Wellington Laud Board.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 232, 3 April 1897, Page 2

Wellington Laud Board.

The Lund Board met on Thursday. Present, —Messrs J. W. A. Marchant, Commissioner (in the chair), A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., J. Stevens, M H.R., and H. A. Field, M H R. Mr P. Merlin applied to be allowed to transfer section 12, block 2, Makotuku, instead of having his interest in it cancelled. It was. resolved to give notice of cancellation at the next meeting of the Board. It was resolved, on the application of Mr Rooiback, to give Mr P. O'Gorman notice of cancellation. J. Woolston was asked to show sufficient reason for his application to transfer section 25, block 8, Tiriraukawa, to B. E. Adams. The transfer of section 83, block 18, Mangahao, from A. D. Balfour to Miss 11. Gordon was agreed to subject to certain conditions. L. Farrelly was allowed to transfer section 10, block 11, Mangahao, to F. It. Carter. G. W. D. Morris' section at Tirirantawa was transferred to H. J. Ellis. M. Gomez applied to transfer section 7, block G, to S Ingram on account of ill-health. The Board resolved not to approve, but to give notice of cancellation at next meeting. It was resolved to approve proposed subdivision of Mr H. Fraser's section 47, block 3, Pohangina. It was decided to cancel the lease of sections 17, 18, 19, 20 and 23, block 10, Kaitawa. (Wellington Fruit-grow-ers' block) to enable the subdivision of a portion from H. A. Mam to J, P. Dugdale, to be given effect to. It was resolved to call upon Mr P. C. Campbell, the selector of section 47 [ block IS, to explain why he had subJet the section and to show cause why his title should not be cancelled for a breach of the regulations. With reference to the sale of the Eketahuna Native Reserve, Mr Treadwell wrote asking that the resolution to offer the land under part 3 of tho Land Act be rescinded, and the land offered for sale at auction. It was resolved to rescind the resolution if the necessary Order-in-Council is issued and it is shown that the restriction will be removed and the sale will ba in the interests of the natives. The Ilangitikei County Council forwarded a list of rates due to them on forfeited sections, and it was resolved to notify that they were owihg. Tho Commissioner submitted a schedule of amounts received for improvements effected on forfeited sections, and it was resolved to pay the amounts, less the cost of reselling the sections, to the persons entitled to them. The ranger reported that owing to the value of the land around Taihape it would not be advisable to allow lessees in the Taihape Improvrd Farm Settlements to select any adjoining sections without competition, especially as those in the block had not effected any improvements on their own account, or stocked the land. The ranger also reported that Mr R. McKenzie had only affected improvements on section 35, block 12, Mount Cerberus, to a value of £271 15s, whereas he had made a statutory declaration tha6 they were worth £650. It was resolved to point out to Mr McKenzie the great discrepancy in his declaration, and to offer the section weighted with £781 ss, plus 10 per cent. Messrs Kirk, Atkinson and Wilson wrote applying on behalf of Mr A. J. Toxward, for a rebate of a portion of the payments made by him on section 13, block 7, Makuri, since the forfeiture of bis interest. It was decided to recommend to the Minister of Lands that payments on the section be charged on the old basis up to the Ist January, 1895, and on the new valuation at 5 per cent from that date. With reference to the application for revaluation of sections in the Coonoor, Hunterville and Paimerston North Knights of Labour Farm Homestead blocks, a letter was received from the Minister of Lands objecting to the Valuation Bill proposed by the Board. A number of the late lessees in the MoQiohaka Village Settlemenf applied for exemption from payment of rental on three section from the date of forfeiture up to the date of re selection. The Board resolved that they were entitled to charge the rental on the new basis from the date of forfeiture at 4 or 5 per cent., according to the system under which the land was taken up. A number of selectors were notified that unless payments were made by April 30th their interests would be cancelled. A number of others applied to surrender their sections, and it was resolved not to accept the surrenders but to cancel their interests for non-payment of rental. Mr D. P. Duacan attended, and asked that the cancellation of his interest in section 1, block 1-i, Hautapu, be rescinded, arid that he be given further time to affect improvements. The application was refused. Mr A. Young, Wanganui, was asked to offer an explanation of his having allowed Mr McGregor to occupy ins section in the Ngamatea Block. Messrs J. W. Barnett, C. J. p. Wilson, H. M. C. St. Cross, M. O'Meara, J. S. Clemans, T. George, and R. C. Olphert, who were asked to show cause why their sections should not be forfeited, and who had not replied, had their interests declared cancelled. The following transfers were approved : — J. Alderson to P. E. de B. Brandon, F. Lunt to C. Lunt, W. fngratn to C. and A. Young, J. Anderson to E. Anderson, C Fraser to Mrs C, Eraser, J. Johnston to J. Johnston, A. Cheers to J. Dickson, W. Norton to A. Norton. — N.Z.