TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 443, 28 February 1912, Page 7

TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Land Board \va_ held at the board's office, last week. Present— The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr Bullard) in tno chair, and Messrs Heslop, Rattenbury, McCluggage and Kennedy. Before proceeding with the business Mr Heslop moved, "That the board de'sire3 to place on record its sincere sympathy with Mrs Armstrong and her family in their sad and sudden bereavement by the death of her husband, and wishes to convey to them the heartfelt sympathy of the board, over which he presided with credit to himself and the department." The motion was put and carried in silence, the members standing. Mr Heslop welcomed Mr Bullard as commissioner, and, while congratulating him on his appointment, expressed regret at the circumstances which had rendered the'appointment necessary. Application for Land. —Section 3, block 2, Totoro, 365 acres, W. F. Townsend, R.L.—Resolved that the application of Townaend be not entertained. Transfer. A. Scrivener to A. Scrivener and E. H. Poctain, section 8. block 11, Totoro.—Approved. Applications for Leases.—W. T. Humphrey, section 3, block 14, Ohura; T. O'Shea, section 19, block 4, Totoro; James Dempsey, section 1, block 5, Totoro.—Granted. GENERAL. P. G. Thomas applied for extension of time to register transfer to G. H. Smith, sections 2 and 11, block 6, Aria. —One month's extension was given. The Under - Secretary for Public Works submitted a tracing of parts of W. G. Fargie's sections 18 and 20, block 1, Mahoe, required for Strat-ford-Te Koura railroad and Whangamomona police station.—Resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the Commissioner of Lands in the meanwhile.

E. C. West applied for six months' leave of absence from section 13, block 9, Totcro.— Granted. Messrs Weston and Weston appealed, on behalf of John Morgans, against the forfeiture of section 16, block 1, Tangitu. Mr Morgans waited on-the board in support of the application. Resolved that the previous motion be rescinded and three months' extension be given for him to take his wife and family on to the land. RANGERS' REPORTS.

Mr Tolme reported on the application of W. J. Coventry for access to be provided to section 21, block 15, Aria. —Request refused. Mr A. Meredith, assistant Crown lands ranger, reported on the conditions of' residence of the following Tangitu settlers:—R. Cleaver, section 15, block 11, Mapara: Forfeiture confirmed.—R. Gienworthy, section 25, block 1, Tangitu: Three months' final extension of time to become resident. —J.H.Brown, section 9, block 1, Tangitu: Forfeiture of interests be rescinded.—A. W. King, section 5, block 13, Mapara: Forfeiture of interests be rescinded. Mr Meredith wrote stating that L. J. Bacon declined to give any information regarding his dealings in native lands.—No further action at present. Mr E. A. Meredith reported with valuation, on section 31, block 11, Mapara, applied for by the Mokauiti Dairy Co., Ltd.- The board resolved that the Minister of Lands be recommended to diapo3e of the laud to the company under section 140 of the Land Act, 1908, for the sum of £5. Mr Meredith also reported upon an application by settlers on Mangaili road for an exchange of school site to part section 1, block 12, Mapara. —Resolved that the exchange be effected. Mr Meredith also reported on section 24, block 11, Mapara. —lt was resolved that the report be adopted and the land offered for selection under part 3 of the Land Act, 1908, weighted with value of improvements and coat of sowing felled area. EXPENDITURE OF THIRDS. E. Tolme's (ranger) report on the Waitomo County Council's proposals for expenditure of &13S 9s accrued thirds was approved. L. R. Whitaker applied for thirds from section '-', block 9. Aria, to be spent on t'ura-Panirau road. —Previous resolution to be adhered to. The application of the Ohura County Council'to have thirds from section 18, ulock 9, Ohura, expended on the erection of a bridge was again considered but the hoard deferred decision until it had visited the locality. Forfeiture of Section. —J. Coomb ridge wrote, appealing against the forfeiture of section 5, block 1.1, Mapara, and denying that he had set fire to bush contrary to the instructions of the ranger. —lt was resolved to inform Mr Coombridge that the board will overlook his conduct in this instance, but that the board has power under the regulations to prevent the burning of bush at an improper time or contrary to the ranger's instructions, and that if such an offence is committed again by him or others in the settlement their interests will be liable to forfeiture. The board resolved to recommend the appointment of Mr 11. T. Twiss, Crown lands ranger, as sole arbitrator in the valuation? for renewals of expiring leases.