LAND BOARD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 495, 28 August 1912, Page 6

LAND BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting if the Taranaki Land Board commenced at New Plymouth on Tuesday, 20th inst. Thers were present —The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr G. H. Bullard) in the chair, and Messrs J. McClugagge, J. Helsop, 'J. Rattenbury and C. J. Ryan. TRANSFERS. Applications to transfer sections were dealt with as follows —G. G. S. Bowers to T. E. Trask and E. S. L. Mowat section 6, block 16, Pouatu.— Approved. E, Cammock to John Cammock, section 8, block 6, Mahoe.—Approved. D. and J. Brosnan to C. Selby, section 2, block 7, Mimi. Approved under special circumstances. | W. J. Proffit to D. H. Promt jun., section 1, block 2,°. Mahoe—Approved. A. J. and R. H." Doble to D H. Stevens, section 1, block 8, Ohura.— Approved. J. E. Loft to S. 0. Snow, section 7, block 5, Kapara.—Mr Loft attended the meeting and on hearing his explanation the board approved of the transfer. R. R. Tait to G. H. Harden, section 7, block 12, Opaku.—Approved. P. and S. Rosenbeck and J. M. Neilson to P., S., and N. Rosenbeck, sections 7 and 6, block 7, Waro. —Ap proved. C. J. E. Geibel and E. A. M. Gibson section 6, block 16, Aria. Approved. T. E. Lawrence to J. B. Hine and W. K. Jonas, sections 9 and 10, block 5, Ngatimaru.—Resolved to confirm previous resolution and refuse transfer on the ground of aggregation of area. W. Beard to Jas. Malone, section 1, block 16, Ohura. —On Mr Malone providing the board with a statement as to 'the amount of land he holds the application will be reconsidered. V. K. Pulford to M. Jury, sections 86, 88, 89, block 4, Paritutu. approved. J. and J. J. Embling to J. J. Enabling, sub-lease of section 31, block 11, Ngaere.—Approved. D. and D. S. Maxwell to D. S. Maxwell, sections I—s, block 2, Taurakawa and sections 2—4, block 14, Mahoe. —Approved. L. Sutton to A. P. and P. H. Landers, sections 11 and 27, block 3, Omana. —Approved. J. Graham to F. A. Cutfield, section 7, block 15, Upper Waitara. —Approved. A. Holtz to C. Coulton, section 29, block 10, Ngatimaru.^—Approved. W. N., W. P., and W. F. V. Jenkins to W. Miskelly, part sections 42, block 11, Ngaere.—Approved subject to the usual conditions as to the suitabilitygof the lard for sub-division being complied with. SUB-LEASES. H. J. Archer to A. G. W. Cutler, part 27, subsection 1 of section 57, and subsection 2 of section 29, block .13, Pouatu, and a further application to tranfer part to N. W King.—All these dealings were approved. John Routley to Colonel Bentley, section 100, biock 10, Ngaere.—Approved

T. H. White to T. Wills and A. R. Moore, part; 17, block 15, Aria.—Approved. H. Campbell to M. A. Fraser, section 4. block 7, and section 1, block 8, Mimi. Application deferred for a declaration aa to the land held by Mrs Fraser and husband. An application for a transmission from Saunders and O'Reilly to Saunders and S. J. Price, of section 1, block 15, Opaku, was approved. GENERAL. W. Innes wrote stating that as the board had refused its consent to transfer section 1, block 3, Totoro, to H. McGrath, he would have to forfeit same. —Forfeiture approved. L. Sutton applied for the freehold of sections 2, 3 and 5, block 3, Omona, and the appication was granted, subject to all the conditions being complied with. IMPROVED FARM SETTLEMENTS. The following settlers under the improved farm conditions applied for the issue of their leases, and all the applications were approved subject in some cases to the conditions of the bills of sale:—J. Ferguson, section 8, block 12, Aria; L. F. J. Garmson, section 6, block 2, Totoro: H. Zimmermon section 16, block 11, Mapara; A. Tyler, section 1, hlock 4, Aria K. McLean, section 6, block 12, Aria. J. Watson appealed against the forfeiture of section 6 block 1, Tangitu, and the board resolved to rescind the previous resolution ordering the forfeiture and, upon Watson indicating hi 1 ? bona fides by felling more bush this season, to give him time to reside. APPLICATIONS FOR LAND. S. H. Brown, selector of section 15, block 9, Ohura, applied of 300 acres of section 1, block J 2, Waro, but the board refused the application on the grounds of its having no power to deal with it. The Mangaroa School Committee applied for section 11, block 9, town of Mangarea at present held under yearly lease by the Ohura County Council, to be set aside for school purposes—Ranger Tolme explained the position, and it was resolved to refuse the application and to inform the committee that if application were made for an acre south of the Domain it would be considered. The Taranaki Education Board applied for section 4. township of Whangamomona, for a school site.™ Granted. ACTION OF GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. Mr Heslop commented on the decision to hold the ballot of the Whatitokarua blocks at New Plymouth instead of at Taimarunui. Messrs McCluggage, Rattenbury and Ryan also considered it was desirable that the block should have been ballotted for at Taumarunui. On the motion of Messrs Ryan and Heslop it was resolved to inform the

Under-Secretary for Lands that the board regrets its recommendation to hold the ballot at Taumarunui was not accepted, as the board is acquainted with the local requirementa and is aware that the decision will give great dissatisfaction in the district where it was understood the ballot would be held and that the board is of the opinion that to hold a ballot in the vicinity of the land to be disposed of enables would-be selectors to visit the land and to attend the ballot at one expense; and that it is requested when future ballots are being fixed, that the board be consulted in order that advnatage may be taken of its local knowledge. RANGERS' REPORTS. E. Tolme, Crown lands ranger, reported on section 27, block 9, Totoro, over which he had resumed possession.—Decided to offer the land under part 3of the Land Act at £3 10a per acre. Ranger Tolme also reported on the applications of the Ohura A. and P. Society for a show ground at Ohura, and the matter was left in the Commissioner's hands E. Meredith, assistant Crown land ranger, submitted a tracing of the proposed cemetery site in section 27, block 11, Mapara. Recommended tor approval. He also reported having resumed possession of section 3, block 12, Mapara. His action was approved, and it was decided to offer the section under part 3 of the Act, in accordance with the report. Ranger Meredith also reported on an addition to T. H. Summers' section 19, block 1, Tangitu, which the board confirmed. EDUCATION RESERVES. The following transactions in education reserves in New Plymouth were approved—Sections 392 and 418, R. Beale; section 543, A. L. Humphries; section 573, H. Stocker; 2308, 2309, and 2310, A. H. T. Jones. GENERAL. W. Atkins wrote asking if residence by himself only, on section 1, block 3, Rangi, held by Mrs Atkins would be sufficient.—The board decided that although Mrs Atkins was not compelled to reside on her section until October, 1913, the fact of Mr Atkins living there was not in accordance with the regulations. The action of the commissioner in issuing instructions for the subdivision of section 13, block 14, Ohura, with a view to its being offered, was confirmed.

The question of the further subdivision of the township of Whangamomona was left in the chairman's hands.

A suggestion by Mr Ryan that section 1, block 2, Piopiotea West, recently forfeited should be opened for selection, subject to the milling rights, was not entertained. A further suggestion was made that part of the section might be opened, when it was decided to obtain a report from the ranger with a scheme of subdivision. The board approved of the proposals of the Ohura County Council for tha expenditure of £323 9s. thirds accrued to March 31st, 1912.

A plan of the deviation of the Waikaka road, through section 3, block 15, Aria, was laid on the table, and the amendment of the area approved.