TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 434, 27 January 1912, Page 6

TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly " meeting of the Taranaki Land Hoard was held on January 17th. Present -The. Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr W. Armstrong, in the chair), and Messrs J. Ht>3lop, W. L. Kennedy and J. M'Cluggage. TRANSFERS. The following transfers were dealt with: —C. Skitrop to C. Skitrop and G. Jensen, section 8, block 11, Upper Waitara. — Approved. T. Thompson to T. H. G. W. Thompson, section 4 block 3,, Waro. Recommended for approval. IMPROVED FARM SETTLERS. The following improved farm settlers applied for their leases :—U. Boult, section IS, block 2, Uhura; R. H. H. Hickey, section 1, block 4, Totoro. Resolved that leases be issued accordingly, Hickey's to be dated January 1, 1912. RANGER'S REPORT. The ranger's report on selectors in Tangitu Improved Farm Settlement not resident was read. —Resolved that the action of the Commissioner in forfeiting the interests of A. W. King, R. Cleaver, J. Morgan and J. H. Brown be confirmed. EDUCATION RESERVES. The following transactions in Education Reserves were considered by the board:—Transfer: Samuel Blade to S. C. Tonka, section 4, block 9, Opaku. Approved subject to all papers being in order. Mortgages: J. and P. O'Connor to New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Office, £2350; M. L. Jury, same, £475. DEFAULTERS. The following selectors have not complied with the conditions of improvement: —T. W. Moorby, section 8, block 16, Pouatu F. J. Moorby, section 3, block 4, Mahoe. Mr Moorby senr., and one of the se lectors appeared and explained the reason for the deficient improvements. —Re=olved that the explanation is satisfactory, that one month be allowed selector?, to commence improvement", which must be completed within six months. G. E. Wilson had not complied with the resolution of the board dated September 20th last, to either reside on section 4, block 10. Pouatu, or transfer to some eligible person. He applied to sublet to E. McLoughlin. Resolved that provided an application is made in proper form the board will consider it. GENERAL. It was reslved that H. Egan's lease of sections 71, 75, 76, and 7S, block 4, Paritutu, and J. K. Pedersen's of sections SO and 83, block 4, Paritutu, be dated from January Ist, 1912. Messrs Hatrick and Co., Ltd., applied on behalf of H. Batchelor to purchase section 3, block 15, Ohura. —Resolved that the board has no powers to dispose of the land privately as requested, but that it be offered for sale or selection under part 3 of the Land Act, 1908, at a capital value of £SOO, weighted with first and second mortgages and £42 10s improvements, to be paid in cash. J. Smith, section 9, bluck 5, Kapara, applied for part section 10, Forest Reserve, adjoining, to improve his fencing line. —Resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the Commissioner, with power to act. The Ohura Co-operative Dairy Company wrote asking to have thirds expended on road fronting section 2, block 9, Ohu:a.—Resolved to forward a copy of the letter to the Ohura County Council and to request them to expend the thirds as approved by the board. The board considered the amounts of the rents of monthly tenancies of Spotswood sections. Resolved that the rentals be fixed at Is per acre per month. —Resolved that it be an instruction to the Receiver of Land Revenues to make the rents of miscellaneous leases conform to the usual terms of payment, namely, January and July in each year. W. A. Cleaver applied for a reduction in rent on his lease of sections 1 and 2, bluck 2, Pouatu. —Resolved that the rent remain at 2s per acre per annum. E. A. Meredith, assistant Crown land ranger, wrote recommending adding section 28, block 11, Mapara, to section 23, adjoining, to improve the building site on the latter section.— Resolved that the report be adopted. The Commissioner submitted a schedule of tenants in arrears with rent. —Resolved that the Commissioner request authority to sue for recovery of all rent two or more instalments i.i arrears. The Commissioner brought, up the question of the forfeiture of section 4, block 7, Mahoe, W. B. Read. Resolved that action be stayed, as the mortgagees are taking steps to sell under power of mortgage. A. Corbett applied for the freehold of section 9, block 11, Cape. Approved. The secretary of the Mokauiti Cooperative Dairy Company, Ltd., applied for a title to scetion 1, block 11, Mapara, a creamery site. Resolved that, subiect to revaluation, the Hon. Minister of Lands be recommended to dispose of the land to the company under section 1-10 of the Land Act, 1908. W. Davis applied to deviate a creek through section 5, block 21, town of Mangaroa.—The range's report was read. Resolved to inform the application that it ia a matter for the local body to deal with. The ranker made suggestions with regard to a site for nightsoil and rubbish depot near the town of Mangaroa. Resolved that the board will consider an application for a site for a rubbish depot only. The board discussed a memo, from the Under-Secretary of Lands regarding the proposed resumption of parts sections 1, 2, and 32, block 1, Mimi. —Resolved that in the opinion of this board the relief proposed to be given to the tenant should be carried out. The land is absolutely useless for cultivation. The tenant has been paying rent and taxes upon it for fourteen years, and the part proposed to be resumed is a suitable

addition to the Forest Reserve. The rent of this land to be reduced pro rata, accodring to area resumed. Messrs Roy and Nicholson stated that they understand the deficient improvements 011 pectin:) block" 9, Waro, are now completed, and asked that consent to the transfer of this section from J. Sheoby to Edward Sheehy he granted subject to a declaration showing that the improvement condition has been complied with. —Resolved that the transfer be approved subject to a declaration as to improvements.

D R. Cooper applied i'or remission of a half year's rent on sections 91, 93, and 94, block 4, Pari lulu (Spotswood settlement), owing to having his house destroyed by lire. —Resolved that a remission of ;> half year's rent he recommended under section bfi of ti"e Land Act i'or Settlement Act, 1908.

It was resolved to obtain a ruling on the question as to whether thirds can he used in erecting a bridge ove.r a stream not 011 the road leading to the section, but necessary to gain access to the land on the other side uf the stream.

T. Ryan appeared before the hoard and asked for a rehearing of his application to transfer sections 109 and 171, block 1, Mahoe, to W. Abbott. — Resolved that the board see no reason to alter its previous decision. O. E. Hoby applied for permission to remove sand from sections 142 and 143, Hua district, for brickmaking purposes. Rcsulvtd that the application be granted upon payment of royalty to be deternrned by the Commissioner.

J. S. S. Medley applied to exchange his lease of section 543, town of New Plymouth, for section J>42, that being the section he understood he had taken a lease of. —Resolved that consent be given if matter can be legally arranged, at expense of applicant. W. G. Malone applied for extension of time to register transfer of part sectionl 7<>, block 2, Ngaere. P. G. Brooking to James Shaw, also of J. W. Paulger to J. VV. Parkinson, section 110, block 2, Ngaere. —Resolved that the month's extension be granted. J. G. Buchanan applied to transfer under lease of section 107, block 2, Ngaere. to 8. Medea!f. - -Approved. Messrs Govett and Quilliam, solicitors to the Borough Council, applied for permission to lay a sewer through section S3S, town of t New Plymouth. —Resolved that consent be given to the easement.

T. D. Salter applied for permission to put a telephone wire over sections 10(H)-15li4 to connect his house with the motor garage in Lemon street. — Resolved that the Commissioner be empowered to deal with the matter. P. O'Dea wrote asking that road access to section 10, block 12 Hawera, be provided from the Ingahope road through subsection 1 of section 33, Taumaha block. Resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the Commissioner, with power to act.

The applications of W. E. Cole and Messrs Hale and Locke to grant boring and mineral rights to J. S. S. Medley over parts ot section 1(>0, Hua and YVaiwakaiho, were again considered. --Resolved to inform the applicants that the board has no power to givo consent to the proposed dealings, and that they be referred to section 11 of the Mining Amendment Act, 1911.