SALE OF RUNS.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 151, 1 June 1877, Page 3

SALE OF RUNS.

The leases for ten years of the two divisions into which the Waste Lands Board recently made Run 51 in the Waipori district (Cable and Drummond's) were offered by auction in Dunedin on Monday. The attendance was large enough to induce the auctioneer (Mr R. B. Martin) to adjourn the proceedings from the Land office to the Board room. There business was commenced by Mr Harlow reading out the conditions of sale, the principal of which may be stated in effect to have been as follows : — " Run No. 51 j comprising an area of 9250 acres, more or less, was subject to payment of valuation for improvements to the extent of £58 10s. Run 51a, containing by estimation 12,000 acres, more or less, was subject to payment of valuation for improvements to the extent of £629 18s. Both runs were offered at the upset annual premium rental of 2d per acre, in addition to the annual assessment rental ot 3s 6rl for every head of great cattle, and 7d for every head of small cattle, which shall be depastured on the runs, payable in terms of section ISB of the Lands Act, 1872, but the minimum stock on which the assessment rental will be payable en the said runs respectively will be calculated on 3350 sheep on Run 51, and 4300 on Run 51a. The leases will commence on Ist June, 1878, and expire on 31st of May, 1888. Provision is made in the leases of the respective runs for securing to the lessee payment by the incoming tenant compensation for improvements made by the lessees being on the lands at the expiration of the respective leases, as provided by section 143 of the Act of 1872 ; but the Government or the Land Board will be in no way liable for such compensation." Before biddings were invited the auctioneer had to answer a number of questions. One gentleman, said to hail from Southland, was anxious for information about improvements, and wa« told that the Government could not help any depreciation that might take place before possession was given to the purchaser. Is the present lessee bound to keep them in good order ? was the next query from the same quarter, which elicited the reply that the Government could not compel him to do so. Then followed other questions. A Voice : What is the nature of these improvements ? Mr Martin : A woolshed and other buildings. They have been valued by a competent person. A Voice : In whose interest ? Mr Martin : On behalf of the Go- ' Yernment, of course. It was made as

all other valuations are made— by a competent person — with whose valuation the Government is satisfied. Mr F. 0. Fulton .* I should like to ask, seeing that there are a number of creeks not sheep proof, which will have to be fenced, on the inside of the runs, will there be a claim for half that fencing from the adjoining lessee ? Mr Martin : There is no provision whatever for fencing. Mr Fulton: Is the fencing compulsory ? Mr Martin : I don't know anything about that. A Voice : In tbe 12,000 acres there is about 1000 acres of bush, which is reserved. Now, as you cannot be expected to pay for a thing you do not get, will the Government reduce the acreage by that thousand acres ? Mr Martin: There is just the usual protection of bush. You cannot cut it down indiscriminately. Mr Fulton: You cannot run sheep on bush land. Mr Martin : You can grass them on the top of trees, or run cattle through it ; but you cannot graze in it. A Voice : Are we to understand that the purchaser can keep every one else out of the bush 1 Mr Martin: The Government'reserve to themselves the right of the bush. Mr Fulton : Do you know that there is so much undergrowth that the land is practically unfit for grazing purposes ? Mr Martin : I do not agree with that. However, it has nothing to do with the question. A reasonable time being allowed, and no further questions offering, Mr Martin started Hun 51a at the upset price, and b failing bids, it was quickly advanced to Gd, at which it was knocked down to Mr F. C. Fulton. Run 51 was also started at 2d, the bidding being mainly between Mr Fulton and Mr Robert Cotton, The former gave way at Gd, and at Gid the latter was declared the purchaser. The previous lessees of the original run paid for it, as rent, an annual assessment of £256 19s 2d. Under yesterday's conditions of sale, the subdivided runs yield to the Treasury a premium rental besides an assessment rental. The two divisions, which, together, are less in area, by about 4000 acres, than the original runs, therefore yield annually to the State L 772 3s 6d. It was stated yesterday that Run 51a was, in reality, knocked down to Messrs Cable aud Drummond.— Daily Times.