THE PIAKO LANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 120, 22 May 1901, Page 2

THE PIAKO LANDS.

(By Our Own Correspondent.)

THAMES, this day

With reference to the purchase of the Piako block, to which the attention of the Minister of Lands was recently called, and to which district he paid a visit of inspection when at Thames, I learn that the purchase of the various blocks in the area required is now proceeding. Mr G. T. Wilkinson, of the Native Lands Department, is at present at Thames, and is purchasing from the native owners 9950 acres. There are eight separate blocks to be purchased, each with a different lot of owners, and with a different area. It is not expected that the whole of the laud required will be purchased, but there is every probability that the great majority of the owners will sell, and that the major portion of the land will be secured. Mr Wilkinson expects to be at Thames for several days, as a large number of owners reside hero. Already at Faeroa purchases of Piako lands have been completed with the owners there, and there appears to be a general inclination on the part, of the native owners to sell to the Government. When the Thames purchases are completed it is the intention of Mr Wilkinson to proceed to Kerepahi and other native settlements where other owners of Piako lands reside.