TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 53, 13 October 1880, Page 4

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Sib, — There is considerable speculation as to the prices likely to be realised for the Waimate lands. Ab the time of sale is drawing near, it is becoming evident that those lands will not realise the high prices anticipated. The land is of good quality, and as a grazing district not excelled in the colony ; but it has been rendered unattractive to intending settlers by the injudicious way it has been cut up into small allotments, ranging* from 30 to 80 acres, i One-third of the sections have been marked off as deferred payment land, for the benefit of those not possessed of means ; but the upset price of this — £S per acre — is equal to a rental of 10s per acre for land without one acre cleared or one chain of fencing erected. But even on these exorbitant terms, the purchaser cannot be sure of getting his fifty-acre patch. A person can only apply for bqe section ; there may -be half-a-dozen applicants, for the same section;

and if he really wants the 'land as a home for his family, he has to compete at auction, and in the excitement of the sale room, this land may be run up to double the upset price, and the purchaser may find himself the possessor of a fifty-acre patch for which he has paid equal to <£1 per acre rental, for land totally unimproved. Experience will then prove to him that the land he has purchased is not

a grain-producing soil. He will also find that for some years he cannot keep sheep, and will therefore chiefly he dependent on the profits of what cattle his fifty-acre patch will graze to meet his heavy payments and expenses. The deferred payment lands are priced too high to suit those without capital, and no one of any experience will purchase land on such terms with a view of paying the instalments from the profits of land purchased at so heavy a cost. Of the cash payment lands, much the same may be said. There is no doubt they would have realised much higher prices, had they been offered # to the public in sections o£ two or three hundred acres area. Persons possessed of means have visited the district, with a view of purchasing and becoming resident settlers, but have left in disgust, on finding that the land was cut into profitless fifty-acre patches, rendering it uncertain for a person to obtain a compact two or three hundred acre farm.

The high prices on deferred payment land, and the limited area of cash payment sections, renders it likely that few real resident settlers will become purchasers, as the probability is that, under these disadvantages, most of the land will fall into the hands of absentee speculators, who can afford to wait until more settled times may render those lands of more value. There is no hiding the fact that at present a strong feeling of insecurity exists, and few- care to risk the losses that may be sustained through native opposition to occupation. It must also be borne in mind that, while they can occupy the ioresb lands Deh'md, the natives may be said to be in possession of a very extensive and safe fortress, from which raids can be made to injure the stock and property of resident settlers, with little risk to themselves, so long as only one redoubt at Manaia is provided for the protection of intending settlers. - To give the necessary security and confidence to settlers, a chain of four or five small redoubts are required along the back line from Kaupokonui to Waingongoro. The Government have sufficient men to protect, if they are judiciously scattered in small redoubts. They have a large and expensive redoubt (Waihi) to maintain, so situated that it neither affords protection to the centres of population south of Waingongoro, or to intending Waimate settlers north of that river. The sale of the Government Waihi property would enable the Government to remove the three block-houses it contains to more usefully protective positions, and also furnish sufficient funds to complete a chain of small redoubts necessary to give protection and confidence to encourage the settlement and occupation of the Waimate Plains. — I am, &c.,

Spectator.