LAND BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 716, 12 January 1903, Page 1

LAND BOARD.

The quarterly meeting of tho Band Board was held on Saturday. The Commissioner (Mr E. Gold-Smith) and Messrs G. Hall and G. Matthowson wore present.

The following correspondence was dealt with :

From Mr James Kruse, applying to make freehold section 2, block 4, Ngatapa S.D., which had been held for ten years under occupation with right of purchase. Although Mr Kruse was in possession, the rent did not commence until the land had been surveyed, and therefore the ten years were not up. The secretary stated it was the first application which had come before the Land Boards in the colony since the occupation with right to purchase had come into operation, as the ten years were only expiring. The Board decided to state the case to tho Crown law officers, with a recommendation that the application be granted. From Mr A. McPhail (Mr DeLautour in support) applying to surrender his miscellaneous lease of sections 22 and 28, block 7, Waimata survey district, and to have the sections put in tho market burdened with his improvements. Refrered to Chief Surveyor for report, if the sections have no special value the Board to recommend that tho land be put up as applied for. From Messrs Grace and O’Brien, applying to have a reserve of ten acres added to their lease of section 6, block 15, Motu survey district. Not to bo doalt with at present. From D. Todd applying to have his lease of sub. 2 of S.G.R. 48a, altered from tho Act of 1892 to that of 1885. Letter received. Mr R. S. Mclverrow, Crown Land Ranger, reported on improvements on miscellaneous loase 809, Whakangiangi, block V, A 1 and V 81, section 4, block IV, Mangaoporo survoy district. The Ranger’s report put a value of 2os an aero on tho land, and Mr Nolan (for tho lessee) urged that as tho surrounding land was valued at 20s, the sections in question should be rated at tho same value.

Mr DeLautour said tho lease would ho surrendered, and tho land would become Crown land pure and simple, and could be put up under tlio optional system, when he would tako his risk of boing loaded with improvements. It was decided by tho Board that tho land should be put up on tho optional system loaded with improvomonts amounting to X 2174. Mr H. Beaufoy'applicd for u tramfor to Mr J. H. and Mrs Emma Bcuufoy, of sections 1,5, and 12, blocks XIV, XV, and XI, Motu survey district. Mr W. Sicvwright appeared in support, and said the transfer of tho land was from tho husbaud to the son and wife. The Commissioners said that in an application under transfer a marriod woman could not boll more than 1000 acres. As a tenant in common she could only hold 1000 acres, while the acreage of tho sections amounted to about 1600.

Mr Sievwright said he could show by authority that Mrs Beaufoy was a tenant in common holding less than 1000 acres under the interpretation of the Land Act. The Land Act must not be strained to subvert the common law. The Commissioner: It appears you want us to strain it.

Mr Sievwright: I only want you to do what is fair and equitable. The Commissioner: We endeavor to do that.

Mr Sievwright held that as a tenant “in common ” Mrs Beaufoy only held half of the land 8S her share. The Board confirmed their former decision that a woman could not hold more than 1000 acres as atenant in common.

Mr F. Bates applied for a reduction of rent on section 14, block VI., at the Willows, stating that the land was not up to his expectations, he having inspected it in the spring, He was paying 23s Od while other sections were only paying 15s lOd.

The Commissioner said that the land at the Willows had been purchased at a high price in the first place. He did not see that the Board could do anything except by adjustment. Mr Bates said it was acknowledged that his section was the dearest at the Willows. Mr Matthewson said that there were plenty of sections at tho Willows worth 25s an acre, but this was one of the unfortunate ones which was over-rated. The Board could not do anything without disturbing the whole position from the beginning. Decided that Board could do nothing for the applicant. Mr A. Kuos waited on the Board in connection with the deepening of a drain on tho Willows estate, Tho matter was reforred to the District Surveyor. Mr McCarthy appeared, stating lie had cleaned out tho drain on his section, but others further down had not done so, which brought about an overt]ow. District Surveyor to attend to matter. Transfers were granted as follows : Messrs M. J. Joblin, sees. 6 and 17, blocks XI. and XV., Nuhaka North ; Mr T. Smith to Mr Harry Biddick, see. 6, block VI., Motu survey district ; Messrs W. H. and H. V. Perry (Mr Nolan) to Mr W. 11. Perry, 5.G.8., 42a ; Mr T. Quin to Mr Thos. Byrne (Mr W. D. Lysnar), sec. 1, block XI., Opoiti survey district. Local bodies’ proposals were approved as follows :—Ngatapa Boad Board, £251 16s 2d ; Ngatapa Boad Board, £92 7s 4d. Mr E. S. McKerrow, Crown lands ranger, reported on 06 holdings in Waiapu and Bast Coast holdings. Mr J. O’Grady wroto stating that when ho took up his section there was an artesian well on it ; it had since gone out of order through the pipes corroding, and ho requested assistance to erect a windmill or sink a new well. Tho Commissioner explained that the Government had already offered a subsidy of £25 to have this work carried out. Messrs Cruikshank and Warren, settlers at Ngatapa, complained that the road to their section had not been commenced. Decided to recommend the Boads Department to push on with the road as soou as possible.