THE CONFISCATED LANDS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 30, 24 July 1880, Page 2

THE CONFISCATED LANDS.

One of the most interesting documents contained in the voluminous appendices to the West Coast Commission, is a tabular statement handed in by Mr. Humphries, the chief surveyor of the district, showing the totals of acreage, bush land, open land, contents, and the approximate values put upon those lands by that gentleman. The land is divided into three main blocks. The first comprises the district from Stony river to Waingongoro, of which the area is roughly calculated at 209,000 acres, and is valued at £675,625. The second block lies between Waingongoro and Waitotara, and is estimated to contain 109,000 acres, all of which is forest land, and is only valued at £94,575. The third block is described as land not included in the first two statements ; only 2000 acres are open, and are valued at £8000 ; 136,000 acres of forest land are valued at £59,500 ; the balance of the block, containing 62,000 acres, is valued at £93,000, but is described as nearly all surneyed into sections, sold and settled upon. Doubtless, many of our readers would be glad to hear the official valuation of the open lands on the Plains. We have, therefore, compiled the following summary of the first table of the approximate area of open land : — From Haungatahua to Waiweranui — 6000 acr s, £4 per acre ; from Waiweranui to Moutoti — 14,000 acres, £3 per acre ; from Moutoti to Taungatara — 8000 acres, £4 per acre ; from Taungatara to Oeo — 6000 acres, £6 per acre ; from Oeo to Waingongoro — 31,000 acres, £8 per acr'. From the above it appears that there are about 65,000 acres of open land in the block b tween Stoney river and Waingongoro, which are valued at £382,000. The forest land contained in each of the j aoove subdivisions is valued at prices i varyiug from 7s. Gd. up to £2 per acre, i In the course of a few days we expect to hear what proportion of this area the West Coast Commission propose to apportion to the Maoris. '