AUCKLAND LAND BOARD

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 353, 19 April 1911, Page 7

AUCKLAND LAND BOARD

MEETING AT TE KUITI

A special meeting of the Auckland Land Board was held at Te Kuiti o:. Wednesday, 12th inst., at which were present: The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr Eric Gold-Smith), Messrs Armstrong, Harris and Trunston (settlers' representatives) and Mr Leekie. secretary to the Board. Mr Howarth, of Messrs Earl and Kent, applied on behalf of Mr Burnell for approval of the subdivision and separate transfers of quarter acre sections of L.I. P. leases in the Borough of Te Kuiti. Mr Howarth argued that the land being right in the township, the speculative element should be welcomed. The Commissioner said the interests of the Board lay in looking after settIres, not speculatoi'3. Mr Westmacott applied for 620 acres of unsurveyed land, being section 3, block 4, of Rangitoto No. 2. A report would be obtained from the Crown Lands Ranger and considered at the next Board meeting.

Mr E. J. Cherry, holding land in Rangitoto No. 2 improved farm settlement, applied for 47 acres of Crown land adjoining his section. —Enquiry would be made and a report given at the next Board meeting.

Mr E. Buckley, representing Ratanui settlers, asked permission to take a piece of Crown land for a site for a building. They had not sufficient children for a school, and wished to build a room. If a piece of ground could be got before winter they could erect a school building, as they had the timber on the ground. They were not particular where the site was, so long as near water. The Commissioner said the Board was going to cut up all the township, and they could then acquire a section. They wished to help settlers, but only in a right way. He would try to get a surveyor on at once, who would get out a rough scheme, and try to fix a position. The surveyor should be down soon after Easter.

Mr Buckley made further application, on behalf of three settlers burnt out, and asked if something could be remitted from the rent. The slab whare, and everything in it, where they lived, had been burnt out. Supplies got in for the winter had been burnt, and their loss amounted to £SO. The road 3 were bad, and the cost of getting in supplies was high. The Commissioner said it was hardly fair to make the Government responsible for accidents like that. If the Government came to their assistance in cases like thi3 people would not exert themselves to put out fires. Mr A. B. Jordan, Crown Lands Ranger, said he understood the whare was burnt from inside, and as far as he could gather, had nothing to do with the bush fires.

The Commissioner said they sympathised with settlers, but were unable to form an objectionable precedent and give a remission on such grounds. Messrs Lindsay and Lawson, representing settlers on Rangitoto No. 1, 1.F.5., applied for a remission of rent for a further six months, for larger advances to be made, and for a manure supply, on the grounds that they were unable to meet their liability owing to the land noi being of a quality lor getting a return from it. Mr Lawson said some settlers were not able to get on their holdings. He was helping one settler to erect a house, whose timber had been on the ground nine month 3, but two miles from his section. It was the general opinion of settlers that unless they received assistance they were doomed. They had had assistance certainly, but the Government broke faith with them by asking them to do £3 and £4 worth of work per acre for £2. Tho Commissioner said the improved farm settlers had all been paid. They had their advances for grass-seed and for houses. What more did they want? He thought the Government had kept their word. Where was it broken in the present case? The Crown Lands Ranger said th e settlers had had full value for all improvements effected. Mr Lawson said Mr Jordan would not consider an application exeseding £2 an acre. If land cost £3 or £4 per acre to get in order, the person doing it only got £2. The Commissioner: But you are making your own farms?

Mr Lawson said the advance was a loan which settlers had to repay. It was some assistance, but not enough, and if forced to pay rent they would have to pack up. The Commissioner: Then so long as no rent is to be paid you can jog along, and as soon as rent comes you stop? Mr Harris: As far as i can see most settlers are satisfied with the quality of their land. Mr Lawson said that he was persuaded against his own better judgment to take up his section, and they contended the Board "as far as that clause is concerned" had not carried out their contract. Mr Armstrong: I have almost come to the contusion that it would be bettre to stop these settlements altogether. The Commissioner said settlers nad everything' they were entitled to under the regulations. The members of the Board had experience of all classes of "land in all parts of the country, and the applicant did not know what he was "talking about.—lt was decided to recommend the remission of a further six months' rent to the Minister for Lands. Messrs Voyee. and Weir, representing Mairoa settlers, asked that a reserve of 100 acres at the north end of Mairoa be improved for the purpose of a stock reserve. At present fires had been through and burned twelve to fifteen acres. They asked for grass seed to sow. The CumnTißtiiuma pointed out that stock reserves throughout New Zealand, H 3 far as his experience went, became hot-beds of noxious weeds. Mr Trounson defended the right of settlers to have such conveniences.

Stock paddocks were necessary. It was necessary that these areas should be looked after by somebody responsible.

I It was decided to supply the settlers ! with twenty bushels grass-seed, provided the settlers would sow the seed. : The Commissioner and, Board agreed j to recommend the establishing of a stock paddock on the Arapae. The leasing of the Mairoa townhip was j also discussed, and the deputation was informed that the best thing that ; could be done would be to make appli- j cation to have the sections put up for j sale. j .Messrs Daly and Lindsay, re pre- j senting the settlers of Mangaotaki, j said that they had been on their sec- j tions over eight years, and yet had no j road —only a bridle track. j The Commissioner pointed out that ' al! they could do was to make a ; recommendation, and from the state- ] ments of the deputation, verified by , Mr Jordan, Crown Lands Ranger, j these settlers deserved assistance. On i the Commissioner's recommendation j the Board unanimously agreed to make representations to the proper ' quarter. j