Blind River Estate.

This property was purchased by the Government under "The Land for Settlements Act, 1892," in August last. It has been surveyed into sections suitable for the country, and is now offered for lease in perpetuity at the rent of 5 per cent, upon the purchase-money plus the cost of administration and the expense of making a few roads.

The property contains 5,163 acres, net area, and is situated on the Main South Road, Blenheim to Kaikoura, about twenty-five miles south from Blenheim, which is the principal town of the Marlborough Provincial District, and has a population of over 3,000.

The nearest railway-station is at Blenheim, but the line has been partially formed for some miles further south, through the Dashwood Pass.

The distance of the nearest point by road over Taylor's Pass is twenty-two miles, or by the new road through the Redwood Pass, about sixteen miles. The road is a good one all the year round, excepting when the Awatere River is in flood.

The boundaries of the property are, generally: On the east by the sea; on the south-east by Lake Grassmere (Native name, "Kapara te Hau"); on the south by the Main South Road, and on the west and north-west by a branch road and a rabbit-proof fence on the Starborough Estate boundary. The Blind River runs in a northerly direction through the greater part of the block, and near the western boundary.

The block consists of low ridges—the highest point being 414ft. above the sea—and flats, covered with tussock and other native grasses. It has not been surface-sown with cultivated grasses.

The land is in its virgin state, having been held by it; late owner for forty years for grazing purposes only.

About one-third of the block can be easily ploughed.

The formation on the flats is alluvial loamy soil, several feet in thickness, resting on "papa" or blue clay.

The hills are formed of a calcareous clay, and in place along the sea-coast and seashore they are eroded into precipitous cliffs.

The whole of the block is open grassed land; there in however, a little manuka scrub along the Blind River, and in some of the gullies leading from the coast.

On the land fronting the Blind River there is an ample supply of water, but on the higher portions of the estate the water has to be collected or obtained by sinking wells.

Timber for building and fencing will have to be brought from Blenheim; a certain amount of drift firewood can be obtained at times in the Awatere River, distant about nine miles, but the supply is limited and uncertain.

The land is capable of carrying at present at least one sheep to the acre; last year five thousand ewes were wintered on it, and produced 92 per cent, of lambs.

The property has not been loaded with a large sum for the construction of roads, as the formation is light.

The principal works will be small bridges and culvert crossing the creeks, and the diversion of watercourses, to enable roads to be constructed.

A detailed description of each section to be offered for lease will be found on pages 9 to 12.

The localities from which views of the estate were taken are indicated on the sections shown on the accompanying map by stars—thus *.

View of a Bend in Blind River, Section 13, looking S.E.

Directions to Applicants.

Applications for leases will be received up to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the 16th January, 1895. Forms and maps may be obtained at the Land Office, Blenheim, and at the Land Offices throughout the colony.

The ballot for sections for which there are more than one applicant will be held on Thursday, the 17th, at 11 a.m.

No deposits are required with applications, but every successful applicant must be prepared to pay a half-year's rent and £1 1s. lease-fee immediately on his application being approved.

Selectors who may not find it convenient to appear personally at the ballot should appoint an agent to select for them, or they may send with their application a draft or post-office order in favour of the Receiver of Land Revenue for the first half-year's rent, which will be returned, less exchange, in case of non-success.

Should any applicant not pay the half-year's rent on being declared successful, then another ballot between the other applicants will be drawn forthwith.

Selectors who apply for more than they wish to occupy should indicate on each application the order of their choice, or inform their agent of it.

Agricultural and Pastoral Land Open for Selection on Lease in Perpetuity.

On and after Wednesday, 16th January, 1895.

Marlborough Land District.—Marlborough County.

Blind River Estate.

[For description of each section see pages 9 to 12.]

Terms and Conditions of Lease in Perpetuity.

First- and Second-Class Agricultural and Pastoral Land.

The lands included in Blind River Estate are divided into sections, which are open for selection on lease in perpetuity, under the provisions of "The Land Act, 1892" (herein referred to as "the said Act").

View from Section 14, looking S. towards "the Saddle" and Lake Valley Road.

View from Section 75, looking N. E. over rolling downs.

1. The lease shall be for a term of 999 years, to be reckoned from the next 1st day of January or July following the date thereof, and shall in addition include the period between the date of lease and such day.

2. The half-yearly rental stated in the Schedule on the preceding page shall be the price at which the land shall be open for selection, and shall be payable in advance, on the first day of January and first day of July in each year, to the Receiver of Land Revenue, Blenheim.

3. Applications for leases shall be made in manner as provided in Part I. of the said Act; and all such applications shall be made to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Blenheim; and leases will be issued in accordance with the provisions of Part I. aforesaid.

4. The day on which the lands shall be open for selection shall be Wednesday, the sixteenth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five.

5. Every applicant shall make the declaration prescribed and shall immediately after the application has been approved deposit a sum equal to one half-year's rent of the land applied for. Such payment shall be in discharge of the half-year's rent due on the 1st day of January or July following the date of application. He shall also pay the sum of £1 1s. for the preparation of the lease and the registration thereof.

6. A selector may apply for any number of sections, whether contiguous or not, up to the limit of 640 acres; but he can become the owner or occupier of 640 acres only in contiguous sections, including the land already owned by him. Sections on both sides of a road are considered contiguous or touching each other.

7. A married woman may become the owner of 320 acres of land in contiguous sections, notwithstanding any land that her husband may be entitled to acquire or may hold, and a married woman may also become a lessee under a will or by virtue of an intestacy.

8. When applications are made on the same day for the same land, or part of the same land, then the order of selection shall be decided by ballot.

9. The lessee must reside on the land selected within one year from the date of selection, and thereafter such residence shall be continuous for a period of ten years. The Land Board may dispense with residence if the lessee reside and continue to reside on lands contiguous to the lands held under lease.

Improvements existing on the land at the time of lease shall be deemed to be improvements made under this clause.

Substantial improvements of a permanent character mean and include reclamation from swamps, clearing of gorse, broom, sweetbriar, or scrub, page 8 cultivation, planting gardens, fencing, draining, making roads, sinking wells or water tanks, constructing water-races, sheep-dips, making embankments, or protective works of any kind, or in any way improving the character or fertility of the soil, and include the erection of any building.

11. The lessee must fence the land with a ring-fence within the second year of the term, and such fence must be sufficient to comply in all respects with "The Fencing Act, 1881," or any other law to regulate the fencing of land which shall for the time being be in force; and shall once a year properly cut and trim all live fences which may be planted upon the land during the term, and stub all gorse not growing as fences, and also stub all broom, sweetbriar, and other noxious plants.

12. The lessee must take alternately white-crops and green-or root-crops; and on the removal of the third crop the land must be sown down with good permanent cultivated grasses and clovers, and be allowed to remain as pasture for at least two years from the harvesting of last crop, before being again cropped.

13. The lessee must not cut the cultivated grass for hay or seed the first year of the course.

14. At all times during the lease the land must be so farmed that not less than one-third of the farm shall be maintained in permanent pasture.

15. The lessee must not burn any straw grown upon the land.

16. The lessee must once a year properly clean, clear from weeds, and keep open all creeks, drains, ditches, and watercourses which now are or may be upon the land, and the Land Board shall have the power at any time to enter upon and make any drain through the land that it may deem necessary.

17. In the event of the lessee failing to comply with any of the covenants hereinbefore mentioned relating to the trimming of live fences, and stubbing gorse, broom, and sweetbriar, and to the cleaning, clearing from weeds, and keeping open all creeks, drains, ditches, and watercourses, it shall be lawful for the Commissioner of Crown Lands to have such work done, and to recover the cost of the same from the lessee.

18. All buildings erected upon the land shall be kept in good order and repair.

19. The lessee shall be liable for all rates, taxes, and assessments during the term.

20. Subject as aforesaid the provisions of "The Land Act, 1892," and regulations made thereunder, with respect to applications for and the grant of leases in perpetuity, shall apply, so far as applicable, to all applications for leases under "The Land for Settlements Act, 1894."

21. A right to search for and take gravel for making or maintaining roads from any of the lands disposed of is reserved. Payment to be made for surface damage only.

Declaration on applying for a Lease.

I, A, B, do solemnly and sincerely declare,—

1. That I am of the age of seventeen years and upwards.

2. That I am the person who, subject to the provisions of "The Land Act, 1892," "The Land for Settlements Act, 1894," and the regulations made thereunder, am applying for a lease of Section_____, Block_____, District.

View from Section 17, looking South.

View from Section 18, looking E. over rolling downs.

2. That I am acquiring such lease solely for my own use and benefit, and not directly or indirectly for the use or benefit of any other person or persons whomsoever.

4. That, including the lands now applied for, I am not the owner, tenant, or occupier, directly or indirectly, either by myself or jointly with any other person or persons, of any lands anywhere in the colony exceeding in the whole 640^* acres of first-class land.

And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand intituled "The Justices of the Peace Act, 1882."

A.B.

Declared at______, this day of______, 189, before me, C.D.,

A Justice of the Peace in and for the Colony of New Zealand.

Detailed Descriptions.

The following detailed description of the soil and character of each section, to be offered for lease in January, 1895, is furnished for the general information of intending purchasers, who are recommended, nevertheless, to visit the land and inspect it for themselves, the Crown not being in any way responsible for the absolute accuracy of every description:—

Open for Selection on Lease in Perpetuity.

16th January, 1895.

Clifford Bay Survey District.

page 10

Section 5, Block XII.; 122 acres; half-yearly rental, £15 10s. 1d.

This section, like the preceding ones, fronts the Blind River. 114 acres of the land is level, and 8 acres terrace faces, the former being good loamy soil, well watered. A wire-netted fence is erected along the back boundary-line. The altitude is from 50ft. to 150ft., and the distance from Blenheim about 29½ miles, mostly along the Main South Road.

Section 14, Block XII; 169 acres; half-yearly rental, £22 3s. 8d.

The whole of this section is ploughable, consisting as it does of river-flats, open level land, and downs. The soil is of good quality, and the elevation from 30ft. to 250ft. above sea-level. The distance from Blenheim is 28¾ miles, nearly all of which are along the Main South Road, Blenheim to Kaikoura.

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View from Section 18, looking South up the valley.

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View from Section 19, looking South up the Valley Road over rolling tussocky downs.

page 11

Section 15, Block XIV; 163 acres; half-yearly rental, £21 7s. 10d.

The land comprised in this section has a frontage to the road along Blind River, and consists of open, level, and undulating land, well fitted for agriculture, easily ploughed, and with a fine quality of soil. The elevation varies from 30ft. to 250ft. Access to Blenheim is by the Main South Road for about 25 miles, and thence by recently surveyed road leading to the land for another 2¼ miles.

page 12

Sections 20 and 21, Block XIV.; 550 acres; half-yearly rental, £36 13s. 4d.

Sections 20 and 21 may be classed as open pastoral, tussocky land having an altitude varying from 200ft. to 400ft., with small flats in the valleys. Section 20 has a frontage to the road along the shore of [unclear: Lake] Grassmere, and Section 21 fronts the Main South Road. There i[unclear: s] permanent water on these sections. A wire-netted fence is erected on the western boundary of Section 21, from which place Blenheim is distant about 25 miles.

Sections 27 and 28, Block XII.; 574 acres; half-yearly rental, £51 8s. 5d.

Of the total area of these sections there are 78 acres of lagoons and 106 acres of flat country, partly covered with sand and shingle, and patches of good soil. The remainder is pastoral land, broken by gorges and high cliffs along the sea-coast. The water on these sections is not permanent.

page 2

View of Lake Grassmere, looking S.W. from Section 26.

Accommodation Reserve for Lease by Auction for three Years.

The under-mentioned Section will be offered for Lease by Auction, for a term of three years, at the District Land and Survey Office, Blenheim, on