Land Board Enquiry.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4809, 27 August 1894, Page 3

Land Board Enquiry.

(By Telegraph. -Press Association) Weluxotox. Monday, A special meeting of the Land Board was hold at noon to-day, to enquire under the 50th section of the Land Act, as to whether the conditions of two perpetual leases, held in the Makuri Survey District, one by Mrs Shaman and one by Mrs Arnot, had been fulfilled. Mr Skerrctt appeared for the Crown and Mr Gray for Mrs Sliarraan, whose case was taken first. All witnesses were ordered out of room. Mrs Sliarman was examined by Mr Skorrott, and stated that in tlio latter part of 1889, she took up section 13, Block XIII, Makuri Survey District, She never resided on it, or improved it, and in 1890, she sold tho land to Mrs Arnot, Early in 1890, Mr Donald asked her what she wns prepared to take for the section, and she said she would accept£loo. This offer was closed with, and the money paid over in Mr Richmond's office in Pahiatua. Thereafter sho ceased to have any interest in the section. She had two other offers, besides that of Mr Donald's. She did not know at the time she sold the land, that she was powerless to transfer without the consent of the Land Board, By Mr Gray: She had onlycomo out from England just before the land was taken up. She had some means, and with her husband intended to take up land to cultivate it, At Mr Horace Baker's suggestion, she applied for section 13, and got it. Her application was a bom fide one, and she was always under the impression that Mr Donald was acquiring land for his sister, Mrs Arnot, Her husband was advised by a solicitor at Palliatua, that she could transfer tho land without tho Board's permission.

I Geo. A. Sbarman said his wifo had paid the first half year's rent, with her application for the section, He had other offers, other than that of Mr Donald Donald for the purchase of the section. An adjoining proprietor, Mi'Tyleo,hadma(lea6<Mfl jik application to purchase, before Mr Donald made his offer, At the first interview with Mr Donald, tho latter said he was negotiating for his sister, and witness understood he was acting as agent for her, Ho could not remomber whose name was. attached to. the cheque ot £IOO, given' in payment for tho section. Ho beard afterwards—but not from Donald—that improvements wero being effected on the section, Ho was not awavo that the Board's sanction had to be given to

0 atvansfor, Finding that they wer , likely to bo a/ittle abort of cash, hi 1 and his wifo decided not to improve l He did not know anything about tin b provisions of the Lund Act. 1 By Mr . Skerrett: Ho did no recollect any conversation with Mi Stewart, of Pahiatua, in which Ik told the latter lie had sold his see tion. Ho had'no reason to beliovi that Donald was tho purchaser and not Mrs Arnot. Witness had acted in a bona fide way throughout, By Mr Hogg: Ho had never seer Mrs Arnot with regard to this transaction. Ho know Mrs Arnot lived at Masterton, At 1 p,m the Board ndjoiirnocl till 1 2 p.m. Tho case is likely to last 2 or 3 days.