Oct. 13.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1307

VILLAGE-SETTLEMENT LAND FOR CASH.

DESCRIPTION OF SECTIONS.

The sections in Blocks XII., XV., and XVI., Tiriraukawa, form part of the Otairi Block, about seven and twenty-three miles north of Hunter ville and Marton respectively, on or adjacent to the Marton-Murimotu Road and the track made by the Public Works Department from Pokiore to the Rangitikei River. The country is generally of a hilly broken character, with flats and undulating land on some of the sections; the soil on the flats is generally fair or good, but on the hills it varies from poor to fair quality; the forest comprises generally birch on the hills, rata, rimu, kahikatea, &c., on the flats, and the ordinary undergrowth of scrub; there is some totara on Section 9 of Block XVI. Except where fronting the Rangitikei and Porewa, the sections are only watered by small streams, which are not permanent. The Marton-Te Awamutu North Island Trunk Railway has been surveyed through the eastern portion of the block. When cleared and grassed, the sections would be classed generally as fair pastoral lands.

The sections in Blocks III., IV., and VII., Apiti, form a portion of the Otamakapua Block, adjacent to the Pemberton Special Settlement, about twenty-seven to thirty-six miles from Feilding; access is by the Kimbolton Road extension, which is opened for horse-traffic to Rangiwahia within about two miles of the sections. The area comprises generally hilly country, with flats on Sections 10 and 43; the soil varies from fair to very good; the forest consists of rimu, matai, maire, tawhero, &c., and usual undergrowth; the sections are intersected by small streams. The country, though of considerable elevation above sea-level, would, when cleared, be classed as good pastoral land.

The small runs in the Ngamatea and Mangawhero Districts are part of the Maungakaretu Block, and are situated about eight miles from Mangamahu and about thirty-six miles from Wanganui, fronting upon Hale's, Wanganui-Murimotu Road. The block comprises hills and spurs, with flats in the Wangaehu Valley, some of which are of large extent; the soil is generally good, and of a loamy character; the area is covered chiefly with mixed scrub, such as karamu, konini, koromiko, akeake, and rangiora, with patches of mixed forest-trees, such as rata, rimu, &c.; there are totara-trees in places. The runs are generally well watered. The cost of clearing would, on the whole, be light, and the lands, when cleared, would make capital grazing country.

CONDITIONS.

Deferred-payment Rural Sections.

Terms of Payment: With the applications for deferred-payment sections one-twentieth of the upset price must be paid in cash, or by bank draft, or marked cheque, also £1 1s. license-fee; the balance of the purchase-money in half-yearly instalments extending over ten years.

Where more applications than one are made on the same day for the same land, the land applied for shall be put up to public competition by tender limited to the applicants. If there be only one tenderer for any allotment he shall be entitled to the land at the upset price, notwithstanding that his tender may have been for a higher price.

Perpetual Lease.

Any person of seventeen years of age and upwards may become a lessee under this system. In the event of any person tendering for two or more leases the deposit of a sum equal to one half-year's rent of the tender largest in amount shall be sufficient, together with the sum of £1 10s. to pay for the lease and registration thereof, paid either in cash, marked cheque, or bank draft, made payable to the Receiver of Land Revenue, Wellington: Provided that in the case of a person tendering for two or more leases, such as he may in the aggregate become the lessee of under the Act, namely, in the case where the lands comprised in the several leases adjoin each other, in such case the deposit shall be a half-year's rent at the rate tendered for each such lease, and also the sum of £1 10s. in respect of each such lease, the fee for preparation and registration of same.

Any lessee who has fulfilled all conditions of improvements within six years can acquire the freehold of his lease on payment of the capital value, provided the payment is made within twelve years of the commencement of the lease.

NOTE.—Limits of area for each lessee: No lease shall be made to any person owning, nor shall any person be capable of becoming the lessee under a lease, or a sublessee, who owns any freehold land, or land held under lease or license under the Crown whereby such person shall become either the owner, tenant, or occupier in the whole, either by him-self or jointly with any other person or persons, including the lands comprised in the lease, of a greater area than 640 acres anywhere in the colony.

The numbers of the section and block, with the name of district, must be written on the covers. The letter being on "Public Service only," and addressed to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, need not be stamped, being free of postage; neither does the declaration require to be stamped.

Small Runs.

The leases will be for an absolute term of twenty-one years, renewable for a further term of twenty-one years, in terms of section 209 of "The Land Act, 1885."

Improvements equal in value to one year's rent must be effected in each year for the first two years; and before the end of the sixth year an additional amount, equal to two years' rent, must also be expended.

Valuations for permanent improvements, as prescribed in sections 210 and 214 of "The Land Act, 1885," will be paid at the expiry of the leases to the outgoing tenants.

No person can take up more than one run. No person who owns freehold land, or land under lease or license from the Crown which in all would exceed 6,000 acres, or who is incapable of making the declaration prescribed by section 200 of "The Land Act, 1885," can become a lessee.

Cash Village Settlement.

The total price of the purchase-money and also the Crown-grant fee of £1 to be paid on the fall of the hammer.

Government Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations, Wellington, for the month of September, 1887. Altitude above the sea, 140 feet. Observations taken at 9.30 a.m.

SEPTEMBER.

Date
Barometer reduced and corrected, in inches.
From Self-registering Instruments, for Twenty-four Hours previously.
Amount of Cloud, 0 to 10.
Direction of Wind.
Max. Temp. in shade.
Min. Temp. in shade.
Mean Temp. in shade.
Solar Radiation.
Terrestrial Radiation.
Rainfall, in inches.
Velocity of Wind, in Miles.

[Large meteorological table with numerical data - transcribing labels only]

REMARKS.

September.—Very showery changeable weather throughout the month; at times bright, but frequent showers, the maximum rain recorded on 28th, 70in.; prevailing southerly and N.W. winds, and strong on five days from latter quarter; thunder on 2nd, and lightning on 4th and 11th; hail on 14th and 30th, and snow on hills on 30th. Maximum temperature in shade, 63°; minimum, 37.5°. Mean temperature of dewpoint, 43.1°. Mean humidity, 78.

R. B. GORE,
Observer.