Land Board.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 97, 7 June 1895, Page 3

Land Board.

The Land Board met on Monday. Present: The Commissioner of Crown Jiarsds, Mr J. Stranchon (chairman), Messrs Hcslop, Stock, Roy, and Hon T. Kelly. FREEZING WORKS SITK. Mr Oliver Samuel appeared as solicitor to. the Taranaki Freezing Works Company (Limited) with respect to the purchase of that portion of the central prison site at lying between the railway and the foreshore. He explained the reason for applying for the laud'to be sold for cash, it beiug that a land transfer title would greatly facilitate the financial business of the company.—lt was decided that the land be visited by the Board in the afternoon. —The members of the Board visited the land, and, on resuming, decided, That recognising the importance of encouraging the.dairy industry, this Board recommends that the eastern portion of the land applied for be offered for sale by public auction, reserving to the Crown a right-of-way from the Barret Road so as to preserve private or public rights in the portion reserved to the Crown ; that the laud so proposed to be offered for sale, namely, two acres or thereabouts be valued by the Crown Lands Banger, and be sold by public auction at the upset price recommended by the Ranger, and subject to the approval of the Governor. ADVICE. The Surveyor-General advised that once lands under the Act of 1885 and 1892 had been held twelve months transferees could again transfer at any time before they had held the laud twelve months.—The application, of Henry Okey to transfer d.p. Section 49, Block 10, Huiroa, to R. Benefield, was then' considered—the applicaaion was agreed to. TRANSFERS. The following application to transfer p.l. lands was agreed to : Geo Hollard, to W. E. Hollard, Section 11, Block 8, Kaupokonui. CAPITALISE. ' W. Winmill applied to capitalise on Section 19, Block 9, Cape.—Approved. FREEHOLDS The following applied for the freeholds of d.p. lands:—M. Bolgcr, Section 99, Block 11, Kaupokonui; J. and W. Duggan, Section 15, Block 9, Cape ; R. Williams, Section 1, Block 8, Kaukokonui. Agreed to. —The following applied for freeholds of p.l. lands :—J. R. Taylor, Section 82, Block 11, Opunake ; A. B. Coffin, Sections 79, and 80, Block 11, Opunake. Agreed to. , - MORTGAGES. Five applications to mortgage were agreed to, four of the number beiug under the Advances to Settlers Act. NOT ENTERTAINED J. G. Ranby asked if he could sell part of his d.p. holding, Section 28, Block 9, Kaupokonui.—The request could not be entertained; he had better acquire the freehold. RANGER'S REPORTS. The Ranger reported on 69 sections in various parts of the district, showing that an area of 3603 acres of first-class, and 20,491 acres of second-class laud had been inspected. The requirements of the the Act were 650 acres cultivated and additional improvements of the value, £5910 14s. The area cultivated is 5494 acres value.! at £10,420 10s, and other improvements consisting of buildings, fencing, &c, valued at£2B6o 17s. One selector is in total, and five in partial default; two have surrendered their sections.—The report was adopted, and that the total defaulter be notified to show causo why the section should not be declared forfeited, and those in partial default to be reminded of their conditions. The report on the Milsom Special Settlement showed that 34 sections, comprising 2600 acres first-class, and 3873 acres second-class has been inspected. The requirements of the Act were improvements to the value of £902 19s. The area grassed is 472 acres, besides fencing, buildings, &c. ; total value, £1449 15s. Ten have surrendered, five are in total default, and two in partial default, and 16 are resident. Taking the difficulty of access, the settlement has progressed fairly well.—The report on the Tanner Special Settlement showed that 26 sections comprising 4400 acre 3 firstclass and 810 acres second-class were inspected. The value of improvements required was £IOOO. Improvements made were 436 acres grassed, and other improvements such as fencing, buildings &c, at total value of £1644 Bs. Three have surrendered, three are in total default, two in partial default, and 15 are resident.—The report on the Oxford Special Settlement showed that 23 sections comprising 4000 acres second-class land were inspected. Value of improvements required £7OO, Improvements made are 48 grassed valued at £B6. Three only have made improvements. Eight have surrendered. Only one resides. The failure of this settlement may be accounted for by the fact that the land is not suitable for a special settlement. TheRanger recommended that the sections be grouped where practicable and reoffered, in- areas from 400 to 600 acres. Ifc was decided that the partial defaulters be notified reminding them of their conditions, and the total defaulters to show cause why their sees should not be declared forfeited, also that the recommendations of the Ranger be adopted, that the forfeited sees be grouped in areas of from 400 to 600 acres.

" A report from the Ranger on the subject of expenditure of thirds accruing from Section 2-1, Block Ift, Kaupokonui, and Section 40, Block 13, Ngaire, on the Hastings Road, which some of the settlers requite to be spent on that road, leading to Eltham, while the settlers contributed the money desired it to be put on the Skeefc Road, leading to Te Roti, that being their outlet.—The Ranger recommended that the money be spent on the Hastings Road between the railway line and the Elfcham-Opuuake Road.—Ranger's recommendation adopted.—Herald.