NATIVE LANDS.

Bush Advocate, Volume XI, Issue 863, 25 November 1893, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS.

(To The Editor.) Sir, — I see from a paragraph in Thursday's Advocate that a writer in the Woodville paper makes a rather gloomy prophecy as to the future of Danovirke. The writer mentioned says that our limber trade will last but a few years, and that our town will then fall into a similar condition to that in which Makotuku is now. But it may be worth while to inquire as to the cause of Makotuku's downfall. No one can dispute the fact that Makotuku would long ere now have been a large and prosperous town had the native lands winch hem it in on all sides been purchased, as they should iiave been, by the Crown, and thrown open for settlement. But our late member, despite tho claims that ho was a good man for the district, either had not the power, or if lie had lie did not oxercise it, to hurry on the acquisition of these lands for settlomont. The Waikopiro Blook is, of course, the most important to this district, and our iate member told us at his last meeting here that somewhere about i) 000 acres, I think, had been acquired by the Government. Mr G. Hunter, when contesting the Waipawa seat at last election, said that, if elected he would resign his seat if, before the following election tho Government had not completed the purchase of the Waikopiro. And Mr Hunter is admitted even by his opponents to be a mau of his word. If Danevirke is to hold its own when our timber is exhausted we muttt have the native land opened up. And if this is done there can he no question that Danovi<*ke will before many years have flown, be one of the {largest inland towns in this island. And in the light of the pledge made by Mr Hunter three years ago we may reasonably expect that if that gentleman is elected ho will leave no stone unturned to have the purchase of nativo lands in proximity to our ! Bush towns completed at tho earliest possible moment. Looking at the election from this point of view I cannot see how an elector who has any interest in the progress of the Bush can do other than I vote for Hunter, and for reasons I have mentioned I am pleased to bo able to be--1 lieve that his return as our representative is a certainty. — Yours, etc., DANEVIItKBR.