WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3105, 30 January 1909, Page 7

WELLINGTON LAND BOARD.

At the monthly meeting of the Wellington District Land Board, which was held on Thursday last, the Crown Lands Commissioner, Mr .James Mackenzie, presided, and .Messrs A. Reese, J. Dawson, J. M. A'Court. and C. J. Canton were ■ also present. The Board approved of an application for the issue of a title in respect to the following land:—Section 2, block 10, Mount Cerberus, 200 acres, H. K. Poole. jßeports from the appraiser appointed by the Board were received respecting the undermentioned lands, and it was resolved to advise the lessees of the respective valuations fixed by him:—Section 27, Pongaroa Village Settlement; James Macdonald; section 29, Pongaroa Village Sittlemen, Alex. Macdonald. Applications for transfer of the following lands were granted on the usual conditions:—Section 5, block 14, Manganui, 200 acres. E. M. Paterson to J. Alosen; section 61, Pahiatua Village Settlement, 33J acres. V. Netralick to M. Libeau; section 6, Oraukura Village Settlement, 90J acres, G. H. Neshausen to B. McFarlane (provided transferee is unmarried) ; section 77, Mangaramararna Village Settlement, 19 acres, E. Harvey (deceased) to S. Le Comte (subject to completion of conversion) ; section 44, block 7, Tararua, 200 ' acres. E. A, Eads to H. Ticehurst; section 7, block 11, Huangarua, 52231 acres, A. L. Johnson to A. Sharp (provided transferee is eligible and suitable); sectiuns 17

and 19, block 6, Puketoi, 50 acres, A. Owen to T. A Burling; section 12, block, Tararua, 200 acres, J. Beech to H. Taylor; section 9, block 15, Tiffin, 7 acres, A. Hughan to R. A. Renall; section 1, block 5, Hamua, 804 acres, C. J. Anderson to 0. J. Anderson and A. E. Anderson. The Board resolved to approve of the conversion of section 77, Mangaramarama, to the Public Trustee in the estate of Mrs E. Harvey. The following sub-leases was approved:—Part 11 of section 8, block 14, Mangahao, 16f acres, J. Croft to P. Lawson (provided sub-lessee is not holder of section 52, Hukanui Village Settlement). A further report was received from the Crown Lands Ranger With reference to the non-compliance with the Act by Mr John A. Ennis, lessee of section 2, block 2, Ruahine, 2,510 acres. The Commissioner advised the Board that Mr Ennis took up tnis large area of land in October, 1906, under the Bush and Swamp Act, which allowed him exemption from payment of rent to October 31st, 1910, and that hitherto Mr Ennis had been unable to effect any improvements on the section, or to take up his residence thereon. It appeared doubtful, whether he has or ever had sjffieient mepns to work such a large block satisfactorily, and it was doubtful whether he would be able to proceed with the improvements within a reasonable time. The question for the Board to consider therefore, was whether this large area of land should be locked up for a longer period, Mr Ennis having held it for three and a-half years without any result. The Boaid, after full and careful

consideration, resolved that all the ' circumstances of the case, the most advisable action to take would be to relieve Mr Ennis of his liabilities in connection with the land, and therefore decided to call upon him to show cause why his interest in the section should not be determined. The Commissioner reported that Mr T. McLean, lessee of section 10, Pongaroa subs. 5J acres, had not replied to the Board's notice calling upon him to show cause why his interest should not be declared forfeited for non-compliance with the conditions of the lease, and i L was resolved to declare his intens 1 . forfeited. A report was received from the Crown Lands Ranger on the Nireaha Village Settlement, from, which it appeared that improvements to the value of £534 7s 9d were required to comply with the conditions, whilst improvements to the value of £1,446 5s had actually been effected, being a surplus of £9ll 17s 3rl over requirements. Three selectors had not complied with thß improvement conditions. Residence had not yet fallen due, and only two .selectors were residing. It was resolved to consider the report satisfactory with the exception of the reference to those who had failed to carry out the conditions. They are to be called upon to do so at once. ' A letter from Mr F. L. Fulcher, lessee of section 15, block 9, Mount Cerberus, Pongaroa Village Settlement, 100 acres, stated that he proposed moving on to the section early next month, and ic was resolved to accept this as satisfactory in the meantime. —"New Zealand Times."