TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 426, 30 December 1911, Page 6

TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Land Board was held on December 19th, when there were presentMessrs W. Armstrong (Commissioner, presiding), Heslop. Rattenbury and Kennedy. Leave of absence was granted to Mr J. McCluggage. APPLICATIONS FOR LAND.

The following applications for land had been received since last meeting: —Sections 79 to S3, block 4, Paritutu, J. K. Pederson; section 56, block 4, Paritutu, G. R. Holmes; sections S3, 94 and 132, Mokoia township, C. J. Havvken; section 21, block 4, Egmont, T. Molloy; section 30, block 9, Ngatimaru, J. A. Stanford. Mr Holmes waited on the board, and it was resolved that the application be not entertained at present, but that a monthly tenancy be granted in the meanwhile. Mrs Pederson also waited on the board, and it was resolved that her application for sections SO to S3 be approved, but that a monthly tenancy of section 79 be granted. TRANSFERS. Transfers were dealt with as follows: —

T. and W. Hounslow to T. Hounslow and Matilda Rice, sections 1, 2 and 5, block 5, Egmont.—Approved. 5. Medcalf to J. C. Buchanan, sections 10 and 11, block 4, Ngatimam. Approved, subject to improvements of section 11 being brought up to date; Mr Buchanan to be notified that the freehold of section 11 cannot be obtained until improvements have been effected on both sections conjointly. Annie Olsen to Rebecca Kelly, section 7, block 12, Aria. —Approved, subject to necessary questions being answered. W. J. Cameron to A. W. and G. R. Cameron, section 11, block 12, Ohura—Approved. L. T. B. Smith to H. J. Wilkinson, section 9, block .14, Waro. —Mr Kennedy moved in accordance with notice of motion that the resolution of the board, dafed September 19, be rescinded, and that the transfer be approved; Mr Heslop seconded pro forma, and on being put the motion was lost, only the mover voting for it. Geo. Trass to E. Lang and T. B. Watson, section S, block 1, Mimi. Approved. T. Ryan to W. Abbott, section 171, block 4, Ngatimaru. Declined, owing to aggregation. D. R. Hight to J. B. and C. R. McCartie, part section 72, block 14, Pouatu. —Recommended for approval. LEASES TO ISSUE. The following Improved Farm settlers applied for leases to issue, and the applications were approved: —A. M. Riddell, section 13 block 12, Aria; F. W. Blank, section 24, block 14, Ohura; Wm. Hack, section 3, block 4, Totoro; Jas. Griffin, section 6, block 4, Totoro; T. A. Helms, section 3, block 5, Totoro; W. J. Townsend, section 8, block 2, Totoro; M. Butcher, section 13, block 4, Totoro; R. H. 11. Hockey, section 19, block 4, Totoro (subject to rent being paid). SUB-LEASES. Messrs Spence and Stanford applied for extension of time to register sublease of E. M. Prideaux to J. H. Robson, section 25, block 4. section 7, block 8 Nagtimaru.—One month's extension granted. A. Waters was granted one month's extension of time in which to register sub-lease of section 9, block 2, Heao, to H. Johnson.

RANGERS' REPORT. Mr Twiss, Crown lands ranger, reported that he had forwarded valuations of university reserves, Opaku, the lesses of which had applied to surrender.—Resolved that the valuations be submitted to the applicants for new leases under the Taranaki Scholarship Endowment Act, 1910.

He also reported that he had resumed possession of section 1, block 5, Kapara, and suggested that the section be held back, as it was unsuitable for settlement.—Adopted. He had resumed possession of section 3, block 15, Ngatimaruu, and recommended that it be made a reserve Adopted. He reported or, the the application of F. A. Knofflock for section 255. Huirangi.--Resolved that a year to year lease be granted at 10s per acre per annum, noxious weeds to be kept in check.

He suggested the rental to be charged for part section of block 14, Waro.—Resolved that a yearly lease be granted to J. O'Donovanat a rental of 3d per acre per annum. He had been unabla to make a special inspection of part Moki township and railway reserve, but suggested that it wuuld probably be advisable to give the adjoining holders a long lease of it.—Deferred for further report.

Mr E. Tolme, Crown lands ranger, reported on the under-mentioned matters:—

Re the application of C. Joyce for part seetion'23, block 9, Ohura, as an addition to his section for a better homestead site. —Resolved to recommend that the application be granted under section 131 of the Land Act, 1908, at a capital value of £lO per acre, with a frontage of 20 links to Paorae road, and a width of 162.8 links onthe north boundary.

Re the application of the Ohura County Council for a site for a rubbish depot at Mangaroa and suggested section 12, block 9, for the same.Consideration deferred for further report. He also wrote suggesting part, of section 19, block 15, Aria, as a suitable pound site for Matiere Village. Adopted.

He also reported on the application of J. R. Herbert for a lease of section 108, part section 8, block 7, Waro. —No action now necessary.

Mr E. A. Meredith, Crown Lands Ranger, reported on section 3, block 2, Totoro. —Re3olved that 265 acres comprising the section with Crown land to the eastward be offered for selection under renewable lease at 25s per acre capital value.

THIRDS. Local bodies submitted proposals for expenditure of accrued thirds as under:—Patea County Council ,£O4 6s 6d (approved) ; Whangamomona County Council, £IOO 8s (referred back to for further consideration) ; Waitomo County Council, £l3B 9s; Motoroa Road Board, £1 13s lOd, an] Wairoa Road Board, £2O Ss 4d (all approved, subject to ranger's report being satisfactory). A. Barrett applied for the thirds from section 1, block 2, Aria, to be spent on Pura road instead of Waitewbena road.—Resolved tlvit the application bo agreed to only as regards section 1, block 13.

Mr Twiss reported on the application of the Whangamomona County Council to pledge thirds from sections on Ohura road, Pohokura riding, for payment of interest on loan. Resolved that upon the council complying with all formalities the necessary certificate be issued.

G. R. Norman. E. J. Peek, M. Pittarn and O. Pools applied for thirds from their seetions to be allo.ved to accumulate for the next few yeas.— Agreed to. SECTIONS FOR SALE. Plans of unsold sections in Mangaroa and Matiere townships were laid on the table, and the board fixed upset prices and resolved to offer them for sale for cash by public auction at Mangaroa and Matiere. A. G. Loft renewed his application for section 3, block 14, Ohura. Resolved that the application be not granted and that the land be put up for sale by public auction for cash at an upset of £5 per acre. Tn discussing the disposal of the above sections, the board's attention was drawn to section 13, block 14, Ohura, on the other side of the Ohura river. Mr Tolme reported that there was not much valuable timber on the

land now, that being the object for which the land had been reserved from sale. — Resolved to offer the section for sale or selection under part 3 of the Land Act, 190S, at a capital value of £5 per acre. DEFICIENT IMPROVEMENTS. Mr H. T. Twiss (ranger) reported on the inspection of 23 holdings. Improvements effected £9364, required £5149. Four were in default for improvements.

Mr E. Tolme (ranger) reported on the inspection of 18 holdings. Improvements effected £SBLM, required £5252. None were in default for residence and improvements. -- Resolved that two on Mr Twiss's schedule be reminded of deficient improvements. DEFAULTERS. Selectors in default for residence were dealt with as follows:

C. R. Caverhill, sections 2 and 3, block 10, Kapara. Resolved that residence be dispensed with so long as he resides on section 2, block 20, Mahire.

E. S. Von Stunner, section 5, block 3, Waro.-—Resolved that as the family is resident, the selector be exempted from residence. J. Martin, the selector be exempted from residence.

J. Martin, section J, block 4, Opaku. ■ —Six months' extension of time granted.

EDUCATION RESERVES. The following transactions in education reserves were considered by the board : Transfer from Thomas Ryan to W Abbott of section 169, block 1, Mahoe, was refused. Transfer from E. Kinsella to C. M. Jones of part W.N.P. town belt was approved, subject to ranger's report being satisfactory. 11. O. Clarke applied on behalf of J. Davey for a lease of sections 5, 6, 9 and 10, block 27, Patea, deserted by W. Parker. R. McDuff also applied for a ease of the same sections. Referred to ranger for report.

GENERAL. W. Murray applied for freehold of section 21, block 11, Mimi.—Approved. A. J. Wlnttaker again appealed against the forfeiture of section 1, block 2 Piopiotea West. The UnderSecretary of L-mcLs also forwarded a letter to him. Resolved unanimously that the board has given this case careful consideration at various times, and cannot now see any reason to depart from the previous decision.

G. Stockweil asked if residence under present lease would be considered as complied with, as he had completed residence under former lease of section 3, block 9. Pouatu. — To be informed that he has fulfilled all the residential qualifications. Mr J. Pedcrsen applied for his section 7B 3, Upper Wailura, to be brought under the provisions of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 1911. —Mr Jennings waited on the board in support of the application.— Resolved that the ranger's report be obtained. A. Hunter wrote declining lease of sub-section IS, Eltham railway reserve, as he had sold his interest in adjoining land.--Resolved that Messrs Morton and Stretton be offered a yearly tenancy of that portion of the reserve adjoining thf'ir respective sub-divisions of suction 6. block 11, Kaupokonui, at a rental of 10s per acre per annum.

The superintendent of the New Zealand S.G.A.O. asked that foifeiture of sections 55, 57 and 60, block 4, Paritutu, J. E. W. Henchman, be repealed, as selector had arranged re rent. He explained that he had a position at Inglewood. and asked permission to put a caretaker on the land. —The exemption was granted. Mr Carr waited on the board and applied for 'permission to occupy the house on J. E. W. Henchman's leasehold at Spofswood as caretaker for 12 months under agreement with Mr Henchman. —Informed that the board cannot grant prernission at the present time.

A plan was laid on the table of cut off sections 1. 2 and 32-, block 1, Mimi, M. O'Halloran, to be aikled to adjoin-

ing forest reserve.- —Resolved to recommend that portion of the holding be resumed for a forest reserve under section 144 of the Land Act, ISOS. The Commissioner brought up the question of forfeiture of section 4, block 7, Mahoe, the selector of which, W. B. Reid, has disappeared. Consideration deferred to next meeting. Messrs Standish and Standiah, on behalf of Mr B. C. O'Dowda, appealed against the forfeiture of section 48, block 4, Paritutu. —Resolved that as rent in arrears had been paid, the forfeiture be rescinded. E. A. Guilford applied or permission to reside on his brother's section 11, block 12, Tangitu, and his brother would reside on his section 22. block 1, Tangitu.—Resolved that the board will have no objection to applicant exchanging holdings with hi 3 brother. Messrs Weston and Weston applied fur title to closed part of Kelly road to issue in the names of C. H. Smith and T. Fawcett.—Left to in Commissioner's hand with power to act. Messrs Mildenhall and Wallis wrote tendering for lease of sab-sections 12 and 13, Opunake railway reserve. — Resolved to grant a yearly tenancy of £5 for first year, and £2O per annum until required for purpose, subject to 12 months' notice.

F. H. Symons applied to transfer part of lot 2 of section 3, block 11, Fouatu. to F. C. Coxhead.— Resolved to recommend the transfer upon a duly approved plan of survey being approved by the Chief Surveyor.

It was resolved to recommend that the reservation for stock purposes at Tahora be removed so that the land might be subdivided for building allotments.

A. Kalchert applied for renewal of lease of section 12SS, New Plymouth, which he occjpies. -■• Granted upon conditions to be determined; ranger to value land for rental to be fixed. W. A. McCutchan applied to con-, vert tenure of section 35, block 13, Pouatu, to a renewable lease. —To be informed that the board has no power to grant the request.