EAST COAST LANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 186, 14 August 1901, Page 2

EAST COAST LANDS.

GOOD NEWS FOR GISBORNE,

£250.000 COMING THIS WAX?

(Special to Times.) Wellington, last night. The present position in regard to the Tahora block ease, which raises tho question of the jurisdiction of the Validation Court to deal with the land after it has validated the title; is that it will come up in the form of a special ease at the October sittings of the Court of Appeal, unless the Government- legislates as to East Coast native lands in the meantime. More unlikely things have happened, and the Premier's reply to the recent question put in the House of Representatives by Mr Monk indicated an inclination to "convert the estates into Crown lands. Definite proposals have, 1 know, Doen

made to tho Government on behalf of the natives. One of these is that the Government should advance two hundred and fifty thousand pounds to defray all liabilities and leave a balance for opening up properties now unused, and appoint a capable man to manage the whole of the estates. The other is that the lands be vested by statute in the | Maori Land Council, after appointing a business man as chairman, with power taken to advance .£25,000; the Council to to have the powers of the Validation Court, which could be closed, and to take the land subject to.the present tiusts. If either of these proposals is adopted, it is suggested an arrangement might be made with the Bank of New Zealand, tho present mortgagee, and other creditors to accept Government debentures at three or 3.V per cent-., while the Government charged' tho estate with four per cent, interest, and one per cent, sinking fund. It is believed that the etlect will be to increase the annual revenuo from tho estates from fourteen to thirty thousand pounds, and after providing for the interest and management expenses, there would be left fifteen thou-

sand for division among the Natives concerned. If the Bank proceeds, as notified in January next, to sell large areas, it will certainly provoke 'further litigation, and do much to destroy the favorable position which East Coast now occupies in the public estimation. On the other hand, if the lands are thrown open for settlement on favorable terms and titles placed beyond dispute, it will ensure the prosperity of both district- and Native owners. [There must, wc think, be somo mistake about this, as it soc-ms too good to bo true. There is too free a dealing with large sums of money, and too largo a balance shown in favor of the Native* to render this tho possible solution of the difficulty.— Editor Times.)