WHAKAMARA BLOCK

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 381, 11 December 1878, Page 2

WHAKAMARA BLOCK

The following is from the Taranaki Herald report of the Waste Land Board proceedings on the 2nd instant On the application of Gane Brothers for leave not to reside on their section for 18 months, which came before the Board at, a previous meeting and was referred to the; Chief Surveyor, Mr Humph?ies reported as follows Mr Gane is correct about the road not being made to his land. Would recommend the urging of the County Council to make roads to the deferred payment

lands, from which it derives a special revenue, so that conditions of sale can be ; complied with.”—The Commissioner said the reason why leave of absence had been granted to some applicants was that their land was nearly all bush, whereas Messrs Gane Brothers’;land was open hind.-—Mr. Stan dish said the question of Messrs Gane not being able to get on their land was one for the County Council to settle. He sympathised with the applicants, bat the Board had not power to grant the request, it would be against the law to do so. He would move, “ That the Board has not the power to grant the request of Messrs Gane Brothers, sub-section 4of section 63, Land Act 1877,’ making personal residence, within six months of date of purchase, imperative, where the land’ is not mostly or wholly covered with bush.—The Com* missioner seconded the motion.—Mr Kelly thought the present was a case where the Board could act on its own discretion. He thought the Board should assist settlers in a case of the kind. He would move, “That as it appears from the statement of the Chief Surveyor that the purchasers of Allotments 1, 2, 3, of Block 12 Hawera district cannot obtain access to such allotments by dray along the public road, and as it is not in the spirit of the regulations under which deferred payment lands are sold to compel purchasers to live on lands not accessible, the Board will under these circumstances, grant a leave of absence of twelve months to the applicants.”—Mr Crompton seconded the amendment. — . The Commissioner thought the passing of the amendment would have a prejudicial effect. The local bodies had money to open the roads and he believed'if Messrs Gane brought-the matter before the proper authorities they could be forced to make the roads, therefore it would not be wise to pass the amendment, as they would be encouraging the local bodies in not expending the money in the above named direction.— I Tift*"

original motion was ultimately carried on thecasting vote of the Commissioner.—Mr Kelly gave notice that he would move at next meeting that the resolution be rescinded.

R. B, Pearce made an application for leave of absence from his land (section 4, block 12, Whakaraara) for one year and that ho might take his son as partner in the section. The Chief Surveyor was requested to aseertf in what proportion of the land was covered witn bush. The latter part of the applicat on was deferred. J.Arrnstrong applieo for leave of absence from his section (No. 2 L, block 12, Hawera - ) for two years owine: to its being mostly covered with bush.—Lerve of absence was granted for eighteen months.

The New Zealander says—“ Mr Reeves, M.H.U., has received some specimens of copper ore, the richness of which is remarkable. Competent judges estimate that the stone contains 60 per cent, of copper, and from the fact that the pure copper, bright as penny pieces, can be seen in many parts of the ore, the appraisement cannot be considered excessive. The locality of the lode from whence these were obtained is Aniseed Valley, about 14 miles from Kelson.™ At the first Agricultural show held in Ashburton County on the 15th November there were the following entries:—Sheep —Merino, 22 ; Leicester, 6 ; Lincoln, 25 : Romney Marsh, 4 ; Fat Lambs, I —sß entries ; cattle, 11 ; horses, 82 ; pigs, 8 ; implements, 50 ; dairy produce, 13 ; poultry, U ; dogs, 8 ; manufactures and produce, 19 ; extra exhibits. 18 ; total number of entries, 288.

The Canterbury Times referring to cattle, says : —At some of our annual shows there are exhibits to be seen which would- be a credit to any eountrybut which can scarcely - berecogn ised as the same species of animat as the mongrel, unthrifty looking objects to be seen on'every road side. The amount of food wasted in futile attempts to fatten ill-bred cattle must be enormous. A mongrel bred bullock is an unprofitable animal from the day he is calved. Good feed .or bad is a matter of indifference to him, judging from the weight of beef produced for the grass consumed ; while on the other hand, a well-bred animal is seldom anything else than satisfactory to its owner.