NATIVE LAND ACT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 742, 15 February 1910, Page 2

NATIVE LAND ACT.

SETTLEMENT PROSPECTS AT ICAWHIA. .; ■-i-[ Auckland, 1 February 14; Interviewed' here, tho : Hon; Dr. Find-" lay said tthat: he < had fulfilled-.- a promise v ? »; s of long-standing'by travellingthrougfr'the! ';'.'. •King;., Country- as > far' as .' Kawhia, ■ where'' he !had'met a.'number-of'people-and; r&:-' ■ ceived. several deputations.V: i;: ,r ' "It -is «4mp(^ole".-' ! Baid''il)r.v'lliiila7 t * , v "to*escape the:feeling . thatvKawhia has , • not advanced'as much.during' theTpastde- - 7 ; ciido. as.-it; should.'have done, 'CMsidering its,-splendid .'harbour'- and- ; th'e:- : rich\'antt:-.- ' fertile - lands' which, surround it/ .• ■ is-practically 'surrounded by (land .held by;. Native, owners. The great difficulty, which' v., has, been experienced in . obtaining' .titles i~; over; (Native land-ias,seriously\impeded> progress and-.settlemont.V-.' -' - Dr. - Findlay- - - said he found the people, of Kawhia much.-. ■ interested; in the Native. : Land Act:of, last. session,: an- enactment • that facilitates and ;;-' • provides..'for v th6' obtaining'.'of' landi i-.in .. proper.'cases.from, the Nativo o\niers'..Thef;.., 1 general , feeling, seemed .io..him .to': be,'.tliat,i-> . the.'heiv law.-would expense of obtaining titles and,so. . tare their , completion that a' : new. stimulus ■.': would .bo,"given to. settlement,; and'latga.'i-, areas of fertile lanil . that, had'.; long ;.re- ..v ' iuaine<l unused about tho shores ,of th« ~ magnificent: Kawhia Harbour " would.; bo occupied-and;cultivated.:- : . "From what I's&w on, my visit,".con-' ;. tinued. Dr. Findlay;: "there should' now be *» a: marked ; stride: forward, in the prosper-:;'. ily of tho Kawhia district."' <Ho also, re- . ferred to the'-'fact;thati : the"-riew :: Act,pro".f.i'-V.--vides .for : the . .expenditure■ of i 6500,000 per," year-in acquiring '-land;V Th6:.poopie of Kawhia-were encouraged: by: thia; ,' to hope that some of tho large and tetiln areas there, might bo, acquired, for'/Buro-. ; 'i' pean.'settlement.', ( _ .. ' . -