LAND BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 50, 23 February 1912, Page 5

LAND BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Land Board was opened on Wednesday. The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr Bullard) was in the chair, and members present wore Messrfc Heslop, Rattenbury, McCluggago and Kennedy. Mr Heslop welcomed Mr Bullard as Commissioner, and while congratulating him upon taking up the position, expressed regret at the sad circumstances that had rendered the appointment necessary.

Transfers. Transfers were approved in the following instances : —Anna Dons to James Savage, section 35, block 2, Omona; A. W. and A. P. Wood to Leonard Sutton, section 11, block 3, Omona, and sections 2,3, 5 and 27, block 3, Omona; H. C. Cophead to William Gill, subdivision 2, section 63, block 14, Pouatu, with a recommendation that the applicant convert the land to freehold; A. Scrivener to A. Schivener and E. H. Pochin, section 8, block 6, Totoro; W. F. Taylor to J. R. Ciochetto, section 27, block 2, Huiroa; J. R. Ciochetto to H. Harrison, section 2, block 4, Opaku; C. A. and A. Zurchcr to W. McHettridge, sections 1 and 2, block 5, Ngatimaru; D. Favier to A. A. Nelson, section 15, block 10, Ngatimaru; A. ANelson to D. Favier, sub-division 2, section 26, block 10, Ngatimaru; H. R. E. Harvey to G. A. H. Davies, section 2, block 11, Ohura; K. Will© to George Fraser, section 4, block 6, Ohura; D. Hickford to A. Featherstone, sections 2,3, and 4, block 8, Ngatimaru, E. S. Hickford to A. Featherstone, section 6, blk. 8, Ngatimaru, W. H. Sadlier to H. W. Claridg'e and C. A. Grant, section 1, block 7, Mahoe; Public Trustee to Thos. Hastie, sections 9, 10, 12, and 14, block 1, Taurakawa, 11, 12, and 20, block 13, Mahoe, 21 and 22, block 16, Ngatimaru.

Sub-Leases. The following 'sub-leases were approved;—G. E. Wilson to E. McLoughlin, section 4, block 10, Pouatu; A. C. Marr to A. E. Lichtwark, section 4, block 4, Huiroa. Applications for Leases. . Leases were granted to. .'the foil*?wing improved farm Humphrey, Section-3, block .’l4j .Ohura; Tr O’Shea, section 19,: block 4; .Totorp; Jas. Dempsey, section I, bltek s,.Tc* toro. . ; ' ■ . : ;; o 'te-v'vh V hvteVt-,; ,( The Under-Secretary for Lands forwarded a’copy of a communication! received from the -p[nder-Secretary. fQr Public Works asking to have the rents of certain leases reduced on account of land taken for the Stratford-Kawa-kau railway.—The Board decided to amend the titles as desired. ~ , , , A plan ot the deviation of the K> • huratahi road through section‘4, block 16, Pouatu, was laid on the table.— It “Was resolved to amend the title accordingly. F. J. Evans asked leave to forfeit section 1, block 10, Mahoe, as it was too rough.—The application was

granted. The Under-Secretary for Public Works submitted a tracing of parts of W. G. Fargie’s sections, 18 and 20, block 1, Mahoe, which were required for the Stratford-Ongarue railway and the Whangamomona police station.— The Board decided to leave the matter in the Commissioner’s hands for the meantime. Six months’ leave of absence from section 13, block 9, Totoro, was granted to E. C. West. Twelve months’ leave of absence from section 23, block 16, Huiroa, was granted to M. Urquhart, who is leaving the Dominion for some time.

Rangers’ Reports. Mr Twiss reported on section 255, Huirangi district, and the Board decided to request the Railway Department to provide access to the land at the crossing of the railway line. The application of J. Pedersen for part of the Moki railway and township reserve to give access to his section and a suitable homestead site, was also reported upon by the ranger. —The matter was left in the hands of the Commissioner, with power to act. Ranger E. Tolme reported that S. ' Gibbons was resident on his section 15, block 2, Haeo.—Six months’ extension of time was granted. Ranger E. A. Meredith reported on the conditions of residence on the following Tangitu sections : —R. Cleaver, section 15, block 11, Mapara; R. Glentworth, section 25, block 1, Tangitu ; J. H. Brown, section 9, block I. Tangitu, A. W. King, section 5, block 7, Mapara.—The Board decided that Cleaver’s forfeiture be confirmed, that Glentworth be granted three months’ final extension of time, and that tho forfeiture of Brown’s and King’s interests be rescinded. Mr Meredith also reported that L. J. Bacon declined to give any information regarding his dealings in native lands.— I The Board decided that no further action he taken at present.

The meeting then adjourned for the day. Meeting Concluded. The Board resumed its meeting yesterday morning, the Commissioner (Mr Bullard) presiding. Ranger Meredith’s report on section 24, block 11, Mapara, was adopted, and the Board decided to offer the land for selection under part 3 of the Land Act, 1908. The section will he weighted with the value of improvements and the cost of sowing felled area.

J. Coomhridge wrote appealing against the forfeiture of section 5, block 11, Mapara, and denying that he had sot fire to the hush contrary to the instructions of the ranger. Tt was resolved to inform Coomhridgo that his conduct in the present instance would he overlooked, but that-

“the Board had power to prevent the burning of bush at' an" improper time contrary to tho rangers instructions, and that if such;,an offence is committed again by him' or others in tire settlement their interests will-be liable to forfeiture.” Concerning Thirds. The Under-Secretary for Lands advised that thirds or fourths may be expended in erecting a bridge over a stream adjoining the road leading to a section, such bridge -being the only means of access to tho said section situated on the other side of the stream from the road.

The application : of the Ohura County Council to have thirds from section 18, block 9, Ohura, expended on the erection of a- bridge was again considered, and final consideration deferred in order to enable the Board to visit the locality.

The, application of the Whangamomona County Council to have £3B 13s 5d of accrued thirds from sections on Makahu road expended in the re-in-statement of a bridge was approved, subject to the ranger’s report. Sundry Mattes-s. Banger H. T. Twiss reported on the inspection of 24 holdings, stating that the improvements required to be carried out totalled £8220. Those actually effected, however, amounted to £19,502. Four of the selectors had not complied with the conditions of residence.—The Board decided to call up those in default to explain why they had not complied with the conditions.

Ranger E.sTolme reported on the inspection of 25 holdings. The improvements required were £1424, while those actually effected aggregated £10,134. Two of the selectors had failed to effect tho necessary improvements, while a third had rot resided on his land.—Considering the report, the Board decided to ask H. Web ley to show cause why his interest should not be forfeited for non-improvement.

Transactions in Education reserves were approved as follow by the Board:

Transfers.—Anna Dons to J. Savage, section 36, block 2, Omona.

Sub-leases.—J. R. Parkinson to G. E. Ireland, section 110, block 2, Ngaere; Henry Law to C. A. Duff, section 1 68, block 12, Mangimingi subdivision.

The Commissioner submitted a schedule of education reserves unlet, and it was resolved that the ranger’s report on the following be obtained: Section 1, block 9, Mahoe; section 9, block 8, Opaku; section 6, block 16j Upper Waitara. * A

The Commissioner tabled a schedi ule of renewable leases" ' oil March 31, 1913, and it was resolved to recommend to -the-lessees .that, Mr H. T. Twiss (Crown Lands ranger) be appointed sole arbitrator in valuations required! bp ? n>ase ;in terms of the leases. The Board then went into committee, and its sittings were subsequently concluded.