Wellington Land Board.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 147, 20 December 1895, Page 2

Wellington Land Board.

The regular meeting of the above was held yesterday. Present— The Cora- ' missioner (in the chair) and Messrs T. W. Fisber, W. A. Fitzherbert, Fred. Pirani, M.H.R. Seventeen selectors of land in the Ma* kuri and Mt Cerberus districts waited on the Board in reference to the revaluation of their lands. Mr R. C. Wilson ad* dressed the Board on the question as to whether lessees could take up the land ! within a year from the date of surrender but the Commissioner explained tbat the Board had decided to recommend the Minister to allow the settlers to take up the new leases at once, notwithstand- , ing the ambiguous wording of the Act. Mr Wilson then referred to the low value for improvements, and pointed out that 'his losses on the land had amounted in three years to £898. He -.urged tbat a value of £5 an acre for improvements would not be too mncb, considering that the settlers would be subject to public competition, and that improvements effected since tbe re* valuation should be allowed for. In regard to survey fees he urged tbat the amounts paid should be refunded. He asked that settlers be allowed the same privileges as to conversions to lease in perpetuity as they possessed at the time of surrender, and also wanted to know what was to be done with deferred payment lessees who had paid off part of the capital value of their lands, with lessees who had become possessed of other lands by will and would be thus debarred from applying, and with women who would not be able to hold the area of land under the 1892 Act that tbey had nnder lease. In reference to the unimposed value, he urged that selectors should know the intended reductions, before running the great risk of losing their homes. In conclusion, he urged that the settlers deserved every consideration at the bands of the Board, as there was very little prospect, even with the contemplated reduction of rent of recovering the money they had invested. The Commissioner thought the Board could consider the case of improvements effected since the valuation had been made. Mr Pirani urged that the whole matter had been relegated by the Minister to the Board to enable the settlers to continue in possession of their homes at a fair rental. The improvements on the land had been effected under adverse circumstances, and had undoubtedly cost much more than they could be effected for at the present time, SO that it was hardly fair merely to put the present commercial value on. This was especially the case when it was remembered that the present selectors were absolutely debarred from competing for their own lands if anyone else applied. It seemed hard that the outsider should not only get the land at a reduced valuation, but should get the farms in working order at their present net value. The following conclusions were arrived at with regard to the Makuri settlers : —Particulars of unimproved value to be furnished ; 10 per cent to be added to value of improvements ; women selectors can take up their land again; present lessees to be. allowed to again take up the land on day of application if Minister approves. The local Crown law officers advised the Minister of .Lands that a fresh - election of the Horseshoe Drainage Board was necessary instead of the new Board being nominated to the Government.