POVERTY BAY LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11432, 24 July 1900, Page 6

POVERTY BAY LANDS.

SETTLEMENT OF BUSH COUNTRY.

.{Br TKI.KGHAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.]

', GiSBOiWfE, Monday. A.T a mooting of the Hawke's Bay Laud Board, held at Gisbornc to-day, the Motu Settlers' Association wrote, advocating the opening, to settlement of a block of land 5700 acres, situate opposite the Motu village, across the river. They pointed out that all tbo available Government land in that part of the district had already been selected, and numerous inquiries vvero continually being made as to when this block was to bo opened up. A deputation appeared in support of the object advocated in the letter. Mr. Matthews, who acted as spokesman, urged upon the Board the necessity of recommending to the Government that all blocks .of land in the district should be at once opened up. He mentioned several which could bo put into the market at once, and Complained that applicants for land should go away disappointed when so much land might ,bo available . Mr. 'Wbmray (chairman of the Chamber of Commerce} opposed the application, on the grounds that' the granting of it would mean [the destruction of much valuablo timber. The matter had been discussed from time to time in tho . Chamber of Commerce, and whilst urging the opening up of Crown and native lands, it. had come to their knowledge that there were va3t tracts of bush which wore bo--sng destroyed by fire. He was aware of many instances in which land with timber, Valued at from £50 to £150 an acre, had been let for a nominal amount. He urged that tho Board should mako forest reservations. It seemed to him a monstrous thing that the .Government should allow valuable timber, "which could not be replaced, to be destroyed. Ho mentioned the names ot several settlors ! lwho owned properties upon which timber valued at the amount stated had been destroyed by firo. It appeared to him en anomalous position that the Government , should allow timber to be destroyed in such a sacreligious way, well knowing that it would be required. - He hoped the Board would do their best to reserve the forest land in the Motu until the railway was pushed on to that place. The Commissioner of Crown Lands said

the difficulty was that limber was very scat- ; tered, and one could not go there and pick out a hundred acres of one bush. All the Country was mixed bush. It was found im- . possible, .when settlers wcro put upon it, to v.reserve the timber, for the fire would go $S,; through it. * The Government were now getSiting information from the rangers as to the test means of preventing bush fires. It was his opinion that all tho suggestions these prac- | tical men could put forward would amount to v(viul.r' : Direo'ily settlement took plaeo in bush ' Country, there- was little chance of saving the .;• ; "timber. •; The Board were on the look-out for any. such land, as there was a,tremendous de- ' mand for it. Regarding settlement of hush country, one class of people urged that it should be reserved, and another that it should to opened for settlement. ■'.; His own opinion was that there should be a mill put wherever I ■ thore was valuablo' timber/'"and settlement could ; follow. There was, however,' such at rush foi- settlement that pooplo would not I Wait. , •••■ , . j It was decided, to urge the; Government to open, up all the available lands for settle-' S'.snt in+ t ho district. .-'-"' ■•:,.,