ON THE LAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 404, 13 January 1909, Page 8

ON THE LAND.

SETTLEMENT IN 1908. 'WITH A FORETASTE OF 1909. __ A lineSdrawn from Cape Palliser, in the south, to far Taumsrrunuvin the King Country, defines the northern arid ; southern delimitations of the Wellington Land District —a huge ungeometrical chunk, of the North Island. To arrive at some definite idea of the sphere of influence of the District Commissioner for Crown Lands (Mr. Jas.' Mackenzie), let the mind's eye take in the coast line of the - North Island from the mouth of the,'Waimata River, on. the east; south-ward,-and round to the mouth of the Patea River, on the west. Thence,'at a sharp angle, to Pipirikvon the Wanganui River, and on,.following the course.of the stream,' to •Taumarumii. From there the boundary follows an irregular course .eastward to Tokaariu, then south-eastward to the Nganirorp v River, along which it Tuns until the Ruahine Range is reached..: The-mountains mark the eastern boundary/.as- far as tfieManawatii Gorge, at which point the' line turns up the Manawatu Hirer as far as the Welling-ton-Napier Railway, thence in a straight'line to- the Waimata River, which, it follows- to the sea. : .- "..'•'• ■ . ■ ,;'-■■: ■..- ..."

The Government Land Agent. 1 .' ■^A, big district! It is the business of the Commissioner for "Crown Lands, arid "with ,nim thp Wellington Land Board, to open up, from time to timq, areas:of land: for settlement m this.district,..and. to acti, generally as the Government Land Agent arid Auctioneer in ; the > disposing of. such lands,- in the, collection of rents, arid' in the'general oversight;ofsuch land, as are h.eld undercon 7 ditions ;' of- residence, and improvements! Crowii. lands .thrown open for-eettlement" aro classified in three divisions;—Towji,and village lands, suburban lands, and .rural-.lands;-and may be applied for by any eligible.person of the age o£ seventeen',and.upwards.! In the allotment of sections,: however, preference is given, nnder certain circumstences, to .the "landless".; to. married men "with children';-■'• widowers with' children; with children; .married women ,wjth children, and are judicially; separated from their. husbands ; ; and landless, individuals .who' have been unsuccessful at two previous land-bal-lots., ■"■;. " : :■■•.-' : '..-■ ■■.'■"■'','.■.■ : '"V ■■~- ■■- ■■. .-'

tyieOptional System. ■'.":, ■ ■ ".-'■ " . ..There ; are, two methods' of acquiring Grown lands:—l. By auction (chiefly.of: town; and suburban lots), afW- survey,"'.when onefilthy of the ■ purchase 'money is payable at; the,time, of purchase,; and> the balance within, thirty days; and 2, by application, after the lands, have been open for selection, buccessfur competitors'usually'have the option,, as regards lands opened for selection.' of .acquiring .their.lands under any-one of the three tenures:. (a) ■'. freehold; (b)"occupation with, the right of purchase--the ,'/0.R.P;,", system j. and the renewable lease. : Under the first-namedy: ;, instea.d of a .legal title being issued at, once, aXcertificate of occupation isgiven,, until .such time .as. certain- , lmproveI ments have been 'carried, out, : when. V.the Orowii'title is granted! Under the '.'O.-R;E.". and ff'Benewable Lease", tenures,, certain conditions as regards: residence. and improvements are4rhpbsed. There are:other systems : of- settlement—improved ■ settlements, village- settlements, ■ g'razing-runs| •• pastoral runs,'.bush: and. swamp: lands, .wood pulp industry ...establishment,, and flax .leases—but ;,been: said to--'indicate,- in 'a general, way, the-scope of the Crown ■■ Land' Agency business.; /l'hose who- are interested in theisubjectovill"find an admirable'precis of the, land system, of New .Zealand in the Crowm Lands Guide, of in the New Zealand Omml-Year. Book,.:which hns been written by. Mr. W. C.. Kensington,;Und.er-Secretary for Grown "Lands.'- K '■ .-■''.'■ .•..-■■•■

Advertising Methods. . .- !. When, any lands are "about to , -be disposed of,-'the:.man-on-the-iarid/;or the '. .m'an-who-naually- apprised of) thb .ey'entjv'the j most popular . and widely, distributed' medium' of advertisement being the.coloured map-poster, wherein is described,, not only.'.the pjan of the section or sections to;.bo disposed-of, bnt.a map of ,a portion of .the country, wherein-is indicated .the..exact,:lpcality of. theland...-. Further,.7 a paragrapji of, descriptive matter gives certain infformation, concerning , the quality of . the land, , ; its environment; and its accessibility; and- the-terms arid conditions of acquirement are fully set forth.:.'So,far as Crown.lands areiconcerned-then,- itnvould 'appear that the or "0.R.P." man, need have no, misgivings about buying a pig in-.a poke..;-. Sometimes a man writes tb j the office jfor information regarding, a- certain ■block of land which, he has reason to believe',' ;is about,- to be thrown jopen." > He receives a - formal acknowledgment of his letter, his name .is entered~m'a ledger, and when the date ■ for throwing-, open the block' in question has- been decided upon; a poster referring! to?the same is-either addressed .to ■him, •; or be is referred , to the local ..postmaster or other authority, from whom the necessary form's may.be pbtaingdi-- ■' '■'.-• '''.'-.■,.'. ■■-]■

-\ ';■•■[■■ . ■ :■■■ ■, ■■:■' The'year.l?oß, although, not such a heary year:as some. in.the history,of the.District Lands nevertheless,, been -.featured :by several.important events;. The'. departmental vyear: does, not end until March next, and, sofarVas the official, figures are concerned, public -.curiosity must rest .until the annual report' is.presented ,to Parliament some .time, during. the. session.. A reference to the Gazette files, however, makes it:possible .to arrive at a fairly comprehensive idea of; the work of: the District-Lands -.Office , during -thV year" 1908.. Right up to December, the business:was fairly.Tight, but,thfe,closing, month, of. the year "saw,: consequent upon-the opening "of the North Island Main 'Trunk , Railway, a heavy rush-of business along.the limntbwards the- northern boundaries of the /Wellington Lantt District.."' ■ ; , .

Diary, of '/Operations; r ' ; ' The following diary (culled from the Gazettfe). presents a convenient review'of the year's operations '.'. ■ . January: 'B.—Reserves .offered for lease,' by public tender: Pohangina,. ten'sections, aggregating two odd acres, seven years; Taihapet, one section, fjive odd : acres, annual; ParaparaumTi, twd sections, comprising'oneacre, seveh years;. Apiti, two sections, aggregating six odd. .acres,-fi.ve years and four years., All .with residence and improvements' compulsory. ■•."'•• ■ ■,-• : February. 2G.—Reserves: offered for- lease, by publio,tender: Pohangina, seventeen sections, comprising about' four , acres,' seven years; Poha.ngina subujbs, two seotions, ten acres, seven years; Levin, 'two.sections, ■ quarter of' an 'acre, ten.yearsj Kaitawa,. two sections; thirteen odd acres, annual.' .Residence and improvements •'fcomp'nlsory.".-'- '; ' ; , ~. . , T lTebruary.2G.—Eight, sections,, comprising 229 odd.acres, reoffered.as 'lands,for. Settlement," renewable lease,. at. : Normandale ■ (Belmont Lower Hutt).. i' . . ■ '• "■' J ' February. 28.—Three pastoral runs; comprising. 23,352. acres, between the. Patea and Manawatu rivers, offered for license by public-auc-tion, under the .Lands Act, 1892, and tho National Endowments Act, 1907. • ■ ■ _Febmary 28.—Mana Island,:-525 acres, was ottered as a'rtserve for lease by publio tender for U at a rental of : '.'• April 27.--Eight workers' honies, Seddon Terrace,' - \?ere offered on lease with the right to acquire'the freehold.- Three of the eight, were of Class A (foiir-roomed), and the remainder. Class B (five-roomed). The area of land varied from "8 to 12 perches.

April .^O.'-^An'.Boo-acre grazine-nm,: , at Kaitieke (access .from Raurimu, Mam Trunk line), was offered on'a 21 years' lease',, with the right of renewal. ' • .. ' •■. ~,.■■ . April 29.^-One'. ection, ■ eleven' odd ■ abros, at Akatarawa, Hutt County, was offered for.sale. •■ May 20.—A grazing-run of. 1710 acres, Momahaki,'. a Gcconu-olass National j Endowment reserve betweon the "Wariganui ■ and ■•:Waitotara rivers, was offered for 21 years' lease with the right of-renewal. ' . ' • > ' May.27—Four lets of "lands for selection" — (1) haitieke, Walmarino County;-(2) Tararua Mauricevillo County; (3) Akatarawa, Hutt County; (4) Pukotui, Pahiatua County—aggregating 1415 odd.acres, were.offered for application. Tho first : was/offered under: the optional system ; the\other '• three, being national. endowjnents,. wore, of ooune, offerbd bs roiaewablo leMOttowv •"■-• ■■■ ■■'. ' ■■'■'■ '■ . : '-' .••'■ ■ ■ ''. -J-' '' ' ;

Juno 24.—The landing reserve at Castlepoint, 68 acres, was offered at a seven-years' lease , under Hie Public Eeserves Act, 1881. August 19.—Three sections, aggregating 507 odd acres, of first-class national endowment Tβserve,'in the Maungakaretu Bloot, east of Tura,ngarere, Main Trunk line, were offered on the /renewable' lease system. ' ■ ■■ - , > August 19.—Under the Native .Townships Act, • 1895,; 15 sections, 40 odd. acres, -at ■■ Tokaanu (Lake Taupo), two sections, about an acre, at Hokio (near Levin), and one section, five odd acres, .at Potaka (south of i Taihape), were offered for lease-by, publio tender. . . ' . August 26.—One section of 27 odd adres of brst-class land in the Normandale Settlement (Lower Hutt) was offered as a renewable leasehold under the "Lands ,icor Selection" system. ; 'August 26.—One section, • about an acre, at .Onau, and eight sections, two acres, at Mangaweka, were offered as reserves for lease by public tender for .terms of five and seven -yearS respectively. ; . ..:. . ..... .. ~ October ._ 28.-A quarter-acre section at Eaurimu,: Mam Trunk line, was offered for sale. ' \ ..'■ ..-.-■■ ; . •

October 28.-Eight "village homesteads" we,re offered under the renewable lease system :'Mataroa (Mam Trunk line), one section, three roods;' Mananui (Mam Trunk line).-one acre section; Pukeroa (Hunterville distriol), six sections, aggregating 54 odd acres. •..■'/ - 8 November 19.--Ono seotion,' '48- odd' acres, Nireaha. Village Settlement:(Forty-Mile-Bush) ■was offered under the renewable lease. ■ : ' ' December—Business oh the Main Trunk. :' The> Commissioner for Crown Lands; accomi pamed by Messrs. Reeoe, Dawson, Canton, i and A'Court, left Wellington-on December 3 on a, tour of the Crown lands, settlement blocks.along the Mam Trunk Line, arid during_ next , two 'weeks conducted ballots and cash purchase auctions:at-Ninia. OtiaKune;- Kangataua; Horopito West, ■ Owhango, 1 inaka. ■ and Kakahi townships, and the: village settlements at Rangataua," Ohakune, Horopito West, and Kakahi. The results the tour were most successful, and the upset prices, in nearly every instance,' were greatly exceeded, competition being exceptionally ™ e .n>, .especially.for village settlement lots. At Uhakune and Rangataua the business was exceedingly, brisk, both as .regards village homestead and town leasehold -lands and cash purchase lots. The demand was not so- keen at Horopito, West, Owhango, and' : Piriaka. liie tour was, fikim the point of view: of the settlers' doing the line, of much- benefit: representative deputations from counties, settlements, and local associations,: waited upon, the commissioner and the hoard with reference tol questions . affecting their-interests, and matters concerning the opening up "of development of timber lands' public reserves.roads construction, etc., were all fully discussed. The following isthe number of lots disposed of. by ballots conducted along the line:—Owhango leases, 16; Kakahi Village Settlement, ir;;oliakune:Village Settlement _ 65; Rangataua Village Settlement leases, 13; Horopite Town and Village leases, Rangataua .Town leases, 20 ■ ■■•'■■ '•-■'■'

»W % A ? 'i 3 -$ township .auction sales stowed-that..at .Eangataua, ;30 sections averaging a quarter of an acre, and <?£ va l u - es £1494 > realised £l739tin Onakune township* .14 sections,: averaging in area a,quarter of. an,acre,.realised £1803,. more.than twice the total upsetvalue (£B2oVfour sections' at Ninia,. ranging .in size' from tTvoacres-.tonme Nacres, fetched' £133, or £8 more than the total upsets.,:Competit bn:was Ve ' where, sk ayeragmg. a quarter of an.* acre realised .£349,. £9 -over 'the ;■ S sections at a •quarter' of S the upset value only, £105 i as also did a.couple of quarter-acre sections in !K^^?K^ownsh) P -£2 J and .£l3. respec tlvely j.at'.Kakahi- matters were riiore 'livelv ,for, an. excess of ,£lo4:, O ver, the upset totals n r6al^d^ y S? Ml e of 16 sections/ 7 RrT^ T workmen's homes in. Street, _Petone, were under the' W- '/?f h J °t T 'system! and *, Ha J tr V Estate, Johnsonville, 126 odd ! Sekctisn; -^^.r.

The "Co-0p5."..,- ■'.-:-..' : ; ; }.;A; vast army of. cChoperative.labourers or' as they;were colloquially .termed,.™™"" were scattered' alon g ;the permanent way of fnhU ? itH - ■ I ? nd fl oa , rd >ywMi : an- eye to future Settlement upon the approaching .bmpletionvof + ihe road,' offered special Induct to take up land in, the vicinity, Cot;, their labours;:.certain,alotments;-.' fact- ' were specially for' selection:,by y them, and ni-some mstantes, not a little soreness was felt -among the country settlers-that such preference should have been granted to a .class whifch, included m its ranksja.number of .individuals ■■ of, .t was; alleged, undesirable S^if-V-frfl^ 8, ?"?"*. -f* ' example, might, be of 'a fluctuating character; 'who would m. fact ; ,lack -that.'.stability - of fe Jk l hwh :lnaa ? th e good 'settler. It happened,: however; that the-'Wop."» 0 V at least a.majority of him, preferred to stickto his, pick 'and shovel, as the. cobb'Jer: stuck to his last- those who dM; avail theinselve of the opportunity afforded by the Lands

+; .An^ interesting departure was made in oer- ' |S.>?v.Mwnship- land transactions where' it had been .decided to offer part'for cash' purchase, and-, the .remainder," as leasehold- in order to av6id comparisons by-the' freeholders and .leaseholders, the, sections' disposed of jvere.. marked alternately freehold and leasehold.i;i "the .plan.- It also enabled men of small means'to take up'good'sites at a moderate rental without having to" compete with the/man who was able to pay cash

In 1909. :•■- ■~:-..■' ■;. ■;. ■'."■;■_ :.;:■■. ■•" , The/full programme for, the 'coming. year has not yet been mapped.out;;inFebruary or March the.Ruatiti Bfock, of 15,000' acres, in is^°, o Stnern..Waimarino ) "and a .big block of 40,00.0 ,aores .-.in the. same district, aiittleto the north-west of.Raetihi, 'will'be opened-for settlement/ Other lands to be opened' within the near future,are-'the Carringto'n" Estate' of 5178 acres, the.Rangitatau Block 0M0'275 acres,- additional town lots at- Ohakune, and" probably,, spmo; sections in Maranui Village Settlement; two lots •of ' timber. lands near Mangaweka,-will probably be aactioned within the next HX;or eight weeks,, and within the same'period a' grazing run in the Ruahine district, near 'Mangawek'a, will be offered; at : 2_ss. per,acre; on the.Mangahao Eiver. three timber lots, averaging 59: acres each, the reservation on 'which has now been removed, will -be .placed on offer j arid' on the Mangawhero River, there wiir shortly be op«ned lip two .blocks of 12,000 acres each. , '...-■ - .

; There are now 3300 tenants to be looked after in this .big district, and-, in .order to keep in touch, as far as possible, with all of them, the commissioner, Mr. Mackenzie, intends .to make frequent tours iin various parts of his sphere of. .influence, u The land laws are of a comprehensive and: binding character, but a common-sense. system of ndministering .them gives that saving elasticity which can,bo stretched to meet the needs and deserts of ".the, struggling settler who.has struck a streak.of bad luck, or contracted to squeeze-out the "waster." The commissioner s nejet tour will be round' arid about, the Waimarinp district, where areas: are shortly to be thrown open for settlement, and,.generally speaking, for the future an energetic policy, of lands - settlement will be pursued.' . • - .. . . ,