EAST COAST LANDS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13610, 20 December 1909, Page 8

EAST COAST LANDS.

MATTER FOR ENQUIRY.

(special to "the press. ,, )

WELLINGTON, December 19,

In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr Massey read) correspondence revealing an extraordinary state of affaire in regard to Crown lands on the East Coast near Gieborne. The communications were from residents of "Waipiro Bay. About two years ago, they state, section li block *7, of the Mata Survey District was thrown open for selection. There were 130 applicants for it, and Mr Dobbie, of Gisborne, was successful in the ballot. He failed to carry out improvements, and the section was forfeited! and again advertised for selection, but on December 6th it was •withdrawn. In reply to queries- the Minister for Lands stated that it had .been withdrawn to allow the native owners of the adjoining land to acquire it, and a<ld it to their block. The block to which it was added , contained' 4649 acres, a large portion of which is unimproved. The settlers state that several sections of Crown land in Waiapu County have recently been given to the Maori owners of adjoining land, without Europeans having been given an opportunity to ballot for them. The sections are specified. All the sections referred to are accessible by formed roads, and are eminently suitable for settlement. They would be largely oomoeted for if made available for selection. The Prime Minister promised to make further enquiries. He said the position wos that the land should never have been purchased, and , it was now being given back to the natives. I