More Properties Passing To Crown Ownership-1000 Acres On Flats

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22914, 5 April 1949, Page 4

More Properties Passing To Crown Ownership-1000 Acres On Flats

SETTLEMENT LANDS

When the Land Court was in the process of fixing compensation for the owners of the Taumata and Hihiroroa properties, compulsorily acquired by the Crown for servicemen’s settlement, the opinion was expressed by many people that the Government would hesitate to proceed further with land purchases in Gisborne or on the East Coast, in view of the large capital outlay required to establish individual settlers on sub-divisions of such blocks.

Negotiations recently completed indicate that the Government is not staying its hand by any means in the acquisition of settlement blocks. These negotiations have added 9277 acres of flat and hill country to the Crown holdings, and further substantial purchases are believed to be in train. Of outstanding interest is the acquisition of 1000 acres of the Onou property, located centrally in the Gisborne plain and embracing some of the best agricultural land in the district. Possession of the 1000 acres passed from the Clark estate trustees to the Crown on April 1. the handover being the outcome of negotiations extending over a long period. Dairy, Fruit and Agriculture Part of the delay in bringing the discussions to a head has been due, it, is understood, to uncertainty as to the effects of the flood-control scheme for the Waipaoa River, which bounds the Opou property for a considerable dis tance. The land offers a remarkable opportunity, in the opinion of experienced farmers, for close sub division for dairying, fruit-growing, and agricultural farming. Plans for its development have not yet been completed by the Lands Department, however. Two station properties within easy reach of Gisborne also figure in recent acquisitions by the Government, these comprising 2314 acres of the Sherbrooke block, sold by the trustees of the Francis Stafford estate, and 1807 acres at Wai-

mata acquired from the trustees of the T. G. Seymour estate. Adjoining Waikoko Development The Sherbrooke property adjoins a nortion of the Waikoko development, taken over two years ago by the Crown, and comprises good sheepfarming land. It should furnish two good units. The Seymour property at Waimata is also really good land for sheep, and probably will cut into two sections for servicemen settlers. This latter block, known as Waima- • rino. is not to be confused with the 1 Wharekeri block of 3677 acres which ' the Crown is taking over from the estate of the late Mr. C. H. Seymour, l Whangara, and which will pass into the : possession of the Crown late this 1 month. ! Back-country property is represented in recent Government purchases by the Hokoroa station of 4156 acres, sold by the Union Bank of Australia as mortj gagee in possession. This property lies l 20 miles inland from Tolaga Bay, on I the Tauwhareoarae road, and is purely , a sheep farming proposition, with no ' ploughable land to speak of. It will provide sections for three servicemen farmers, it is hoped.