Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 62, 27 November 1890, Page 2

Correspondence

WEST WAITAPU BLOCK. GOVERNMENT BLUNDERS. TO THK RiliTOR (,r THE STAR. Sir, — As I see the Government have just opened up a new block at the back af the West Waitapu it may interest 3ome of the new settlers to know how the Groverament have served the settlers of bhe Ongo Ward. The land was unsurveyed, and on application for a section the survey money had to be put down on the understanding the survey would be proceeded with as soon as possible, contrary to the custom of most civil contracts which are usually paid at the completion of the work. To take an instance : I paid £48 two and a half years ago, and I was rather amused to see that the Government, about a week ago, were pegging off my section some months after my fence was up. Early the winter before last some three different parties came to me and asked me for bush to fall, and offered to fall it as low as 25s per acre. I was unable to start them at it, not being definitely sure which was my land, owing to there being no pegs put in, I wrote three or four times to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, but received evasive answers, Mr Shannon and myself employed a surveyor, at our own expense, to cut the line between our sections, and when I was able to let the bush it was late in the season ; the naxmills were well under weigh, labor was high, and it cost me a loss of £'30 in one contract of 110 acres, owing simply to the negligence of the Government. I consider, sir, that such conduct shows great want of consideration for the settlers by the Commissioner of Lands and Surveyor-General. Apologising for taking up so much space of your valuable paper, I am, &c, W. T. Ward.