participate in the bal'ots _ for the o'tber seven. Details of the ballot are as follows:—' Section 1., 1096 acres, capital value £7230— M. H. Stokes, form Ip.bon-'r. _ Section 11., G2l acres, capital valu-? £3880 (including £150 for cottage and stable) —A. B. E. Willis, farmer, Breeze's road. New Brighton. Section 111.. 1180 acres, capital value £7900 (including iC>"O for corchhouse and vs-oolsTied) —E. J. Mu'tisan, street, Linwood. j Section IV., 1200 acr">s. rnnitnl vnlne £7380 —E. A. Robinson, auctioneer, 9 Stravea road, Christchurch. Section V., 803 acres, canital val"<* £5920— C. TV. McTCeeirnn, auctioneer. Christcburch. . Section VI., 833 acres, capital vnhre £4950— H. V. InoV fanner, Tepirita, Ralcnia. Section VII.. 1132 capital value £8960 —B. McK. Smith, shepherd, Timnm. Section VITT., S'-C acres, oapitr.l value £5540—5. .T. Gib?on, farmer. Ellcsmore. Paction IX., 71S acres, capital value £4990 —E. A. Grim-wood, Soutbbrook. Section X., 779 capital vain© £5530— J. J. Christeburch. THE T.B. PREFERENCE. When tlie first ballot was taken for the three sections reserved for the T.B. men, it was found that there were only. nine applicants. I "Is that all tho T.B. men?'' asked an unsuccessful candidate in the other j ! ballots. "Do you think it fair that nine men should have three sections?" i "Are you a T.B. man?" asked Mr R. ! Macaulay, the senior member of the Land Board present, who presided at tho ballot. "No," replied tho original questioner, | J'l am making a protest against awarding three blocks to nine T.B. men. I have every sympathy with the T.B. and limbless men, and tney should have preference within reason." I Mr Macaulay said the Board was meeting the next day, and would hear i ( any objections then. The preference to T.B. men had been given in response to representations made on their behalf. ( OTHER BALLOTS. Three other small ballots were held, resulting as follows:— 1 Hornby. Settlement, Section 7, 3 acres, capi- ! tal value £200— J. Vance, Sclwyn terrace, Lyttelton. ' Hornby Settlement, Section 10, 3 acres, 1 capital value £200— J. Halliday, Schvyn ter- '• race, Lyttelton. ' Aylesbury, Block IX., 252 acres, capital value £1770—M. J. Walsh, Orari Gorge.