Wharf to Turua and Kerepeehi, these roads being now under construction.

The town lands are partly drained alluvial clay-deposit, and covered with native grass, manuka, and some mangrove. Some of the sections have small dried-up watercourses through them, which can, however, be readily filled in.

The suburban lands are also partly drained alluvial clay-deposit, and the vegetation consists of light and heavy manuka in places, raupo, cabbage-trees, native grasses, &c. There are a few dried-up watercourses passing through some of the sections, which can, however, be readily filled in.

The rural lands are similar in character to the suburban sections.

The roads will be duly formed and stop-bank and other protective works maintained for a period of two years by the Department.

ERIC C. GOLD SMITH,
Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Lands in Stoke Settlement, Canterbury Land District, open for Selection on Renewable Lease.

District Lands Office,
Christchurch, 6th December, 1910.

NOTICE is hereby given that the undermentioned lands are open for selection on renewable lease, and applications will be received at this office up to 4 o'clock p.m. on Wednesday, the 11th day of January, 1911, under the provisions of the Land Act, 1908, and the Land for Settlements Act, 1908.

SCHEDULE.

Canterbury Land District.—STOKE SETTLEMENT.

First-class Land.

ASHLEY COUNTY.—MAIRAKI SURVEY DISTRICT.

Section. Block. Area. Capital Value. Half-yearly Rental.

A. R. P. £ s. d. £ s. d.

1 VIII 229 3 7 5,020 0 0 112 19 0

23 8 0*

2 " 162 0 33 3,520 0 0 79 4 0

3 " 158 3 3 3,350 0 0 75 7 6

ASHLEY COUNTY.—RANGIORA SURVEY DISTRICT.

4 V 131 2 31 3,070 0 0 69 1 6

5 " 128 1 6 2,480 0 0 55 16 0

6 " 74 2 25 1,430 0 0 32 3 6

7 " 74 3 30 1,360 0 0 30 12 0

ASHLEY COUNTY.—MAIRAKI SURVEY DISTRICT.

8 VIII 1 0 0 25 0 0 0 11 3

9 " 1 0 0 25 0 0 0 11 3

10 " 1 0 0 25 0 0 0 11 3

• Interest and sinking fund on buildings valued at £600, payable in cash or in twenty-one years by half-yearly instalments of £23 8s.

• Interest and sinking fund on buildings valued at £188, payable in cash or in seven years by half-yearly instalments of £16 5s.

Total half-yearly payment on Section 1, Block VIII, Mairaki Survey District, £152 12s.

DESCRIPTION OF SECTIONS.

Section 1.—First-class agricultural land, consisting of easy downs with flat between the main terrace and the road and river. The flat is a little stony. About 55 acres in stubble, 45 acres in oats, 41 acres in wheat, some acres in plantation near the homestead, and the remainder in grass, orchard, and garden. Watered by the Cust River and a water-race from it. The Stoke Railway-station (Oxford-Rangiora line) is on the frontage of the property.

The improvements included in the price of the section consist of 266 chains of subdivisional and boundary fencing, and a concrete sheep-dip; all valued at £206.

The improvements which are not included in the price of the section, but must be paid for separately by the tenant, consist of a house built of wood and roofed with iron, containing nine rooms (besides a scullery, storeroom, glass-covered verandah, and bath-room), with five chimneys, range, hot and cold water laid on, most of the rooms are plastered as well as papered; valued at £400. Wool-shed, built of iron, wooden annexe for engine, four stands, capacity about two hundred sheep; £100. Draught-horse stable, built of wood and roofed with iron, eleven stalls, feed-loft, implement-room, and harness-room; £100. All valued at £600, payable in cash or in twenty-one years by half-yearly instalments of £23 8s.

Also meat-house of wood and iron, two compartments, concrete floor, £8; wood-shed, of wood and iron, £2;

fowlhouse, yard, and pig-stye, £2; small shed, wood and iron, partly lined with brick, £2; tank-house, dairy, wood and iron, lined with wood, concrete floor, and four iron tanks above it, £15; implement-shed, of wood and iron, £10; grain-shed, wood and iron, £8; men's whare, of wood and iron, three rooms and annexe, one chimney, £20; cow-shed, of wood and iron, two bails, and calf-pen, £6; trap-shed and loose-box, of wood and iron, tool-shed, £25; stable, of wood and iron, three brick-floored stalls, harness-room, man's room, loft, and trap-room, £70; detached wash-house, tool-house, and coal-house, of wood and iron, brick floor, copper and tubs, £20. All valued at £188, payable in cash or in seven years by half-yearly instalments of £16 5s. A right of easement 10 links wide over the lower water-race, and a free right of access to the head-works for the purpose of repairing the same, is retained by the Crown or any one authorized in its behalf. This does not relieve the tenant from the obligation of keeping the section of the race passing through his land in repair.

The crops belong to the tenant without further payment, unless they should require harvesting before the ballot, in which case he would be required to pay an additional sum for the cost of harvesting before being allowed to enter into possession.

Section 2.—First-class agricultural land, consisting of easy downs with a rather stony flat between the main terrace and the railway. About 34 acres in wheat, 2 acres of plantation, and the remainder in grass. Watered by a water-race, over which a right of easement 10 links wide is retained by the Crown, but which the tenant will be required to keep in repair. Situated on the main Rangiora-Oxford railway and road, and close to the Stoke Railway-station. The improvements that are included in the price of the section consist of 129 chains of boundary and other fencing, valued at £53. The crop belongs to the tenant without further payment, unless it should require harvesting before the ballot, in which case he would be required to pay an additional sum for the cost of harvesting before being allowed to enter into possession.

Section 3.—First-class agricultural land, consisting of easy downs with a rather stony flat between the main terrace and the railway. All in grass. Watered by a race, over which a right of easement 10 links wide is retained by the Crown, but which the tenant will be required to keep in repair. Situated on the main Rangiora-Oxford railway and road, and half a mile distant from the Stoke Railway-station. The improvements included in the price of the section consist of 92 chains of boundary and other fencing, valued at £59.

Section 4.—First-class agricultural easy sloping downs; 35 acres in stubble, remainder in grass. Situated on the Mairaki Road, about three miles by good roads from Fernside and three miles from Stoke Railway-stations. Improvements included in the price of the section consist of 142 chains of boundary and other fencing, valued at £59.

Section 5.—First-class agricultural land, consisting of easy downs with a rather stony flat between the main terrace and the railway. About 47 acres in rape, 63 acres in stubble, the remainder in grass. Watered by a race, over which a right of easement 10 links wide is retained by the Crown, but which the tenant will be required to keep in repair. Situated on the main Rangiora-Oxford road and railway, three-quarters of a mile distant from the Stoke Railway-station. The improvements included in the price of the section consist of 137 chains of boundary and other fencing, valued at £88. The rape belongs to the tenant.

Section 6.—First-class agricultural land, consisting of easy downs with a rather stony flat between the main terrace and the railway. Watered by a race which will be continued through the section to water Section 7, and over which a right of easement 10 links wide is retained by the Crown, but which the tenant will be required to keep in repair. About 41 acres sown in rape, the remainder is in grass. Situated on the main Rangiora-Oxford road and railway, and one mile distant from the Stoke Railway-station. The improvements included in the price of the section consist of 96 chains of boundary-fencing, valued at £72. The rape belongs to the tenant.

Section 7.—First-class agricultural land, consisting of easy downs with a rather stony flat between the main terrace and the railway. Watered by a water-race, over which a right of easement 10 links wide is retained by the Crown, but which the tenant will be required to keep in repair. About 41 acres sown in rape, the remainder is in grass. Situated on the main Rangiora-Oxford road and railway, about a mile and a quarter distant from Stoke Railway-station. The improvements which are included in the price of the section consist of 86 chains of boundary and other fencing, valued at £65.

Sections 8, 9, and 10.—All first-class flat land in grass.

T. N. BRODRICK,
Commissioner of Crown Lands.