OPENING UP CROWN LANDS IN PATEA COUNTY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 130, 13 July 1881, Page 3

OPENING UP CROWN LANDS IN PATEA COUNTY.

On Wednesday last an important and influential deputation waited upon the Patea County Council on the above subject. The deputation consisted of Messrs. C. F. Barker, H. F. Christie, B. W. Foreman, J. Gibson, — Norman, S. Taplin, and R. C. Tennent.

Mr. Tennent explained that the deputation were anxious that the Council should use its influence to press forward settlement in the Crown and other unoccupied lands near Patea. There was comparatively a very small area of settled land in the neighborhood of Patea, whereas they saw settlement being rapidly proceeded with near Hawera. He referred more particularly to the University reserve and some of the land behind it, much of which he had reason to believe was suitable for s ttlement.

Mr. Christie pointed out that in the Moumahaki block there was also a large area of land. He thought the district near Patea had been neglected. He had lately been on a visit to the north of Auckland, and had been surprised to find how rapidly settlement had been proceeded with on land certainly inferior to much of that near Patea. Population in those districts had increased within the last three years at the rate of 95 per cent. In reply to Mr. Bridge, Mr. Tennent stated that he was quite sure from what he himself bad seen, that there were several thousand acres of first-class land within the University reserve. Behind it, the country appeared to be very broken, but he had been told that there were some good patches further inland. Mr. Gibson stated that much of the land between Whenuakura and Patea was in the hands of the natives, and the Government would have to go behind that to open up settlement. The first thing that would be required would be roads. Referring to the University reserve, it was at present locked up, and but little was said ; whereas, if the same land were held by one individual for speculative purposes, there would be a great outcry; yet the result was the same in either case. [Mr. Hunter — Does that reserve pay any property tax ?] — It was people which the district needed, and the deputation did not care much upon what terms they came, so long as settlement proceeded. Mr. Taplin was in favor of the County Council being appointed a Land Board. If that were done, these matters would be attended to.

Mr. Barker moved that the County Council communicate with Capt. Wray on the subject, and press for steps to be taken to throw some of this land open for settlement without delay.

The Chairman stated that he had seen Captain Wray on the subject, who had moved in the matter, but had been told that all Government surveyors were too busily engaged elsewhere. Mr. Christie — Then let the survey be done by contract, as has been done in other places, when the work was more than the Government surveyors could undertake.

Mr. Barker — I know there are a great number of competent surveyors looking for work.

Mr. Foreman drew the attention of the council to the fact that there was a considerable extent of good land in the OpukaOtoia block and at the back of the Whakamara block. It was within his personal knowledge that much of that laud was really good, and suitable for settlement. In the cases mentioned, a very passable road had been made up to the edge of each block.

After the deputation had withdrawn, Mr. Bridge opened the question, and stated that in respect to the University reserve, he had made enquiries and found that Captain Wray had been empowered to let the reserve for 14 or 21 years, in two or three large blocks, but had not been empowered to cut up the land into smaller farms. The Commissioner was apparently averse to letting the land in large blocks, and it had not been doneHe had seen the Commissioner, who stated that he believed that there was a considerable extent of good land between Patea and Taupo, which ought to be opened \ip by roads. The speaker then read statistics which he had obtained, setting forth that there was a very large area of both agricultural and pastoral land, suitable for settlement, inland within the West Coast Land District. A track had been commenced up the river at one time, but had been abandoned on the plea that the workmen had come to an impassable place. He moved that the Commissioner for the West Coast Land District be written to, requesting that the University reserve be cut up into blocks of 300 or 400 acres, and leased for 14 or 21 years ; that the Kaharoa track be opened into the interior, in order to open up the land behind the said reserve ; and that a suggestion be forwarded to the Government that monies voted for opening roads to unsold lands in Moumahaki and other blocks be handed to local bodies for expenditure.

Mr. Brewer supported the motion. Mr. Gane expressed himself satisfied that there was a considerable area of good land at the back of Whakamara, although the land nearest to that sold was much broken.

The Chairman stated that he would be in Wellington in the course of a few days, when he would do what he could to further the wishes of the Council by personal negociation, which was, at any rate, more expeditious than a correspondence. The resolution was then put and carried.

The question of the survey having been raised, it was resolved that the Government be requested to open a portion of the .land behind Otoia-Opaka block and Whakamara, and that a suggestion be made that if the survey staff is not available for the work, the survey be let by tender.

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