The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1834.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 241, 27 January 1894, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1834.

For the cause that lacks aseistancs, For the Trrons? that needs resistance, For the future in the distance. And tha gsGd that we can da.

We are glad to learn that the Premier, who also holds the portfolio of Native Minister, is resolved to take vigorous steps to solve the difficult problem of acquiring native lands for settlement. The Government land purchases have, for the past fifteen year s been in a most unsatisfactory state. Payments amounting in the aggregate to a very large sum have been scattered over a wide area under negotiation, but comparatively little land suitable for settlement has become available for that purpose. In the meanwhile, private purchases, by means of which the settlement of the North Island has been mainly accomplished, are blocked: Settlement in many districts, notably on the East Coast and adjacent to the railway line around Te Kuiti, has been brought to an absolute standstill. The Government have constructed a railway through fifty miles of country upon which no European can settle until the land is acquired from the Maori owners and thrown open. Year alter year goes on, and though proraises may have been made that so unsatisfactory a state of things shall be remedied, absolutely nothing is done. No wonder, theD, that settlers in districts like Tauranga and the Waikato look with jealousy upon the expenditure incurred in the acquisition of European lands in the South Island that are already productive, when millions of acres of virgin land in the North Isiand are lying unutilised.

It is characteristic of Mr Seddon that when he makes up his mind that something must be done he sets vigorously to work to do it. Already we' learn that lie has ordered the seve.taJ Commissioners of Crown Lands to report forthwith where there is native .land suitable for and required for settlement. It is io be hoped that this request will be promptly and fully complied with. Having obtained that information, the Premier's next business will be to devise means of rapidly extinguishing the native title. In doing this, the Act passed last session, under which the Government may call upon the natives to throw open their lands for European settlement, either by direct sale to the Government, or by disposal through Government agency, will be of very material assistance. The Government is authorised by .'aw now to issue debentures for the purchase of native lands up to an amount not exceeding ,£50.000 a year, the debt thus created to be liquidated by the sale af the land. It is evident, however, that if a vigorous policy of land purchase is to be inaugurated, a much larger sum will be necessary; but more accurate estimates ot the actual amount required cannot be made until information with regard to the blocks that are purchasable has been procured. No doubt, the Government will be in a position to submit proposals on the subject next session.

The Minister of Lands has determined to do his share towards the opening up of the lands that have already been acquired. Our Wellington reporter informed us by wire yesterday, that the Hon, Mr McKenzie is preparing for a journey of about 700 miles, accompanied by the Surveyor General on this quest—a rather arduous expedition for a sick man. It is stated that there are about 100,000 acres of bush land, rough, but capable of carrying one sheep to the acre, between Gisborne and the East Cape, and another,block of 320,000 acres in the Witimarino block at the head of the .Wanganui River. And the Anarhua block comprising 100,000 acres, is under investigation by the Native Lands Court.

These lands are said to be greatly in demand, and applications which would absorb a large area have been put in by Special Settlement Associations. In dealing with these blocks, we hope the Government will not repeat the mistake which was made with the Awakino block, North.of the Mokau R^ver. This block was thrown open for selection without survey, the result being that the whole area of about 50,000 acres, including a large amount ot bush land of first-class quality, has been monopolised by a few Taranaki families. Acquired by Sir Donald McLean in the very early days, and marked on the plan " second-class land," the block was never properly examined, or opened up by roads. The law with regard to second-class land authorises the selection of 2,000 acres, and as several members in a famiiy may avail themselves "ot this privilege separately, enormous tracts ot land may still be acquired at a trifling rental under perpetual lease or a low price for cash. We fear that, strong as the desire of the Government is to prevent land monopoly, earth hunger among land applicants is barely scotched, not killed. Bush land ought in no case to be offered for sale without detailed survey, sub-division into holdings of moderate size and opening up of

the block by roads. We defy the most experienced surveyor^to give a reliable opinion on the quality of a 50,000 acre block in a state of nature withoutspending many months upon it. Bush land is better adapted for small settlers than open land. No mistake is more common than for people of limited capital, taking up land to load themselves up with iar more acres than they can possibly cultivate during their own life time. They thereby keep themselves poor and injure the country by shutting out others whose presence and work in a district would rapidly enhance its prosperity. Thanks to the provisions of the present Land Act, the Minister of Lands, under the improvement conditions, has the whip hand. We hope those provisions will be rigidly enforced.