Gladstone Farm Association.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 304, 28 June 1895, Page 2

Gladstone Farm Association.

-». A meeting of members of the Gladstone Farm Association was held in Glasgow House last evening. Prosent — Messrs G. Anyon (chairman), J. C. Thompson (secretary), F. Mac icenzie, 11. Christensen, Pidgeon, J. Parsons, Of. Adams, E. Adams, and Askew. Mr F. Mackenzie, one of the auditors, submitted a report, and it was resolved that the secretary bo instructed to writo to Mr Bleakley, asking him to meet the auditors to assist in the auditing. Tho secretary read a letter from Mr W. Halt'm, one of the members of the Association who had visited the bock, stating he (Mr Halton) was satisfied -vith the quality of the nil. The land was only sufficiently broken to make good drainage, and a dray road would be made tbrough the block next spring, from Ohakune, which is sixteen miles away. A letter was received from tho Commissioner of Crown Lands, in reply to enquiries, to the effect that he had no power to hold a ballot until tho remainder of the survey fees (ls 3d per acre) is paid. There was no purchasing clause in the regulations which are issued by the Hou. Minister of Lauds aud there is no power to insert such a clause as tbe land was selected by tbe Association under the lease in perpetuity conditions of part IV. of the Land Act, 1892. No transfer can be allowed without the consent of the Land Board, which will only be given in bona jide cases under very exceptional circumstances, and after the conditions of the lease have been complied with as required by the Act. There was no power to allow the list of members sent I in by the secretary to be varied. Those members who cannot pay the balance of the survey fee, or those who cannot comply with the conditions had better withdraw and ask the Land Board to load the sections, when drawn, with the fees paid. Mr Anyon reported he had waited on Mr Pirani, M.H.R., to see what could be done in the way of getting the regulations altered to enable selectors to transfer, and, also, to iasert a purchasing clause in the lease. The Minister might be induced to defer the payment of the remainder of survey fees for a time. Proposed by Mr Thompson, seconded by Mr Mackenzie, That Mr Anyon be instructed to go to Wellington to see what can be done in the matter, namely, to endeavor to get a purchasing clause inserted in the conditions ; the right to transfer, or have the remainder of the survey fees deferred for twelve months. — Carried. Resolved, That a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Anyon for the manner in which he had interested himself in the Association affairs. Resolyed, That the Treasurer be authorised to draw a cheque of £2 for petty cash. The meeting theu adjourned.