LAND BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 88, 16 April 1902, Page 2

LAND BOARD.

The Board met on Monday. -Present: The Commissioner (Mr Jas. Mackenzie) in the chair, Messrs Heslop, Rattenbuiy and Connett. The re-appointtnent of Mr John Heslop as a member of the Board was notified by the Surveyer-General. The following applications to transfor were granted :—W. H. Murcott to T. E. Garland, section 12, block 12, | Waitara; Houlihan and Neilsen to P. J. Houlihan, sections 22, 23, blook 4, Ocaona; J. Gibsop to ~H, McNigh-, section 18, block" 11, Ngaire. Tne following transfers were agreed to subject, to restrictions as to the B>ard being satisfied that conditions bave been complied with:—T. Bolder to H. L, Jeffreys-Bryant, s-ction 7, block 4, Omoua ; E. 0. A. Jones ta W. J. Rjbt) and VS. J. Davidson, section 30, n'ook 11, Opunaka ;E. Nops 6)L. L. Diri.eil, sec Lion 6, block G, E^raont, The following applications to transfer were considered:—rW. J. Wright: to H. T. Joil, section 3 ; W. Bayly to W. T. Jolt, section 5; W. Bayly to A. Joll, sectionß; W. Bayly to'A. ai-d M. J. Joll, suction 6, all in block 7, Miiui; and Mary Bayly to A. and M. Joll, suction 9, blook 11, Mimi,—On the motion of Mr Heslop, seconded by Mr Connett, it was resolved, that t.s Mr H. T. Joll has not held his present selection for three y*ars as required bylaw, the Board regress it canmfc agree to the application, as it recognises that Mr Joll is a good settler and should be assisted to increase his holding. Mr Connett moved that in the i applications of Walter-aud Mary Bayly, as they have not complied with tho ! conditions of persanil residence the B >!ir<! eaucoo sau it* way to grant the transfers. Sacocded by Mr Rsttenbmy and carried. At u c.ubsequea'; stage Mr Standish appeared ior Mr and Mrs Bayly and Mr Wfeston for Messrs Joll. (JbMiderable discussion ensued as to tb« ruling j of the Board and the interpretation t» be placed on the meaning of "residence" as laid down by the Land Act. The Commissioner slated that " residence " must be bona fide, and not casual, and th&t the Board would insist on the spirit of the Act being carried' out. From tho evidence the Board considered the " r*sid«.nce" requirements had been complied with ; but ic would be pleased to consider any further evideic.ee en appeal. Eventually an appeal was lodged, and will be considered at the next j meeting of the Board, The Ranger's report haying been j read, the application of L. 8. Obaare to transfer sections 1 and 4, block 8, \ Ngaire, to L. N. Fairhall was agreed jto.

The Board agr»ed to the following applications for transfer of temporary 3e;ses: —R. Biplfy to J. Carter, subdivision 31, Elthnm-Opuaako Railway Rsserv<>; A. Robertson to R. Gibs :>», sub-division 17, ISltharu-Opunaku Railway Restive. Several applications for permission to mortgage '-vera with. The appeal of Miss E. 0. Bps*; n transfer of section 7, biook 2, Upper Waitara, to J. Wilson was again cobflidered. Mr R. Spen.-e, solicitor, | waited on tbe Beard in support of the 1 appeal. Mr Hoslop moved that in view of the circumstances of the case, and having heard the evidence of the applicant (through her solicitor), tibn Board ! agree to the transfer - Seconded by Mr ! Rattenbury, and carried, the Oomnnis- ■ siooer dissenting. ' Isabella Boddie applied for exemption from personal residenceTra section 18, block 12, Ngaire, as she lives on '•section 14, leased by her huobmd.— Agreed to, so long as applicant coni tinues to reside on section 14. I The application of F. Biker to grant ! a right-of-way over section 3, block 12, Waitara, to give access to lauds at the back, was left in the hands of ibe I Commissioner, ( Leave of absenca for three months | was granted to A. Carman, who exp'ained .that he was building a dw«llj iog-house on section 3, block 6, Opaku, to comply with conditions imposed. The surveyor's report on the subdivision of section 2, block 11, and sections 16, block 8, and 7, block 12, [Mimi, was adopted, with some slight i amendments. W. Van Asch's application to surrender section 1, block 1, Kapara, was agreed to, subject tj his paying up arrears, etc. John Groves applied to dedicate half an acre of section 68, block 14, Pouatu, for a public ball site, was agreed to, all parties being agreeable and a survey being suppliad. 1 The Surveyor-General advissd that I there is no power to enable the free-1 hold of an occupation license under tbe | •Land Act, 1892, to be obtained until ten years from the date thereof. A plan of the road taken through section 2, block 15, Upper Waitara, j held on' 0.r.p., by Mrs 0. E. Sattler, : was laid on the table. —The amendment of area set out was agreed to, and ! the license will he amended accordingly. , The Ranger reported upon the appli- ! cation of A. Hunter to pub-let section 6, block 5, Kapara, to J. W. Grimes.— Mr Halliwell, solicitor, Hawer.i, ap-

peared in suppjrt of the application. He also asked for leave of absence for Grime?, who had gone to South Africa with the E'ghth Contingent, —Thu application was agreed to, and twelve montl.s leive of absence granted to Grimes.

The application of Mrs Riwfiiron to transfer parts of sections 12, 18, block

3, Omotia, to Wo, McLacbhn was again considered, Messrs T. Sbaikr Weston, solicitor, aud McLachlah ap-.

pearing in support. After the Board had fully discussed' the matter the Chairman moved that the application bs ancadcd to osly in the cast of section 12, wharo residence is not due.

Ssconded pro forma by Mr Heslop. ■ Mr Counatt moved an amendment, that the application to transfer both sections be agreed to, and in consider-

ation of the fact that the transferee is a bona fide ssttler the non-rssidenca of the transferor for five months iu this instance ba waived

Seconded by Mr Ruttsnbury, The amendment was cirried, only the Commissioner voting agaiont ir.. R. Barrett, applied to select section 37, block 3, Ohura, as an addition to his holding.—Agreed to.

A schedule of arrears of rent was laid on tho table, showing that although the number originally owing had been reduced since 14th February from 224 to 88, there is still a largo amount of money owing. ,

The Commissioner referred to thu 'lVkaora Settlement. Tenders had been called for thu purchase or removal of buildings on the homestead Motion, One tender had be->n received for removal aud re-erection of the stable and woolshed as homestead buildings on

t.bei - vac «' t i-et'.tious. Tbe Coromiss'o >er wa« empowered to deal with the vncant seitiocs, by ad justcaent of areas and rentals 88 may se»m to him necessary. A pr ivisior.al plan and schedules of prices J about 26,000 acres of land in tha Oburu and Aria survey districts was laid on tbe table, _ i It was resolved that tha ComtnHsioner take steps to place tbe is. fid in the market at the eariiunt possible j date. He was also authorised to &o!ect the nece?fary reserves for primary ' education and forest preservation. I The Board then "'j'mrned.