Feb. 22.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 437

Small Grazing-runs in the Canterbury Land District open for Lease on Application.

District Lands and Survey Office,
Christchurch, 1st February, 1900.

NOTICE is hereby given that the under-mentioned small grazing-runs will be open for lease on application at the District Lands and Survey Office, Christchurch, and the local Land Office, Timaru, on Thursday, the 1st March, 1900, at the half-yearly rentals noted below. Runs not applied for on the 1st March, 1900, may be selected at the Land Offices, Timaru and Waimate, up to Thursday, the 8th March, 1900, after which date they will be open at the District Lands and Survey Office, Christchurch.

SCHEDULE.

CANTERBURY LAND DISTRICT.—WAIMATE COUNTY.—ELEPHANT HILL SURVEY DISTRICT.—TAKITU SETTLEMENT.

NOTE.—Messrs. Wait and Burbury, the former owners, have the right to acquire 640 acres of Run No. 85 on lease in perpetuity under section 4 of “The Land for Settlements Act Amendment Act, 1895,” up to 15th February, 1900.

NOTE.—Each section is a run with the exception of Sections 2A and 2B, which together form one run.

• Interest and sinking fund on buildings, valued at £490, repayable in twenty-one years, by half-yearly instalments of £19 2s. 2d. Total half-yearly rent for Run No. 85, £159 12s. 11d.

General Description.

The Takitu Settlement, formerly known as Clarkesfield Estate, was recently acquired from Messrs. Wait and Burbury, and has been subdivided for settlement purposes. It is situated on the Waitaki River, the south-west corner of the settlement being about nine miles and a half from the Hakataramea Railway-station, the south-east corner about nineteen miles from Glenavy, and the north-east corner about nine miles from the Waihao Downs Railway-station.

Station Peak and Mount Parker Estates bound the settlement on the west, Waihaorunga and Elephant Hill on the north, Elephant Hill and Grassy Hills Estates on the east, and the River Waitaki on the south.

There are about 1,000 acres of flat land on the Waitaki, varying from rich to light stony land, well-grassed undulating and rolling downs, and steep rough terraces and gullies. The quality of the soil on the ploughed land is generally good—in places very good—with a fair depth of soil. Some of the ridges are stony. The altitude of Takitu Settlement ranges from about 400 ft. to 2,020 ft. above sea-level.

The climate is mild and bracing, snow rarely lying for more than a few days on the highest parts. The country is well watered: during the summers of 1897 and 1898, probably two of the driest known here, there was ample in the gullies for stock.

The sections are to be disposed of as small grazing-runs, for which they are admirably adapted. A large portion of each has been ploughed and laid down with English grasses, and many of the gullies and spurs of the unploughed portions have been surface-sown with English grasses, which have taken freely.

Excellent crops of rape and turnips have been grown all over the settlement. About 4,400 acres have been ploughed and cultivated; the whole, with the exception of two paddocks, being now in English grass.

Each section is ring-fenced (with the exception of river paddocks and about 23 chains of the northern boundary of Section 1, Block I.), and subdivided into several paddocks with substantial iron fencing.

The improvements generally are of a substantial character; fences in a fair state of repair, and paddocks well laid down.

The property is well roaded, and easily accessible from Waimate, Glenavy, and Hakataramea.

Detailed Descriptions of Runs.

Run No. 81; 2,527 acres 3 roods 36 perches: Pastoral land. Altitude, from about 1,300 ft. to 2,020 ft. above sea-level. Comprises undulating, rolling, and broken downs. About 941 acres have been ploughed and cultivated, and, with the exception of about 240 acres, have been laid down in English grass nine years. About 150 acres of deep black soil; would grow any crop. Of the remainder, or the unploughed portion, part is splendidly grassed with native grasses, and another 500 acres might be ploughed, if thought desirable; it would grow excellent crops of turnips and grass. This run is divided into three paddocks, and, with the exception of about 23 chains of the northern boundary, is well and substantially fenced with rabbit-proof iron and wire fencing, with wooden posts. Distance from Waihao Forks Railway-station, about twelve miles, and a quarter of a mile from school reserve. The improvements, which go with the land, consist of 834 chains of boundary and subdivision fencing, valued at £275 4s. 3d.

Run No. 82; 1,639 acres 2 roods: Pastoral land; rolling and broken downs, and hills intercepted by steep gullies. About 645 acres have been ploughed and laid down in English grass from four to five years, the remainder being well-grassed native pasture, watered by springs in the gullies. Is ring-fenced, and subdivided into four paddocks by substantial posts, standards, and wire. Distance from Hakataramea, about thirteen miles; from the Waihao Forks, twelve miles; and from the school reserve, less than half a mile. Average altitude, about 1,500 ft. above sea-level. The improvements, which go with the land, consist of 798 chains of substantial post, standard, and wire fencing, and sheep-yards, valued at £221 8s.

Run No. 85 (southern portion); 508 acres 3 roods: Mixed agricultural and pastoral land, at an altitude about 450 ft. above sea-level. With the exception of two low terraces and watercourses, the section is level throughout, and well watered by the River Waitaki, natural springs, and streams. It is subdivided into nine paddocks by substantial post, standard, and wire fencing, seven and eight wires. The soil varies considerably, ranging from rich deep alluvial loam to light and stony, the whole being well adapted to growing oats, root-crops, turnips, and rape. It has nearly all been cultivated and laid down in English grass five to ten years, and at the present time is laid down to English grasses. Distance from Hakataramea Railway-station, ten miles and a half; from Glenavy, twenty-two miles; and adjoins school reserve. The improvements, which go with the land, consist of 388½ chains of substantial seven- and eight-wire fencing, with posts and standards, valued at £149 9s. There are also a substantial dwellinghouse of six rooms, bath-room, wash-house, &c., overseer’s house of five rooms, iron woolshed for eight shearers, shearers’ quarters, dip, stable, and coach-house, garden, plantations, and ornamental trees and willows, valued at £490, repayable in twenty-one years, in half-yearly instalments of £19 2s. 2d.

Run No. 85 (northern portion); 985 acres 1 rood: This section consists of mixed agricultural and pastoral land, comprising flat-topped, undulating, and rolling downs, intersected by gullies, some of which are very rough and rocky. Water is obtained from springs in the gullies. The section is ring-fenced, with the exception of the road running through the section and the reserves therein, and is subdivided into three paddocks. About 670 acres have been cultivated and laid down in English grass for five and six years, the remainder in native grasses. The soil on the downs is generally a fair depth and good, on a loamy clay subsoil on a limestone formation, which crops out in the terrace near the south-east corner. A large portion of this section would yield good crops of wheat. The ploughable portion is very suitable for oats, rape, and turnips. The soil on the flat is lighter, but suitable for growing turnips. Altitude, from 436 ft. to 1,400 ft. above sea-level. Distance from Hakataramea, eleven miles; from Glenavy, twenty-two miles; and adjoins school reserve. The improvements, which go with the land, consist of 505 chains of boundary and subdivision fencing, valued at £159 19s.

Run No. 84; 1,711 acres 3 roods: Pastoral land, comprising about 300 acres of flat land on the Waitaki, with soil varying from good to light and stony, suitable for growing rape, turnips, or oats; the remainder consists of very steep high terraces, broken by very rough rocky gullies, and flat-topped downs well grassed. About 200 acres have been ploughed and laid down in English grasses about seven years. This run is divided into three paddocks, the fences being rabbit-proof on eastern boundary. The subdivisional fencing is indifferent. Altitude, from 400 ft. to 1,900 ft. above sea-level. Distance, nineteen miles from Glenavy, and about a mile and a half from school reserve. The improvements, which go with the land, consist of about 706 chains of boundary and subdivision fences, valued at £176 3s. 6d.

Run No. 83; 2,301 acres: Pastoral land, comprising undulating and rolling downs, broken in places by rough gullies. About 1,490 acres have been ploughed and laid down in English grasses from one to eleven years, with the exception of one paddock of about 200 acres. The soil varies from good deep black soil to light and stony on some ridges; the unploughed portion is well grassed with native and other grasses. On most of the ploughed land turnips and rape might be grown. This section is divided into five paddocks, well and substantially fenced with rabbit-proof and wire-and-standard fences. Altitude, about 1,200 ft. to 1,900 ft. above sea-level. Situated about nine miles from the Waihao Forks Railway-station. The improvements, which go with the land, consist of 1,031 chains of boundary and subdivision fencing, valued at £310 14s. 6d.

SIDNEY WEETMAN,
Commissioner of Crown Lands.