WELLINGTON LAND DISTRICT WORKS.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 26, 31 July 1899, Page 6

WELLINGTON LAND DISTRICT WORKS.

*Tho following proposals of tho Commissioner of Crown Landp for 1899-1900 in the Wellington Land District are contained in a report laid before Parliament. —I find it difficult to employ the field staff on reproductive —that is, settlement —surveys, as thu balance of tho Crown bnds in the Wellington Land District is scant, generally remote, and comprises a large proportion of rough bush land of cons'der ablo altitude. The Avasto unimproved na tive lands now bar the expansion of Euro poan settlement, yet the native owners derive no benefit from their estates in their presont wild unproductive stnte. The acquisition by tho Crown of arena of freehold properties under the Land for Settlements Acts would bo a very acceptable addition to tho Clown's estate in this district. It is proposed to thoroughly explore the balance of the Crown lands in tho Wairarapii, and on the upper easlerr slopes of the Pohangina and Rangitikei bubins, in order to separate mnds suitable for conversion for pastoral purposes from those which should be set a^ide as State forests. The other staff surveyors will similarly deal with nil Crown lands entrusted to them for survey. There are several small blocks on the Hautapu, between Ngaurukehn and Potaka, which should bo placed on tho market, unless it bo decided to keep them for sawmillens. The survey of the Tauak'.ia Block, of 26,650 acres, should bo completed tlii*» season, but it is only suitable for disposal as second-class land, in holdings of about 1500 acres each. It is also expected that 5000 acres of the Rangitatatau Block, on the Waitotara, will be sectioniced and sold. Failing tho acquisition of additional lands for settlement, several surveyors will bo employed upon the north-western part of the Waimarino district, though tin lands in that locality uppcur hitherto not to have found favour with the farmer and grazier. Mr. Biggs will complete, for Native Land Court purposes, surveys and plans of tho balance of thnt part of the Awaiuu Block situated between the Hant«pu and Moawhango Rivers, leaving, how ever, Mr. Movice the portion at and near their junction. Judging by the operation;of Ibo Land Purchase Department, subdivisions of numerous blocks of native lands will be called for. There will probab.y be a falling-off in the amount of road surveys, but it is anticipated that the North Island Main Tiunk Railway will requiie final survey and mapping. Stand aid surveys for Lund Transfer purposes of tho Hutt Borough and Wellington Dis trict will, if formally sanctioned, be put iv hand.