The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Tuesday, October 11, 1887. CROWN LANDS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 52, 11 October 1887, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Tuesday, October 11, 1887. CROWN LANDS.

Be just and fear not; I/»t all the ends thon aim’st at be thy country*!, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

It will be seen that Major Atkinson has promised retrenchment to the extent of /jqOjOOO, and Jffi'at he can raise <200,000 by the sale of Crown lands, As to the first part of his statement he docs not say how he can effect that saving, but the latter carries conviction with it on the face of it, We will take this district alone for an example, There are hundreds of thousands of acres of land, much of which is really good, which could readily be disposed of at a fair price. Last year 176,000 acres were offered for lease, but on terms that no man with the least common sense could take up, As with us so is it elsewhere. Hitherto the Government seem to have the desire to keep on stock that which would have produced to the Colony an enormous revenue, and which would have succoured districts such as ours to a degree difficult to calculate, There is no reason why the Crown lands of the colony should not be settled on, There are only too many who are willing to purchase them, and with the purchase cultivation would follow. It will then bear its fair share of the taxat.on of the district, from which would arise inestimable benefits. It is no use for the Government to again place such conditions on these sales as are pro hibitory to intending settlers. Let the conditions be fair and reasonable, and there will be found men who are necessary for the prosperity of districts such as the East Coast ready to purchase.