TIMBER-CUTTING RIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 91, 18 April 1921, Page 8

TIMBER-CUTTING RIGHTS

COMPANY WANTS EXTENSION OF LEASE. An application was made to Sir John Salmond sitting in Chambers at the Supreme Court on Saturday by the Pukuwqka Sawmills, Ltd., for which company Mr. E. F. Hadfield appeared, for an order extending the term within which the company was entitled to cut timber on the Puketapu Block, near Manama, in the Taumaranui district, for a further period of five years. 1 In 1903 the- Native owners of the land leased 1200 odd acres to £he millers for 21 years, as from September of that, year, and the. application was made on the grounds (hat war conditions , brought about a shortage of certain essential material and experienced labour, which shortages resulted in a greatly reduced output. One mill had had to be clcsed in December, 1916, Mid the total output had fallen to such an extent that it vas computed that an extension of the .■ i©ase by five years would be required if the timber output was to be equal to that which in the ordinary course -of events would have been made by Ist September, 1924. The present area of standing bush was something under 500

Mr. M. Mye-s and Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell, who appeared for various of the Nativo owners of the land, opposed the application on the ground that were it granted the owners would be put 'to considerable disadvantage. Mr. Myers suggested that probably if the extension were granted*, the company would reap a considerable benefit by going over the land already cut, and cleaning up those trees which were still standing, for at the present price of timber that would be a paying proposition. The Native owners could not sell their laud as jt was, nor could they farm it, aa a European farmer wotld faun partially felled land, for they were not farmers.

Mr Hadfield replied that the company in no way interfered with the owners should they elect to sow the land, which the company itself burnt for its own safety, .and graze cattle. , ) Evidence in support of the company s submission' was given by William M'Kane, manager for the mills, who said that as a result of recent circumstances tho company could not cut all the timber remaining on the block within the period of the lease, but .would be forced to allow 250 to 300 acres to remain standing if the lease were not extended. ... His Honour reserved his decision.