TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 459, 24 April 1912, Page 6

TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The Taranaki Land Board met on the 16th inst. Present: The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr G. H. Builard) in thhe chair, and Messrs J. Healon, J- Rattenbury. and J. McCluggage. An apology was received from Mr W. L. Kennedy. The commissioner reported that Mr John Heslop had been reappointed a member of the board. A schedule showing the result of the. sale of leases of Crown lands and reserves in the town of Opunake was laid upon the table. TRANSFERS. The following transfers were considered : W. 11. Ure, jun., to R. L. and E. Ure. sections 11, 15, and 17, block 1, Taurakawa. Approved. J. P. Matson to D. Smith, section 3, block 3, Waro. —Approved. A. Dons to S. A. Dons, section 3, block 2, Omona.' —Approved. M. P. Knight to W. R. Evans, sections 5, 6, and 26, block 5, Ngatimaru —Approved.

J. Riddle to W. Williamson, section 4, block 3, Aria.--Consideration deferred pending completion in legal manner of subleases with purchasing clause of land already held by W. Williamson.

L. H. Kennedy to H. C. Belcher, section 43, block 11, Ngaire. Approved. G. H. Thomas to J. E. Shewry, part section 73. block 10, Pouatu.— Approved subject to proper plan of survey being deposited with the Chief Surveyor. S. Lowe to R. H. Phillips, section 3, block 14, Upper Waitara. Mr Phillips waited on the board and explained the nature of the transfer. — Resolved that the question of allowing the transfer to be opened for consideration be deferred for one month. E. H. Slater to N. Buchanan, sections 1 and 5, block 9, Upper Waitara. —Approved. E. W. "Davis to T. Ward, section 10, block 9, Totoro.—Approved. J. E. McCormick, to L. Sutton, sections 7, 77, and 78, block 10, Pouatu. —Approved. J. O'Connor to W. Colson, section 21, block S, Ngaire.: Mr Colson attended and answered the questions put to that the transfer be approved. P. and J. O'Connor to H. J. and W. C. Judd, section 13 ; block 14, Ngatimaru, and sections 15 and 19, block 2, Omona. —Approved. A. W. McHolm to G. P. McGregor, section 3, block 2, Aria. —Approved. G. Innes to G. Innes and G. N. F. Preston, section 8, block 4, Upper Waitara. —Resolved that transfer be approved, transferee to be allowed three months in which to take up his personal residence on the land. RANGERS' REPORTS. E. Tolme, Crown lands ranger, reported on the application of W. Davis to lease a small portion of the Whatitokarua block. Resolved that consideration be deferred at present. He also reported on the proposed prices of sections in Matiere town as follows: Matiere suburban section 19, £55; section 35, £4O; section 36, £45: Matiere town, block 2, sections 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16, £2O each; section 18, £3O; and sections 11, 13, 15. 17, and 19, £4O each. —Resolved that the suburban sections be offered for sale by public auction for cash in terms of report, and that the disposal of the town sections be deferred for the survey of other sections on the north side of the street.

He also reported on the application of M. Clark to exchange a piece cf section 1, block 1, Ohura, for a portion of the Waitewhena Domain. —Resolved that the necessary steps be taken to effect the exchange. Mr Tolme also repurted on the amount required to form a bridle track to sections 1 and 2, block 5, Aria. — Resolved to recommend that the sum of £l5O bs provided to give access by bridle track to the sections mentioned.

He also reported on John Riddb's application for access to section 4, block 3, Aria, by the Pirikia road. — Resolved to recommend the Government to provide a sufficient sum to give access to section 9, block 3, Aria, two-tbirds of the amount to be debited to the Education Reserve funds.

He also reported on the application to exchange section 2A, Rangitoto, and part Aria township, for Rangitoto Tuhua 61G, section 2. Resolved that the board is not prepared to entertain the proposal.

Mr H. T. Tvviss, Crown lands ranger, reported on D. W. Smith's application for remission of rent on section 1, block 9, Pouatu. Resolved that the board cannot see its way to entertain the request. Mr E. Tolme reported on the timber on section 28, block 2, and section 12, block 3, Ohura, and suggested a valuation for the sections. -—Resolved that consideration be deferred till the railway line is located. Mr E. Tolme reported on the inspection of eighteen holdings comprising 3076 acres. Improvements required £1197, effected £113,45. There were no defaulters.

Mr H. T. Twisa reported on repairs required to cottage on section 5, block 27, town of JPatea.—Resolved that the action of the ranger be confirmed. Mr E. A. Meredith, assistant Crown lands ranger, reported on J. McPall's application to have section, 7 block 12, Mapara, added to his holding.— Resolved that a temporary lease be granted, at a rental in termd of ranger's report. Mr Meredith also reported on W. L. Martin's application to have part Tangitu's township restored to his section 19, block 12, Mapara.—Resolved that the land be restored to him, and that a value of £4 per acre be put upon it. MISCELLANEOUS. The Under - Secretary for Lands wrote asking for the board's decision with regard to the forfeiture of R. Cleaver's section 15, block 11, Mapara. —Resolved that, after full consideration of the circumstances, the furfeiture be rescinded.

He also wrote saying that it was desirable to open up sections 4 and 6, block 5, Totoro, under the ordinary conditions of the Land Act. —Resolved that the sections be offered for selection under part 3 of the Land Act, 1908, in terms of ranger's report. W. 11. Foreman wrote asking if the land "reserved for pack track" through section 29, block 9, Mimi, might be added to his holding, and also half the reserve between sections 29 and 31, the other half to be added to A. M. Bowie : 3 section—Resolved that upon the necessarily steps being taken to close the track the land be added to the adjoining land as indicated.

A. Harre applied for lease of part of railway reserve in front of section 11, block" 13, Waro.—Resolved that he be granted a yearly tenacy at a rental to be fixed by the ranger.

A tracing was received from Mr N. C. Kensington, showing the piece of land in Tangitu appl'ed for by T. J. Brennan. —Resolved that consideration be deferred for the present. The Ohura A. and P. Association, wrote asking to have section 28, block 2, Ohura. vested in the association for a showground. —Resolved that the application be nut entertained.

T. Joyce complained that the Public Works Department would not give him a crossing over the railway through the front of his section 37, block 13, Pouatu, to the main road. Resolved that the Public Works Department be required to provide a crossing in this instance. J. Corlett wrote drawing attantion to access to section 1, block 10, Waro, by Okau road. Resolved that the board will have no objection to dispose n{ such portion of the road reserved, as it is not required after making necessary reservations along the stream.

D. F. McLeod. section 14, block 2, Heao, asked if thirds from sections in Opatu block could be allowed to accumulate.—Resolved that they be allowed to accumulate in the meantime, and that the Government be recommended to put a sum on the Estimates to provide a crossing. R. G. Fawkner asked if sections 37, 38, 39, and 42. Whangamomona, could be put up for public auction. —Resolved that the offering of the sections be deferred for the present, that he be informed that the board is unable to protect his improvements, but if necessary will allow him to remove his house.

A letter was received from the secretary of the Taranaki Education Board, asking if the board would set aside a school site in the Tahora township.—Request will receive consideration when the township is dealt with. The resident engineer, New Plymouth, wrote saying that sections 7 and 8, block 13, Waro, are now accessable by unmetalled dray road.—Resolved that the sections be offered for sale under part 3 of the Land Act, 1908.

The commissioner brought up the question of adding a portion of Grown lands adjoining T. O'Shea's section 19, block 4, Totoro, to his holding.— Resolved that upon its being declared Crown land, a lease be granted to him of some land to improve his fencing boundary. W. J. Coventry wrote asking the reason of the board's refusal to give access to section 21, block IC, Aria. —Resolved to inform him that the board does not see any reason to depart from its previous decision. LEASES IN DEFAULT.

The following leases in default were dealt with:—

G. Innes, section 8, block 4, Upper Waitara, non residence. —Dealt with under transfers.

J. W Wiltshire, section 3, block 16, Omona, non-residence. Mr L. E. Jackson appeared on behalf of the selector, and after he had explained the uosition it was resolved to waive the condition of residence in the meanwhile.

J. F. Ryan, section 4, block 11, and section 7, block 10, Ohura, non-resi-dence. — Deferred for ranger's report. F. Bloomfield, section 4, block 8, Ohura non-residence. —■ Deferred for ranger's report.

H. Bryson, section 2, block 3, Mahoe, non-residence Requested to reply to commissioner's letter. The Under-Secretary of Lands advised that the application of Mrs K. Pedersen for section 79, block 4, Paritutu survey district, Spotswood, settlement cannot be granted. APPLICATIONS FOR LAND. John Maher applied for section 3, block 15, Ohura, 35S acres, cash. — Approved. J. A. Carr applied for sections 50 and 52, block 4, Paritutu, Spotswood settlement, 10 acres, renewable lease land for settlement. —Resolved to defer consideration for a month, and that the matter be loft in the hands of the commissioner.

B. Speight applied for lease of section 9, block 12, Ohura, for sawmilling purposes—Left in the hands of the commissioner.

D. W. Mcßae asked that a block of Crown land to the west of section 2, block 1, Ohura, be offered for selection. —Resolved to inform him that the board is not in a position to offer the land for settlement.

John Coleman applied for a yearly lease of section 2, Waitara West suburban.—Resolved that notice be given of the termination of the present tenancy held bv T. Breen. EDUCATION RESERVES. The following transfers were approved : J. Holloway to J. S. S. Medley and A. R. Standish, section U and part's, New Plymouth; E.J. Carthew to T. G. Sole, sections 2125, 2130, 2142, 2144, and part 2145, New Plymouth; A. R. and W. A. Davis to W. A. Davis, sections 58, 62-81, Pukearuhe town, and 3, town belt; J. and P. O'Connor to W. C. and H. J. Judd, yection 16, block 2, Omona. A sublease from F. 11. Robertson to M. L. Ellerm, parts sections 395 and 421, New Plymouth, was approved.