NEW COUNTRY. EAST COAST LAND SETTLEMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 46, 24 February 1908, Page 8

NEW COUNTRY. EAST COAST LAND SETTLEMENT.

NATIVE MINISTER'S INSPECTION. Tho Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, has returned to Wellington after spending borne weeks in the Hawkes Bay and East Coast districts, and in inspecting Crown and Native lands in the back blocks, wich the view of advising his colleagues with respect to land settlement in that part of tho country. To a Post reporter, Mr. Carroll, speaking on this subject, said :—"I: — "I found extensive operations being carried on away in the back-country by settlers, who are doing magnificent pioneering work — clearing the land, sowing and stacking. They are working under most trying circumstance's. The want of proper roading communication they feel very much. They have to pack nearly all their supplies, etc., and also to pack out their wool. In some of the back districts, packing costs about £7 10s a ton. Notwithstanding this, they are carrying on with great heart, and they are cheered by the splendid results from their labours. Grass grows most profusely in that country, and the carrying capacity of the land is marvellous. I refer to all that land running from the East Coast to ths Bay of p lenty, and into the Hawkes Bay district., and towards the Urewera country. There is a tremendous belt of Crown and Native land there. It is mostly broken bush land, but once cleared, it is very good for stock. I may say that lam affording every facility to the natives to take up land for settlement. "As to the bush fires," said the Minister, have been more beneficial than otherwise on the East Coast. They have cleared up the old burns, and cleared tho country a good deal, with hardly any destruction of stock or property. They have had rain there, and that has given quite a spring-like freshness to the country. Speaking of the Native Land Commission, the Native Minister said the Land Court was enaged to its full strength in carrying on its branch of the service in settling titles. The chief difiiculty was in securing enough surveyors to keep pace with the commission and the Native Land Court.