TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 389, 23 August 1911, Page 3

TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Land Board was held on Tuesday. There were present: —Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr W. Armstrong, in the chair; Messrs J Heslop, J. Rattenbury, J. McCluggage, and W. | L. Kennedy. Transfers. —-Win. Blennerhassett to H. C. S. Hughes, section 11 and 17, bluck 6, Kapara; approved, Levi Bunn to W. A. Hurly, sections 12 and 16, block b\ Kapara; approved, subject to papers being in order.—L. F. D. Smith to H. J. Wilkinson, section 9, block 14, Waro; deferred for Ranger's report. —James Crichton to A. V. and H. H. Schwieters, section 4, block 5, Waro, and section 10, block 9, Waro; approved. Lowe and Bishell to S. Lowe, section i> : block 13, Upper Waitara; approved.—J. Jnr., G. and A. Brough to Arthur Brough, section 10, block 3, Aria; approved, subject to Ranger's report. — C. F. A. Kimmerman to Julius Jacobsen, section 28, block 16, Huiaroa; J. Jacobsen was present to answer questions; consent refused. —H. D. O'Donnell to Geoffrey Pybus, section 19, block 8, and section 7, block 9, Mimi; approved, subject to Ranger's report — R. H. Allen to Paul Collyer, section I, block 1, Ngatimaru; referred to Ranger for report. —C. E. H. Allen to Paul Coliyer, section 30, block 2, Ngatimaru ; referred to Ranger for report.- —Craven and Mcßae to D. W. Mcßae and H. W. Howie, section 2, blockl, Ohura; approved. —H. E. Hight to Emma Hig'nt, part-section 71, block 10, Puatu ; recommended for approval. —S. Ross to W. J. Ross, section IS, block 5, Upper Waitara; approved. —-W. A. T. and H. C. Zimmerman to C. McPhee, section S, block 15, Upper Waitara; transfer recommended. —W. B. Fryday to Alick Castle, section 7, block 13, Ohura; transfer to be allowed when improvements are brought up to date.—E. Julian to John Whitehead, section 37, block 11, Waitara; deferred for Ranger's report. An Appeal.- -The Board went into committee to deal with the appeal of Joshua Harris against the forfeiture of his interest in section 3, block 15, Ohura. He waited on the Board with Mr G. Grey, of Wilson and Grey, and was examined on oath. The Board also heard Mr Fleming, of Marshall and Hutton, and eventually decided to confii-m the forfeiture. The Board's decision was announced when it resumed in open meeting.

A Disputed Point. —Mr W. G. Malone waited on the Board with reference to an application by K. U. Harden to transfer an undivided interesting section 9, block 14, Mahoe, under which payment of rent conceded under section 127 of the Land Act, 1908, had been demanded. He submitted that as only a half interest of the section is being transferred the Act is silent on the point, ami that if it does apply only half the amount should be demanded.' —The .Board decided to obtain a legal opinion on the subject. Sub-leases.- -Applications to sublease were dealt with as follows: A. E. Sutton to J. S. Brough, section 2, block 12, Mirr.i; approved, subject to the Commissioner being satisfied with the sub division, applicant to supply plan at his own expense.— James Rooney to William Phillips.sections 25 and 2(i, block 9, Ngatimaru ; approved. W. F. L. Jenkins to J. and J. J. Embling, part-section 31, block 11, Ngaere; approved, subject to the Commissioner being satisfied with the sub-division,applicant to supply plan at his own expense.—A month's extension was granted in which to register sub-lease C. A.E. Hodgskinson to J. B. Norris, section 11, block 2, Omona, and section 7, block 7, Omona.

Improved Farm Settlers. —The following applied for their leases: —E. J. Hallmond. section 5, block 5, Totoro; Wm. Kane, section 4, block 14, Ohura; Anthony Christensen, Section 11, block 10, Ohura; John Bones, section 3, block 3, Totoro; P. Cooan section 16, block 9, Ohura.--It was resolved that the leases be issued. General. 3VI. V. Egan applied for the title of section 5, block 10, Opaku, to issue; title to be issued. — E. F. Hartnell's application for free hold of section 7, block 2, Mahoe, was approved. -- J. C. Harre appealed against the forfeiture of sections 6 and 7, block 11, Pouatu. A statement of improvements effected was submitted, and the Board decided that the forfeiture be rescinded, subject to Ranger's report. -The application of the Tatu settlers for dip and saleyards was considered, but the Board could not see its way to recommend the Miniate'- to grant the necessary land without compensation. The Commissioner submitted the Tatu Settlers' Association for a cemetery at Tatu, and it was resolved that three acres of the village reserve be set aside for the purpose.—Wood Bros., leasees of section 26, block 15, Aria, applied for 180 acres of unsurveyed land in block 10, Aria; application to be advertised in terms of the Act. C. E. Gooding applied for a lease of section U, block 6, town of Huiroa, containing 2 roods 32 perches at 5s per annum; referred to Ranger for report.- —J. Kasper's application for lease of section 12, block 9, town of Mangaroa, was declined.' —J. O'Connor applied to take milling timber from section 13, block 1, Piopiotea W.; referred to Ranger for report. Applications for Leases. J. Roughan and T. Browne applied for partsection 84, block 10, Pouatu, as an addition to their holdings; declined. —C. J. Ryan applied for a lease of part-section 28, block 2, Ohura, area 75 acres 3 roods 21 perches; referred to Ranger for report.—Messrs Govett and Quilliam applied on behalf of Sheehy Bros, for a portion of Mangatawa Township Reserve as a site for an accommodation house; deferred for Ranger's report. —W, A. Morton applied for lease of part-subdivision 13, Eltham-Opunake Railway Reserve ; P. C. B. Stretton made a similar application; referred for Ranger's re-

port —An application from W. C. Fletcher for section 12, block 12 Upper Waitara, as an addition to his holding. section (i, was deferred for Ranger's report. Similar action was taken with an application l'rom A. G. Loft, selectors Section 32, block 14, Ohura, for a lease of section 81, adjoining. Rangers' Reports, Crown Land Ranger, reported that he had failed to locate a case of < "dummyism'' referred to recently in , the press.-—lt was decided to call upon i E. E. Prior, selector of section 7, block 7, Mahoe, to show cause why his interest should not be declared | forfeited for non-residence, J. K. ; Craliam, section o, block 1;>, Ngatimaru, will also called upon to show cause why his interest should not be ■ forfeited. —H. T. Twiss, Crown Lands Ranger reported that W. B. Reid se- j lector of section 4, block 7, Mahoe, had j apparently disappeared from the dis- j trict; mortgagee to be given three: months' notice of indention io forteit ' Reid's interest. E. Tolme Crown ' Lands Ranger, reported on section j 19, block 18, Olnira, part of the tim- ; her reserve, Harvey road; the land to j be offered for sale or selection under part 3 of the Land Act, 1908, in terms : of the Ranger's report. —E. Tolme, j Ranger, reported on the non-residence ! of H. Ryan on section 13, biock 13, j Ohura; the. selector to be notified to 1 show cause why his interest should not j be forfeited, the Board to deal with j the matter at next meeting. —An ap- ! plication from A. J. Keighiey for sec- j tion 1, block 5, Ara, was refused; the land will be opened for selection, on ! terms of Ranger's report. —H. T. j Twiss, Ranger, reported on improve- : ments done on section 27 block 10, | Huiroa, and made suggestions re capi- i tal value of the land; the land to be disposed of to the holder of section 26 \ at a rental on a capital value of .£l4 j per acre.

Miscellaneous. —J. Miller, selector of section 7, block 2. Tangitu, appealed against forfeiture of his sec- : tion and applied for a lease of 10 acres : of Crown lands; forfeiture to be con ; firmed. —R. White, selector of sec- , tion 2, block 15, Ohura, applied for j the boundary between his section j and section 7 to altered; application i to be recommended for Governor's approval under section 129 of Land Act, | 1908, at a capital value of £-2 per acre, j land to be advertised and survey fee ; deposited.—E. F. Fraer applied for j the capital value of section 2, block ! 11, Mapara, to be reduced ; application ! declined. —R. M. Wiley also applied for the capital value of section 4, block 11, Mapara, to be reduced; dp- | clined. —C. R. Caverhill applied for ; exemption from residence on sections 2 and 3. block 10, Kapara; three months' extension of time granted. :

Messrs O'Donnell, Gilbert and Bullian ! applied for a reduction on the royalty j on kahkatea, rimu and inata to be J taken from section ], block 2, Pio- ( piotea W. ; the royalty of Is for rimu and matai to be maintained, and that: ; of kahikatea be 'od per 100 superficial i feet, sufficient timber to be left for ; fencing, etc., as marked on ground by i Mr Tolme. —C. F. and W. 11. Marsh applied for extension of time until the : end of January to take up their resi- j dence on section 5, block K>, upper Waitara; application agreed to.---W. | C. Brown applied to forfeit section 9, j block 1, Pouatu; forfeiture agreed to and land to be re-offered for selection burdened with the valuation for improvements, such valuation to be paid to the out-going tenant, less cost of re-offering. —J. H. Bennett wrote surrendering section 9, block 4, Totoro, on account of ill-health; surrender accepted and land to Do re-offered under part o of Land Act, 1908. —A. Sangster wrote surrendering his in- j terest in section K, block 2, Totoro; j section to be re-offered at .'iUs per j acre capital value, weighted with I valuation for improvements. YV, IL j Foreman wrote saying he had transferred his interest in section block S, Mimi, to W. Schmidt; approved.--

The Eltham County Council applied for a yearly tennacy of section 1, block 11, and section 27, block 12, Omona, for the use of travelling stock; year to year lease granted on terms quoted in the letter, notice boards to erected notifying that travelling stock can be accommodated upon the usual conditions ruling in the district, rental of each section to be £1 per annum. "Thirds."' The Whangamomona County Council wrote asking the Board's reasons for refusing permission to expend "thirds" from section 2, block 15, Pouatu, in accordance with suggestions made in its letter of JulyS; the Board's previous resolution was adhered to. The following local bodies submitted proposals for expenditure of accrued "thirds' :

Waitomo County Council £13(1 16s 4d, Eltham County Council £550 7s, Clifton County Council £397 13s 9d, Patea County Council £9O 17s 2d; approved, subject to Ranger's report.—

It was decided that the Ranger enquire into the balance at credit of the "thirds" account of the Ohura County Council, and that the Board notify the Council that it has been informed there is a credit balance of £1314 of accrued thirds still unexpended, and that it has instructed the Ranger to inquire into the matter. This, with "thirds" accrued to March last, makes £3769. A letter was read from E. Mossman, on behalf of settlers on the Waikakaroad, asking that the" thirds" Erom their sections be pledged as payment for interest on loan for forming and metalling that road. A copy of the letter will be forwarded to the Ohura County Council, with a request that the wishes of the settlers be acceded to.

Inspection of Holdings. 11. T. Twiss, Ranger, reported on the inspection of 58 holdings; improvements effected £39,037, improvements required £13,364; fifteen selectors were in default for residence and one for insufficient improvements. —E. Tolme, Ranger, reported on the inspection of twelve holdings; improvements effected £8242 required £3632; two selectors were in default fur residence and one had not done sufficient improvements. -The Board discussed the reports, and decided to call on several

selectors to show cause; in other cases an extension of time was granted, whilst others gave satisfactory explanations, E. Tolme on section 1, block 15, Ohura, forfeited by August Schultz; forfeiture rescinded. Land for Selection. —Mr Kennedy referred to the advisability of surveying some sections in Tahora township, and it was resolved that the necessary survey be put in hand as soon as possible so that the sections may be offered for sale. —The Commissioner submitted pieces of five sections in block S, Upper Waitara, and block 5, Pouatu. —The report was adopted, and the land will be re-offered for selection under part 7 of the Land Act, 1908. It was decided that the attention of the Department be drawn to the necessity of making provision for the construction of road access to the block as soon as possible.

Defaulting Settlers.—The following selectors had not complied with the conditions of residence or improvements: —John Sheeby, sections, block 9, Waro; six months extension granted to effect necessary improvements. —R. Law, section 9, block 2, Mahoe, applied to admit his two sons into partnership owing to his failing health, but the Board decided that before this can be considered he must make the same arrangements with regard to the sub lease of section 4, block 14, Pouatu, adjoining.B. McMaster, section 1, block 4, Rangi, residence ; leave of absence to be granted, the forfeiture to be rescinded, and the transfer to H. Richards approved. Education Leases.- —Application to transfer from G. E. H. Allen to i J aul Collver, section 13, block, Ngatimaru; andE. W. Everiss to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd, section 63, Manganui district, were referred to the Ranger for a report.— W. Fairbrother was granted a lease of section 668, and part section 475, Patea district, at an annual rental of 2s 6d, with conditions for eradication for improvements, £764.- -Consent was given to a deviation of the Rotokare-Campbell road through section 3, block 15, Ngaere. —A schedule of rents in arrear was laid on the table, and it was decided to institute proceedings for the recovery of same, through the Crown Solicitor.---The Ranger's report on section 16, block 12, Hawera, vva3 laid on the table; lease to be offered at an upset rental of 4s 3d per acre per annum, weighted with valuation for improvements. £674. —A transfer was granted from A. E. Kemp to Wm. Bly, section 02, block 11, Ngaere. Messrs Bullock and Currie wrote expressing the desire of the lessees to have valuations made before a surrender is made under the provisions of the "Taranaki Scholarship Endowment Act, 19J0." The Board ruled that the provisions of renewable leases under the Land Act, 1908, as to residence and declaration will apply. -It was resolved that a legal opinion be obtained on the question of allowing a surrendering lessee to know what the rental will be before completing the surrender.