LAND BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 27, 29 May 1912, Page 2

LAND BOARD.

MONTHLY MEET IXC. The Taranaki Land Board met yesterday, the Crown Lands Commissioner (.Mr Bullard) presiding. Members present were: Messrs Heslop, Rattenbury, McCluggage' and Kennedy. Mr Rattenbury took his seat for the first time as a member of the Hoard, and was formally welcomed by the Commissioner. Transfers. Transfers were granted in the following cases:—D, Favier to K. W. Frank, section 15, block 10, Ngatiniaru; Public Trustee (administrator of J. P. Flett, deceased) to Annie Flett, section 25, block 15, Aria; Randolph and McLeod to H. F. Haden, section 4, block 12, Omona ; F. H. and W. H. Barrett to G. S. Hobbs, section 2, block 11, Omona; S. Gedge, part section 15, block 3, Omona; G. to E. C. Gedge, part section 15, block 3, Omona; S. Gedge to J. W. Gedge, part section 15, block 3, Omona; G. Waterson to John Skinner, section 1, block 7, Mind. Sub- Leases. Sub-leases were approved as follows :—Ellen Holloway to S. H. Barnett, section 11, block 1, Aria; R. Scott to S. W. Shaw, part section 2. block 8, Mi.ni; J. B. C. and R. G. Fowkner to C. F. Marsh, sections 170 and 172, block 18, Pouatu. Time to Register. One month's time to register was granted in the following cases:—D. R, Hight to C. J. O'Neill, sections 74 and 7G, block 14, Pouatu; W. F. L. .Jenkins to J. and J. J. Embling, part section 31, block 11, Ngaere; W. F. L. Jenkins to A. Zimmerman, part section 31, block 11, Ngaere. In the case of A. C .Marr to A. E. Lichtwark, section 4, block 4, Huiron, two months' extension of time was granted. One month in which to register transfer was granted in the cases of C. E. H. Allen to P. Collyer, section 30, block 2, Ngatimaru; C. E. H. Allen to P. Collyer, section 1, block 1, Ngatimaru. Conversion Into Freehold. Annie Cophead was granted the freehold of section 15, block 15, Pouatu. Similar applications were made by If. C. Cophead, sub-section 2, section 68, block 14, Pouatu, and R. Corbett-, isubiseetion 1, section 69, block 14, Pouatu, and were held over pending the appraising of the fee simple by the Crown ranger.

General. , The Commissioner informed the BW<J. that section 129 of the Land Act of 190 S could not be legally operated to give additional land to selectors of adjoining, areas, and also that under section 128 of the Act Messrs J. Phillips and G. W. and "H. J. Woods, whose holdings exceeded 640 acres, were ineligible to take up more land as were also H. and G. C. Black, who held 533 acres, to take up an additional 150 acres.

It was resolved that road access be provided and that' the land be opened for public competition.

The Commissioner submitted to a schedule of tenants who were two or more payments of rent in arrears, as at April 30, and it was resolved that the eases of all selectors owing three instalments be put in the hands of the Crown solicitor, and that those owing two instalments be notified that it was intended to sue for the amounts owing.

W. Ward applied to exchcange a portion of section 10, block 16, Ngatimaru, for a country reserve on the Tapuni road, and W. G. Malone asked for consent to a small area of the section being taken for an approach to the Tapuni road bridge.—Both matters were left in the hands of the Commissioner. On behalf of the Tangitu settlers, E. A. Guilford applied for a license, with right of purchase, of a piece of Crown land at the junction of Mapui and Otamata roads for a creamery site.—The Board resolved to instruct the ranger to report on the matter, and to ask the Commissioner to inquire as to the incorporation of a company to acquire the land.

The Board resolved that, in event of the forest reservation being lifted, it would consider the request of J. B. Norris, section 6, block 2, Omona, for part of the Matemateaonga Forest Reserve in order to improve his

fencing line. W. Sangsber applied for a lease of section 27, block 9, Totoro, a timber reserve formerly included in his section.—TJie application was refused, and it was decided to offer the laud under the optional tenure, after valuation and report by the ranger. J. F. Moorby applied for a lease of section 10, block 16, Pouatu, and it was resolved that the Commissioner should apply for a vote for felling the hush, with a view to granting a yearly tenancy of the land.

The application of C. M. Ross, jun., for a lease of section 38, block 14, Oii'Ura, was left in the hands of the Commissioner, as was also J. Pedersen's application for a lease of a larger piece of Mold township reserve than had been granted to him.

E. Marfell applied to purchase part of the Omata road (closed) in the North riding of the Grey district, in regard to which the Board decided to empower the Commissioner to act, upon a valuation being made by the ranger. It was resolved to recommend that a timber license for four years lie granted to B. Speight of part section 9, Block 7, Oliura. The Board decided that it did not see its way to grant W. J. Coventry's renewed application for access to section 21, block 15, Aria, by opening a road through section 27. The Public Works Department and the Olnira County advised that there was no objection to disposing of part of the Waifcangata road reserve, ap-

plied for by T. Agang, and the Board accordingly decided to dispose of it to the applicant, subsequent to the necessary steps being taken to close that part of the road. With regard to A. Williams' application for a section of Crown laud, adjoining his section—section 2, block 11, Totoro—it was decided to inform the applicant that the Board intended to put up the land to public competition, and that in any case he could not obtain more than about 30 acres. A lease was issued to G. F. Bonfield, selector of section 31, block 1, Tangitu. Subject to the ranger's supervision, the Ohura County Council was empowered to take timber from the Matiere township reserve. J. J. Peacock's application for part of the Taranui block, adjoining bis land—section 4, block 16, Aria—was refused. Mr E. Tolme, Crown lands ranger, reported that J. Carter had been residing on section 2, block 11, Aria, for some time past.—The Board decided that the position was satisfactory. Mr Twiss reported that Mrs 1). IT. Wille was not residing on section 6, block 11, Ohura, and the Board resolved that she be given six months in which to either take up her rrrrden'co or transfer her interests.

Upon Mr Kennedy drawing attention to the matter, it was decided to request the Public Works Department to refrain from causing any unnecessary damage to the forest on section 84, block 10, Pouatu.

Following on, the report of the ranger, it was decided that access be given to section 9, block 7, Obura, held by J. H. Anderson, through part section 10, subject to applicant giving a, piece of land in exchange. Mr E. A. Meredith, assistant Crown lands ranger, reported on the position of three settlers non-resident on sctions in the Tangitu district, and the Board accordingly decided that 11. F. Beautrais' section be forfeited, that P. 0. D. A. Guinan be granted one month's extension of time, and that no action be taken in the meantime in regard to S. F. S. R. Glentworth. Accrued Thirds. Proposals for the expenditure of accrued thirds were dealt with as follows : A. Barnett, on behalf of L. R. Whitaker, applied'for thirds from section 2, block 9, Aria, to be spent or: Pura road—The Board resolved that ii could not see its way to depart fron its former decision.

Ranger E. Tolme reported on the inspection of 18 holdings, on which the improvements required were £1057, while those actually effected amounted to £8991. None of the selectors were in default for resi- - donee or improvements. L\ Teed's application to purchase a closed part of Holsworthy road, adjoining part section 2-1, Grey district, was deferred pending certain matters. J. O'Donovan applied for a renewable lease of part section 1, block 11 Waro. but the Board revived that it could not offer him any tenancy but a yearly one. Defaulting Selectors, Cases of settlers who had nit romplied with the conditions of residence and improvements were dealt with as follows: —H. Bryson, section 2, block 3, Malioe, residence; three months' further extension. J), and J. Brosman, section 2, block 7, Mimi, residence; deferred for further inquiry by the ranger. F. E. Leech, seetb.n 4, block 12, Aria, residence; deferred for further inquiry by the ranger. A New Survey. The Commissioner submitted a scheme of section being surveyed for settlement in the Whakaihuwaka north block, Taurakawa survey district, blocks 2,3, and 4, which met with the Board's 'approval. Education Reserves. The following transactions in Education Board reserves were approved: —J. Nally to J. Weyburne, part section 10, Manganui district; C. E. Kelly to A. W. and A. Kemp, section 4, block 13, Waro, conditionally approved. L. Lloyd renewed his application for access to section 9, block 3, Aria.— It was. decided to inform him that action was already being taken in the matter. This concluded the business.