SEPARATE LAUD DISTRICT

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3943, 28 May 1913, Page 4

SEPARATE LAUD DISTRICT

THE'AGITATION REVIVED. LETTER TO THE DEPARTMENT. There is a revival of the agitation that a separate land district should be formed in this part of the Dominion. Ms the outcome of a recent meeting of the Gisborne Law Society called at the instance o' Mr. f. Vr. Nolan, the following letter was sent to the Minister for Lands: ;; At a meeting ox the Gisborne Law Society the following resolution was passed •unanim-Otisly, 'That representations be made to the Gov- _ eminent a-s to tho desirability ot forming Poverty Bay into a_ sc-pa-rato land district.” In bringing this matter to your notice I would point out that the present Hawke’s Bay land district- extends roughly from Woodville to the East Cape. It is lielic-ved that there i.s not another land district so scattered, or. so far as this end or the district- is concerned, so difficult of access. There is a great deal of Crown land in the Gisborne and East Coast district, and this is under the administration of the Hawke’s Bay land district, the Board for which sits at Gisborne only four times a year. This means that all applications or importance affecting lands in this district must wait three months to be dealt with. In Napier there art--12 sittings in the year. It is true that applications affecting land in this district can be dealt with at Napier, but tinless thc-y are oi _a simple nature they have to await the Gisborne sitting. Moreover, ta when Gisborne matters are being dealt with at Napier it is.frequently necessary for persons interested and witnesses necessary to attend at Napier in support. Tliis results in a very Considerable expense to people who in many cases can ill afford it. Another disadvantage attendant on the present land district is that all applications affecting surveys have to go through Napier before they can be dealt with by the local survey office, and this inconvenience is a very real one to those who are brought in contact with it in practice. V e trust you may be able to give this matter your favorable consideration as it- is of the utmost importance to the Gisborne and East Coast district. Air. John Straucliar., Tinder-Secre-tary for Lands, replied to this communication as follows: “1 have the honor by direction of the Minister for Lands to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st March, in regard to the proposal that Poveri-v Bay be formed int-o a separate land district, and in reply I have to inform you that the suggestion will receive very careful consideration at the hand? of the Government, and you will be informed as to its decision at a later date.” As the outcome of a rumor about town yesterday, the following telegram was despatched. It explains itself: * Public Service Commissioners, Wellington. It is reported here that- a proposal has been made to close local Land and Survey Office. You may not be aware that my Chamber and a local La w Society recently expressed , views of the district that a separate office should be established here. Present proposal, if given effect- to. would be a most retrograde step, and is viewed with concern by the whole community. Want- of railway communication with Napier is big drawback. In view of growing business here, my Chamber trusts there is no foundation for report. *' HAMILTON IRVINE, Secretary Gisborne Chamber of Commerce.