LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13032, 24 November 1905, Page 6

LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT.

. STATEMENT BEFORE THE LAND | BOARD. ' j QUARTER OF A MILLION ACRES THIS YEAR, 96,000 ACRES AT SELWYN. | Before tho conclusion of. the Land Board 'sitting 5, yesterday, the ■ Commissioner of Crown Lands ) (Mr. )J. / Mackenzie) . said he had a statement prepared of the lands to be opened hin Auckland ): district 1 for •) tho year commencing; on; April 1, 1905, arid ending on March 31, 1906. The lands already ..opened) this year totalled . 26,293 acres, and 129,835 acres were to be opened within . about six weeks, while 101,000 acres were-in preparation for opening. The statement was as, follows, the first figures in each instance indicating the area to.'be opened for selection within six weeks; and ' the . second ; that expected to , be \ ready • before March/ 31. next:—Bay of Islands, 292 acres';, Hokianga, / 5121 acres, and 25,000 acres; Hobson, 354 acres; Awakino, 1911 acres, and 10,000 acres; Kawhia, 9963 acres Mangonui, 1401 acres Opotiki, , nil and, 21,000 acres; ) Tauranga, Si,uiJ acres; Whangarei, 829 acres; W»ikato, 5107 , acres; Waitemata, 201 acres Wliakatane, 21,557 acres Rotorua, 10,834 acres; Piako, 51,000 (Selwyn), and 45,000 acres (Selwvn);: Ohinemuri, j 266 : acres;, Otamatca, 557 acres; Raglan, 17,000 acres; Whangaxoa, ;\ 240 ' acres: ; totals, - 129,835 ! acres, and 101,000 acres. Mr. Harris. remarked that the statement ; was a most satisfactory one. ' j ■ The Commissioner replied that the lands were fairly "evenly distributed all "over the province. "The "■■ two -most = import-ant lots opened were in Awakino and Xawhia, and there were some important blocks at Hokianga ito be opened, and at Rotorua there was also some rather "good land. ' Of course the big block of all was the Selwyn, 51,000 acres and 45,000 acres. ', Mr. Harris said this was an answer to the statement that people could not get land, and , that, lands were not opened up in Auckland province. The Commissioner: It's a little over a quarter of a* million acres that we will be putting into the market for settlement during the year It was also agreed by the Board to throw open for selection under Part 111. of tie Land Act, sections 17 to 19 (inclusive), Block XVI., Mangaihaungero survey dis- | trict, ;at . from 27s 6d; to 32s 66 ? per acre i under the; Lands for Settlement ,Act r section 57. Block 1., Otamatea survey district: (Bickerstaffe settlement), 371 acres 2 roods, ! half-yearly' rental, £22 5a lOd ; and to * offer by auction the eastern portion 'of section 123, Pukeatua Parish, Z acres 3 roods 19 poles, at , 20s; per acre. With reference to the sale of allotments at Kawakawa, it was resolved to leave the matter- to the Commissioner, ho to offer the sections for sale, and have his action confirmed at next meeting.