OTOROHANGA.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 64, 24 November 1911, Page 3

OTOROHANGA.

(Own Correspondent).

A deputation of from -12 to 15 persons who took up sections at the land sale in Otorohanga last June, recently waited upon Mr Bowler the president of the Maniapoto Land Board. The deputation stated that they had bought sections at the Board's sale and most of them had signed the forms of lease, but had later discovered that the terms and conditions were not as agreed upon." In some cases loans had been applied for to enable homes to,be built, but applications were refused on account of the lease not providing compensation. They understood that instructions had been given to have new forms of lease printed with the compensation clause. The lessees had also paid their first six months rental, and there was another payment due very soon, and as they had not yet received a proper title and could not deal with the sections; nor proceed with any building they considered that they ought not to have to pav rent until they had a proper title to their sections. Mr Bowler, the president, in reply stated that the Board Was quite satisfied the leases did not have the conditions in them that they should have, and as soon as he found this out he had written to Wellington about the matter. " The leases provided for the recurrent right of renewal at the end of each 21 years, but did not provide for compensation. He had just received a draft of the form of lease, which was now being printed, and they would probably be ready in two or three weeks. He only knew of two who had applied for, and been refused loans for building on their sections. It was here pointed out, that when it was known that loans could not be raised the •lessees would not apply. Mr Bowler said the Board would not be hard to deal with, and if anyone had suffered hardships, and would put their case into writing, he would bring it before the Board for favourable consideration. The deputation then thanked Mr Bowler and withdrew.