CROWN LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 13

CROWN LANDS.

SOME IMPORTANT SALES. ALONG THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. During the last ten days Crown land sales of considerable iinportanco have been taking plaoo along tho Main Trunk line and adjacent districts. On February 25 tho Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. James Mackenzie), accompanied by Messrs. Wright (secrotary to tho Land Board), Waitfc (Itoceivor of Land Revenue), and MacCormick (land salesman) went by train to Ohakuno, where, on tho following day, 40 sections adjoining the railway station were offered by public auction. Tho bidding was fairly spirited, and 22 sections wero disposed of for £1237, the upset prico being £925. At Ohakuno, tho Commissioner was questioned as to road construction, but Mr. Mackenzie declined to mako any special pledge beyond stating that the road question would probably be dealt with on similar lines to other lands being opened, but settlers could not expect everything at onco. It was practically only a fow weeks since the last ealo and ballot, and those roads were now under construction. Hβ was also going over Rangataua and | other roads with tho district road engineer in a fow days. • Later on the same day the party proceeded to Raotihi, where 14 township sections wore offered by auction, 11 being sold for £315 10s., the upset values_ being £247 10s. On the same day applications wero received for Raetihi town lots on renewable lcaso. Of theso sections 13 wero covered by applications and duly balloted for on February 27. Applications were also received for 21 sections in the Ruatiti Block. This was, of course, tho important work of tho tour, tbo block consisting of 14,178 acres, having been thrown open under cash, occupation with right of purchase and renewable lease conditions. Every section was taken up. The board (Messrs. Mackenzie, Recce, Dawson, A'Court, and Canton) sat for tho examination of applicants at the Town Hall, Raetihi, ou March 4, and tho following day the ballot was taken, at which Mr. James Mackenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands, presided. The. commissioner, after fully explaining to the assembled applicants tho ballot procedure and also the different classes of preference, in ado a few general remarks. Ho mentioned that complaints had been mado to him as to the high prices placed on tho sections. Perhaps the prices were somewhat higher than usual, but even this had a good side to it, as it would probably allow of more being spent on roads than if the prices had been lower, and tho settlers would hare a set-off by not having to pay any more rent for the first four years. Doubtless with the fino clasj of applicants before him, their farms would bo money-earning with reasonable access by .tho timo moro rent was demanded. Thoy wduld also be free from local rates for the same period. Tho conditions altogether, especially the preference clauses combined with the restrictions protecting tho landless, had checked entirely the chances of tho speculator and the waster. Each now would bo competing with others who wero on exactly similar conditions to himself j and the Land Board's discretionary attitude to the bona fide man would be sympathetic and encouraging, whilst tho speculator and tho undesirable would havo but a short shrift. Settlers might rely on tho spirit of the law receiving moro attention than tho letter. Tho ballot was then proceeded with, tho applicants practically declining to elect_ a scrutineer, and expressing satisfaction with the commissioner's supervising. At the conclusion of tho ballot, tho eomTtas&vsna?, wlulat; the fortunate drawers, regretted ' not "being abie W give everyone a section, as a better class of men had never come beforo him; and the oxcellent spirit that prevailed in everyone restricting himself to onq section when he would have been within his rights in applying for more was most commendable. He had never before seen such a thorough absence of land-grabbing. Mr. Mackenzie intimated that he hoped to havo another large block adjoining that just balloted for readv beforo tho bushfelliug season was over; and ho hoped that most of the _ disappointed ap-pl-cnnts would then bo satisfied. Tho following is tho result of tho auction sales and ballots hold during the tour:— Sections in tho township of Ohakuno (oxtension No. 4), sold by auction on February 26 at tho Town Hall, Ohakuno—Out of 44 sections offered for sale, 22 wore sold, the upset price being £925 and tho pneo realised £1237.

« "8 ° M • "S £ s 2 Name and J 2 »2 address. M 3■ «J & -p. & 8 'i. p. & £ 21 xx 1 0 45 64 W. S. Baird, Ohaknne. 22 xs 1 0 45 62 M. A. L. E. Anderson, Ohaknne "1 xx 1 0 SO 71 W. S. Baird, Ohakune h xx 025 50 61 C. I. Benbow, Ohakune "0 xx 025 50 70 J. T. Jledland, Ohakune 5s xx 025 50 f>l J. Ashwell, Wanganui 2D xx 025 50 61 J. Ashwell, Wanganui 30 xx 1 0 50 51 W. S. Baird, Ohakune 31 xx 1 0 50 50 J. H. Crayen, Ohakuno 1 xxi 1 1 60 60 W. S. Baird, Ohakuno 10 xxi 1 0 n 9G J. B. Scaletti, Ohakune 11 xxi 1 0 60 60 J. Patcrson, jun., Hamilton 19 xxi 037 SO 80 W. H. Tustin, Eaetihi 2 xxii 10 CO 68 J. Mintosh, Ohakune 5 xxii 10 45 71 W. S. Baird, Ohakuno fi xxii 10 45 88 Peter, Eogel, Ohaknno 7 xxii 1 0 30 30 J. B. Woodyard, Ohakuno 8 xxii 031 10 40 H. Merson, Rangatana 10 xxii 10 30 30 H. Jlerson, Eangataua 11 xxii 113 35 35 H. W. B. Littlewood, Ohakune 12 xxii 113 35 35 H. Jlerson, Hangataua 13 xxii 113 40 40 Lydia Somerville, Wellington. RAETIHI SECTIONS. Sections in the township of Raetihi sold by auction on February 26, at tho Town Hall, Raetihi. Out of 14 sections offered for sale, 10 wore sold, tho upset price being £247 10s., and the price realised £315 10s.

.S .*' -go g.I ■ Name and g J2 2 S-g address. ai P) «| P ft ft 8 r. .£ s. .£ e. 144 vii 1 25 0 ffl 0 T. MT). Butts, Eaetihi 159 viii 1 25 0 41 0 Messrs. Hoddlo, Raetihi 161 viii 1 25 0 32 0 C. A. Owen, Raetihi 165 viii 1 25 0 2fi 0 Messrs. Hoddle, Kaetihi 174 viii 1 25 0 25 0 E. F. W. Hawker, Eaetihi 178 viii 1 22.10 22 10 T. J. May, Eaetihi 182 viii 1 25 0 34 0 H. E. Owen, Eaetihi 184 viii 1 25 0 32 0 J. C. Goodger, Eaetihi 124 xi 1 25 0 31 0 H. E. Girdlestone, Eaetihi 131 3d 1 25 0 31 0 W. H. Tastin, Eaetihi Sections in tho Eaetihi Township, taken up on renewable lease, which were open for selection on February 26, at the Town Hall, Raetihi. Out of 14 sections offered, only one now remains open for application:— o I 4 a Ms Name. ' w W <1 O W r. £ s. s. d. 145 vii 1 25 0 12 G E. 0. Danphin, Eaetihi 153 vii 1 22 10 11 3 B. G. Stuhbs, Raetihi 160 viii 1 25 0 12 6 C. E. Owen, Eaetihi 161! viii 1 25 0 12 6 C. Martin,' Enetihi 160 viii 1 30 0 15 0 J. Kitchen, Baetihi 175 viii 1 25 0 12 6 IV. Box, Eaetihi 179 viii 1 22 10 11 3 H. J. Meyers, Raetihi 183 viii 1 25 0 12 G H. B. Owen, Eaetihi 122 xi 1 25 0 12 6 M. Martin, Eaetihi 130 xi 1 25 0 12 6 H. \V. Campbell, Eaetihi 133 xi 1 25 0 12 6 W. P. West, Raetihi 113 ' i 1 25 0 12 C E. 1 , . W. Hanker, Eaetihi 128 xi 1 25 0 12 6 L. H. Fryer, Eaetihi EUATITI BLOCK. Rnral lands selected in tho Rtintiti Block at tho Town Hall, Raetihi, on February 2G, wore ballottod for on March 4, with the fallowing rofiuita, Tli© fixst oigltt eccUous

are in. tho Wbirinaki district, and the rest in the Manganui district: I I i Name. m n <1 a. r. 2 viii 893 0 A. K. Overtoil, Wanganui 3 viii 730 2 Messrs. Bernard and Collins, Orautolm 4 viii 565 0 J. P, Leonard, Raotihi 5 viji 772 0 J. S. Ashiuoro, Nuhaka 1 xii 7GO 0 A. W. Jonscn, Taihape 3 xii 1051 0 E. E. Awburn, Feilding i xii 922 0 A. J. Morgan, Waimata 5 xii 010 0 A. 0. Abbott, Dalcfield 1 v CG3 2J. l>. O'Callnghan, Koeka 2 t 517 OA. E. Storey, Tamuarunni 3 t 511 0 T. Lwder, Mercer 1 v 491 0 A. M. Brown, Ngaturi 5 T 405 0 C. B. Solly, Mangaweka 2 is 437 2 W. H. BeynoMs, l'uekhou 3 ix 409 2 T. Epns, Palnicrston North. 4 ix 369 2 A. Bnstad, Taihapo 9 is 505 2 A. Whittaker, Kaetihi 10 ix 535 0 M. W. Morressen, Taumaraunui 12 ix 543 0 G. A. M'Girr, Tokomaru 14 ix 850 0 E. Hayee, Taumarunui All the abovo successful applications are subject to final approval by the Land Board at its next ordinary meeting. Tho following is a BUinmary of tho values of the lands disposed of:— Area. Value. Acres. £ s. d. Cash sales 13 1,552 10 0 On leasehold tenures (including O.E.P. and renewable lease) W.lßl 33,810 0 0 Totals 14,191 35,362 10 0 The commissioner and Land Board went by train yesterday to hold an inquiry at tho Courthouse, Cartorton, as to certain matters in connection with tho Carrington Settlement, preparatory to the ballot. The commissioner and Mr. Reeco, as members of tho Land Purchase Board, will inspect a property north of Carterton, offered under the Land for Settlements Act, prior to returning to.Wellington. Mr. Mackenzie oxpects to reach town on Tuesday or Wednesday next.