THE MOTU SECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 864, 14 April 1903, Page 2

THE MOTU SECTIONS.

SATURDAY’S LAND BALLOT. There was a largo attendance aLtho Academy of Music on Saturday afterdoon, when the ballot for the Bectionß adjoining the Motu township was held. There wore over two hundred applications in for the several lots and keen interest was taken in the drawing, which was supervised by the Commissiouer of Crown Lands, Mr E. C. Gold-Smith. Several members of the Hawke’s Bay Land Board wero in attendance, also Mr G. E. Darton and others of the local staff. The first area ballotted for was 1300 acres, priced at 223 6d an acre, for which there were 12 applicants. Mr H. P.

Rasmussen was successful, but as hk application did not state the acreage he was passed over, as also were other applicants who were not represented. The land was finally ballotted as follows : L. P. Bullen, 640 acres ; O. Nichol, 210 acres ; W. D. S. MacDonald, 450 acres.

The second lot of 830 acres, upset price 22s 6d, fell to Mr H. M- Porter. There were 22 applications for the 560acre section, which fell to Mr E. J. Chris p, solicitor, of Gisborne. The sections in close vicinity to the Motu township excited the keenest competition, the 680 acres being drawn by C. Elliott (320 acres) and G. W. Fougere

,360 acres), whilst the 640-acre section fell to Mrs Ada Jones and Mr W. D. Black.

The 580 acre lot was drawn by fyr G, T. Sefton, of Te Karaka. I The other lots ballotted for were as follows :—Ngatapa S.D., 835 acres, I7s 6d (13 applicants): P. W. McLoughlin, 835 acres. 810 acres, 17s 6d (11 applicants): John N. Shaw. 810 acres. 820 acres, 17s 6d (5 applicants): P.hoda M. Graham, 820 acres. 600 acres, 17s 6d (6 applicants): Rhoda M. Graham. 600 acres. The Commissioner stated that in consequence of representations mado by the public meeting held in Gisborne one of the Motu sections, comprising 600 acres, had been withdrawn from sale. Mr J. W. Bright, who was representing one of the applicants for the section, entered a strong protest against the action which had been taken. He considered that it was very unjust after putting selectors to the trouble and expense of visiting and inspecting the section to withdraw it at the last moment. His client had, he said, good grounds for complaint in regard to the action taken by the Government.