Land Board.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 298, 21 December 1904, Page 3

Land Board.

The Land Board met on Tuesday. There were, present : The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr P. Simpson) and Messrs Ralienbury, Connett, and McCluggage. —Land Applied For.— Tho land applied tor since last meeting was reported as follows : Section 12, block 18, Mirni, 620 acres, John Davidson, o.r.p. ; section 11, block 13, Clini, 3)95 acres, A. W. Davidson, o.r.p.—Approved.

Schedules Confirmed.— The schedules of sections in town of Mangaroa, villages of Tatu, Matire, and Aria, disposed of at public auction on November 23rd, were confirmed. —Transfers Approved.— Transfers were approved as follows:—J. T. Morrell and A. Lyford to J. T. 3|forrell, section 3, block 6, Ohtira ; K. Avery, to Elizabeth Clark, iicction 7, block 5, Ohjira ; Jas. Sexton to J. E. Young, sections 25 and 126, block 3, Omona , Eliza Sexton to J. E. Young, section 19, block 4, Omona ; rW. Huzzitt to H. E. Speck, section 26, block 5, Ngatimaru ; E. W. and W. J. Speck to C. H. Speck", sections <5 and 6, block 5, (Ngatimaru ; C. Ritter to A. Naughton, section 85, block 'lO, Ngairc ; E. O'Meara to J. C. Read, sections 1 and 12, block lOj Town pf Opunake ; R. and J. Findlay to A. C. Burr, section 11, block 6, Ngatimaru ; R. and R. C. Findlay to A. C. Burr, sections 11 and 32, block 6, Ngatimaru ; J. C. Brown to A. 0. Burr, section 30, block 6, Ngatimaru.

—S uMease G ranted . The application. of P. O'Connor, Deal., , td[ sub-let section 15, block 15, Ngatimaru, to G. E. Noble was again considered, when a letter from Messrs Malone, McVeagh, and Anderson .was read, stating that Mr Noble is not at present able to purchase; the goodwill of the lease.

It was resolved that the sublease Ibe approvWi, and that Vr Noble be informed that he must comply with the .condition- of personal residence lor the remainder of the term of - compulsory residence, viz., 1 three years. —Mortgages.— - Ttiree mortgages were submitted tor consent and approved. —Notice of Forfeiture.— The* Under Secretary! of Crown Lands advised that the Government has decided that no notice is to be given to any Crown tenant that forfeiture of bis Bectioo will take place . unless Buch notice is first sanctioned by the Minister for Lands.—Received. —Land Act Schedules.— The 'Under Secretary forwarded the opinion of the, Solicitor-General to the effect that the provisions of section 97, of the Land Act, 1892, relating to the power of a director, Attorney, or agent of a company to make " any of the declarations referred to in the schedule A thereto" should be considered as applying to all the schedules of the act. —Grouping of Sections.—

Chas. Dickie wrote protesting a~ gainst a portion of section 3, block 12, Opaku, i.ou section 15, being grouped with sections 1, block 8, and 10, block I|2, Opaku, when reoffered. Mr McUluggagc moved that the board sees no reason to alter its decision in the matter. This was seconded by Mr Connett and carried. . It was also resolved that the Western boundary of section IS be extended to section 4, so as to include the whole of the clearing, and that the section include the closed road and the portion severed by the MaJtarmoana Road deviation. —Valuation.— The Under Secretary of Crown TLands advised that it has been decided that a of section 1, Hoc'k 1. Kapara, occupied by .Mr Van Aseh, and of the adjoining Crown lamls, be made by an indeipendent ■ valuer.—Received. It was resolved that Mt Van Asch ibe allowed to remain in possession ■cm a monthly tenancy upon payment ►of .a rental at the rate of £4O per tannuni..

Mr Burgess, who holds a lease ot section 75, block (3, Ngaire, expiring in August,' 1906, asked that a valuation of bis improvements be made now, ami the board decide in what manner the land should he disposed of, prior to his leaving the colony next March. He claimed that as he pas the prior holder of the adjoining Jand he should have the flrut chance of making application for it. It was decided to reply that the board 'has no power to grant the request. —Leave of Absence.— Chas. Houston applied for twelve months' leave of absence from sections 4, block 9, Hawera, and 100, blocli 8, Waimate, owing to his being) ordered away on account of ill health.

The matter was left in the hands of the Commissioner.

—Bequest Granted.— The board approved of the Commissioner's action in regard to Mr £. Hnloney's request for leave to live on railway reserve adjoining section 2, block 10, Ohura, until the removal of bis house on to section S, block 2, Heno. —Leave Refused.— R. J. Morey wrote giving reasons (or non-residence on sections 17, block 5, Egmont, and 9, block 7, Cape, and applied for the rent to be remitted until he has access thereto. The board decided that it had no power to remit the rent, hut will grant twelve months' leave of absence. —Removal of Timber.— Mr Arthur Van Asch applied for permission to take timber from Rawhitiroa Block' for building a new bouse on his .section at Taumutatafri-

Leave was granted to take 10,000 superficial feet of timber on payment of the usual, royalty and subject to the inspection of the Crown lands ranger. —Arrears of Rent.— ; It was resolved that failing arrangements being made before next meeting the board will take action in connection with overdue rent on section 3, block 6, Opaku. —Road Deviation.— The report of the ranger on the application of C. Dickie lor part section H, block 12, Ojriiku, left by the Mataiiinoana Road deviation was read, together with a lc J ;ter from Mr 'J. Heslop on the same subject. It .was decided to take no further action as the matter had already been dealt with in a former resolution. On the motion of Mr Rattenbur.v, seconded by Mr McCluggagc, Mr Dickie s license of section 5, block 12, Opaku, was amended to include the closed portion of the Mataimoana Road, now known as section 14, block 12, Opaku. —Deferred.— Consideration of t.ho ranger's report on section 4, block 1, Mahne, was deferred pending further particulars being furnished. —Banger's Reports.— The ranger reported hav : nK resumed possessi". n small graying run 5, Opaku, and submitted suggestions tor re-offering the same for sub-division. The report was adopted, the land to be offered under the Land Act, 1892, weighted with the valuations for improvements. The ranger , also reported on the resumption of the following forfeited sections: Section 6,block 1, Opaku ; sections 1, block 8, and 10, block 12, Opaku. The land in block 1 will be reoSered, Classed as heavy bush land, and that in blocks 8 and 12 will b» included in the sections to be valued by the Government Valuer. —Sawmill License.— The application of Messrs Deby Bros, for a sawmill license of section % block >9; Ngatimaru, and for permission to cut timber from the sec£fyns in Huiroa Township was again .«wsider<ri. ; ' . ft was decided that a lease of tire

section be granted for the term of five years, upon payment of a rental of Is per acre per annum ; that the timber removed therefrom be paid for at the usual royalty ; that they also be permitted to remove the timber from other Crown lands in the township at the same royalty, the books of the mill to be open for inspection by the ranger. —Year to Year Loase.—

Mr C. E. Golding was granted a year to year lease of section 10, block 0, Town of Huirou, at a rental to be fixed by the Commissioner and ranger. —Trees to be Felled.— Permission was granted to Mr P. O'Brien to fell timber on section 6, block 3, Town of Huiroa, and to fell trees overhanging the boundaries of sections 4 and; 16. —The Freehold.— Applications for the freehold were granted as follows : Wm. HuzzitT, section 8, block 9, Ngatimaru ; G. E. Meads, section 28, block 16, Egmont.

—BickcrstaHe Settlement.— A memo was read from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, drawing attention to the provision of section 6 of the Land for Settlement Act Amendment Act, 1904, wherein any applicant can elect to be examined by the I,and Board of the district in which he or she is resident, and asking' that any applicants for the Hickerdtaffe Setslement be so dealt with.

The Commissioner was empowered to give effect to the request. — l "Thirds and Fourths."— The Under Secretary of Crown Lands drew attention to the provisions of section 6 of tho Public Works Amendment Act", 1904, wherein local bodies neglecting to make proposals for expenditure of "thirds" and "fourths" for eighteen months after they have been notified of the amount available, the Minister for Public Works may give the local authorities six months to put in hand such works as the Land Board may direct, and failing that the Minister may expend such moneys.

It was resolved to draw the attention of local bodies to the provisions of the act. —Residence Requirements.— The report of Mr John Barron, Crown lands ranger, on 47. holdings, comprising 17,334 acres, showed that the requirements amounted to £6769. The improvements effeoted were valued at £14,351. Of the 33 requirid to reside 13 tenants wert non-resident, one was defitient in improvements, art! was also non-re-sident, and two had not (fleeted su* ficient improvements. A similar report by tfr J. Thurs!on, assistant ranger, .-in 21 holdings, comprising 8928 acres, showed that the requirements were £I2OB, the value effected £831]3, and of 15 required to reside two were in default.

The reports were adopted, and where necessary defaulters will be required to show cause why they had not complied with requirements. —Request Refused.—

A letter was read from Mr Winmill asking that instead of only 50. acres being allowed him from section 22, block) 4, Ngatimaru, he should have more frontage, embracing over half the area of tire section, which is 305 acres, The board decided to adhere to its previous resolution, —No Road Access.— Mr Geo. Stockwell asked the hoard to consider his case in regard to his having no road access to section 3, jlock 9, Pouatu, upon which he has resided for over three years and t*fi'ected £3OO worth of improvements. It was decided to forward the letter to the Government, with a recommendation that some steps be taken to afford relief.

—Expenditure of Thirds.— | The following local bodies submitted proposals for expenditure of accrued thirds and fourths :—Clifton County Council, £707 16s Id ; Egmont County Council, £3 10s 7d ; Stratford County Council, £4305 18s 3d.

The expenditure was agreed to, as was that proposed to be spent by the district road engineer, upon details being supplied. The Stratford Council is to be notified to make the proposals with regard, to the money for the roads voted by the Government before n?xt meeting of the board, or the latter will take action as provided in section 6 of the Public Works Act Amendment Act, 1904. —Suburban SectionsPlans and schedules of suburban ections in Aria village were sub•nitted, and referred back to the surveyor for further information. —Certificates.—

The Commissioner informed the board that he had given a certificate as to lands in blocks 4, Ohura, i, 6, 7, 8, and 10, Waro S.D., being coal-hearing, which the board in Jctober last resolvnd to open under ijart 3 of the Laud Act, 1892. The ffect of the certificate will be that -he lands must be opened for lease n perpetuity only. —Transfer Recommended.— Mrs E. Williams, on 'behalf of her lusband, who is absent from the colony, applied to transfer section 103, block 4, l'aritutu, to Elizabeth riart. The Minister for Lands will be recommended to approve the transfer. —Payment for Improvements.— The Commissioner was empowered to act in tihe inafter of payment to A. Spalding, as outgoing tenant, of valuation for improvements on secion lIJ, block 4, Mirni, formerly part sections 10 and 11.