CROWN LANDS. VISIT OF INSPECTION BY LAND BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 25, 31 January 1911, Page 8

CROWN LANDS. VISIT OF INSPECTION BY LAND BOARD.

AN AEDUOUS JOURNEY. The members of the Wellington Land (Board had to 'Tough it" to a certain extent during their tour of the hinterland, which was commenced on 14th January, the object being to interview ,the settlers in the Kaitieke district, •which comprises the country generally ■lying between Taumarunui and EaetihL ,The purpose was to make enquiries as to road access and the conditions under •wrbieh the Kaitieke and Retaruke settlers Ihold their land*. All the members ot jthe board, as well as Eanger Lundius, jnade the trip. Speaking to a Post representative this imdrning, Mr. James Mackenzie, Comaiiissioflsr of Crown Lands, gave an interesting account of the tour. \ Nearly the whole of these settlers, he Said, were interviewed personally, and jtheir lands examined. The trip was on canoe from Retaruke southward on the Wanganui River for several days, the valleys leading from )the rivers being traversed on foot. . xvaiJtieke and Lower Retaruke were observed tfrom horseback, and also by walking. {The journey was arduous, and not without a little hardship. Deputations, both Native and European, met the board at different points, and represented their fwants. ' These consisted chiefly of improved road access, and the settlers who thad not had the benefit of the Bush and !j3w-amp Act, which means four years' demission of rents to the holder, asked S.that this concession should be granted itfaem. It was pointed out, however, '(that as the law at present stood the >t>oard had no power to do this. The 'iWkole matter would be considered when' 'the tour was completed. generally," added Mr. .Mackenzie, "the setters are carrying put the requirements of th& Act, "and ■tHere are very few cases indeed where tiie residence and improvements conditions'have not been complied with. A ,;good many complained very much about ■road access, but admitted that this had Ibeen greatly improved during the last i eighteen months. Those settlers, whose access is from the river, while admitting that the roads to the river were a great convenience to them, pointed out that these routes were impracticable for •stock, as the river steamers do not take stock at all. ; "Various stages of prosperity are to be soen. The settlement is in its earlier stages, and all are struggling manfully and doing their best. Their lot." "however, is not very different to isettlers in other districts. For the first ten years it is always a struggle, but •as years roll along gradually they get dray, and even metalled roads. This his happened, , all _ round *the Raetihi, 2*brty~ Mile Bush, and Rangitikei settle■njents generally. The country which rwe call South Waimarino has been more •recently opened," and the settlers are in their first stages. People we inter■viewed there seemed very well satisfied i^vith their lot, with the exception of the question of road access, but they recognise that roads will come in due course. Some of this country seems very suitable for grazing, judging by the character of the few clearings we saw. "The board rode and tramped from Retaruke right through to Raetihi, and a great portion of this country was very Tough indeed ; but, fortunately, we were favoured with good weather. In lots of places we had to lead our horses through by survey tracks." Proceeding further, the members spent a "day in viewing the Awarua block, east of Utiku, which has been kept back from milling purposes with an idea of 3seing whether' a portion could not be x'tilised for settlement. They also went through lands between Omatani and Taihape, and interviewed a number of settlers, who were all very well satisfied with the conditions under which they held their land.