FORFEITED LAND HOLDINGS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4179, 30 July 1892, Page 2

FORFEITED LAND HOLDINGS.

Whose are the Improvements?

A special meeting of the Wellington Land Board was held yesterday morning for the purpose of deciding whether or not it should reconsider the resolution passed recently, forfeiting the Improvements aa well as the interests of M. K. Samuel and W. I, Nathan in land held by them in the Hauraugi District. There were present Messrs Baker (Commissioner), Hogg, M'Curdle, Fitzharbert. and T. W. Fisher,

Mr T. W. Hielop, on behalf of Messrs Samuel and Nathan, subs mitted that clauses G6 and 57 of the Land Act gave the Board a discretionary power to recommend that the value of the improvements he paid back! to the lessees, after deduotion of the necessary expenses. The Commissioner thought the Board had made a sufficiently strong recommendation in tba matter, and could go no further. Messrs Hogg, McOardle, and Fitzherbort disagreed with the Commissioner, and were of opinion tbat the Aot gave the Board power to determine whether or not the value of the improvements ought to be refunded, Itss expenses incurred.

Mr Hogg submitted the following motion;—" Having referred to clause 67 of the Land Aet, 1885, the Board now resolves to give efl'cct to the powers contained therein, and decides that the valuation of the whole of the improvements shall be handed over to tbe selectors of the forfeited lands, less any expenses involved." Tile Commissioner —We can't pass that without re-opening the whole case.

Mr Hogg- I think the Board is quite competent to decide the matter as it thiokß lit.

Mr McOardle seconded the resolution, He was sorry te differ frou> the Commissioner. If he had seen the clauses of the Act referred to at the time tbe case was before the Board, he certainly would have movftd in the direction Mr Hogg waß now doing. He believed tbat it was never intended to inflict any unnecessary hardship on thrse persons, Tbe Commissioner said he was adverse to opening the matter in any shape or form. Mr Fitzberbert thought with Mr McOardle that the desire of the Board vihen the previous resolution was passed was to-let the offenders down as easily as possible, Mr Hogg remarked that he thought the Commissioner was of the same opinion then.

The Commissioner—N 0,1 was not, I don't thiok the clauses named gave absolute power to tbe Board. Mr Hogg's resolution was then put and carried, the Commissioner and Mc Fisher dissenting.