CROWN LAND BALLOT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1946, 30 November 1906, Page 3

CROWN LAND BALLOT.

A HUGE GAMBLE.

Yesterday a record ballot for BSQ acres of Grown land at She Motn took place, for which there were 290 applicant?, lbe hallot wsh held in the Drill Shed, and wat ■conducted for the Commisrionw ni Grown Lands by the local land cffioor, Mr T. N. Brodrick, district surveyor. About 150 people were present to wooers the ballot, and every trade and pro fession was represented. Doctor?, commission agents, seorctaties, darks, 'iesnson victuallers, laborers, carpenters, lawyers, oeoplo who are generally described on the electoral rolls a» gontlomen, shopkeepers, •etc. The 11 man on iho laud ” oonld also be seen here and there, but. there ware ■not many of him. As the ballot was being taken the eager light of expectancy chons in every eye, aud, v dreams of prospective effluence were'indulged in by more than one young speculator. Tho list of names of those in for the Motu seotion, or to give it its proper title, section 2, block 22, Urutawa Baa', contained many batches of similar names which indioatod that all ohanooß were not confined to single marbles. For instance, let us say, •old John Smith had a chance. In quick fluooession followed young John Smith, WilHo Smith, Hebekiah Smith, Themes Smith, and so on till the Smith lamily had a score of chances, and as eaob Buoeessivo ball clicked into •the ballot box, the elder Smith grinned as he thought of his great generalship. Then there were the " dumtnios.’ One man had 20 men going for him. Several citizens, in a jocular way, brought round pieces of chalk to mark the dummies, and everyone present seemed to think the ballot was ,a kind of a “ get-it-if-you-can ” or “ sometbing-for-nothing ” gamble, in which ono risked nothing and etood to win—well, whatever could be made on the selection when won. There were a few certainly who were land hungry. When Mr Brodrick read ■out °tho penalty clausos of the Bill governing the ballot a strong feeling of amusement made itself evident in the heterogeneous crowd, a kind of smilan" on the man at you elbow, as much as Jo say, “There you are, old man, that’s meant for you, if you’re caught.” There) we re‘ quite a numbor of peoplo from the | Napier district who had cntcrod clianccs, but it is said the people of Napier aro not so much addicted to this sort of thing as Gisborne, and therefore the applications from Napier may have been from men who really wanted tho selection to work J, F. Pettie and J. Sheridan acted as scrutineers for tho public. Before the ballot was entered upon, Mr Brodrick announced that there was only one application for sections 45, 40 and 47, Tiniroto village, 5 acres each; for section 49, _ same, two applications; and for section 60, same, none. For section % block 2, Urutawa East 293. Ho said that several applications’in tho latter had been disqualified on the ‘'round that applicants had selected in the ° district and had not occupied their holdings for three years. In another oase the disquulifiotion was in the fact that brother end sitter made first esparto, applications and then a joint application as partners; Their separate applications were allowed to stand, but no„ tti-* ]o*,' * Tha wionoc of aeoUou 45i Tiniroto Vil Hangaroa, was also disqualified. J.lk Land Officer then read the penalty dames oi tho Lands Aoi, after which Iho ballot proceeded. As the namoa of the competitor;) were called Gut wish rotation number of application, a corresponding number was dropped in the box. Tho winner ui tho first lot, seotions 45, 46, and 47, Han garoa, was Annie J. Little, sho being the only applicant. Section 49 fell to Mabel Spence on tha ballot, there being ODly two applicants. The big gamble followed, and after 290 marbles had bcou carefully put into the box by tbo scrutineers, much anxiety was expressed by the watohsrs that the box should bo 11 shock up well.” ■>> Turn it up,” “ Lift it out,” “That’s no good," “ Give it another shake,” wore jwaougst tho many feverish remarks

thrown at tbo'scrutiuoors. Tho box was then oponod, and No. 140 was drawn by Mr PotSio, tho holder of tho number being Francos J, Marshall, To Karaite, who having oompliod with tho oondiiicng wish regard to dtposiJi etc., waa declared tbo winner. Thereupon tho orowd nioltod away so quickly and silontly thal it eugs go9,ed tho thought that a good many wore moro than disappointed. Tho win, howover, ia a popular ono, and as there ia a genuine intention on the part of tho now owner and hor family to go ou tho land, thoro can bo no question in this case that tho conditions under whioh tho land wag acquired will bo carried out. Tho following h a description of tho above block : Aron 880 acres, price per acre £1 sj,s j , rout ixVf-yeat £27 10: (0.1v.P), £22 (LLP), in addition !„> £2O foe improvements, 20 acres of bush being felled. You section is virgin onmtry covered with hush, and is well watered, tho soil bomg goad. Too land is high, bring over 2000 feet above sen Lavoi.