LAND GOING TO WASTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15234, 22 February 1913, Page 8

LAND GOING TO WASTE.

PREY TO NOXIOUS WE&2S... BURNED OFF, BUT x NOT GRASiiHJD. - ; f»T TELKGKAI'H. —OWN COBHESFOKD^Jf't.'.] Wangakui, Friday. Several matters of importance wars brought, before the Native Minister (th< Hon. W. IT. Hemes) at Raeiibi by Mr. Berry, manage? of the local dairy com pany, particularly in connection with the Itaetihi No. 4 Block, vested in the Lark Board. ■■■■'.■ ■--..'..'■" : '..(- ; •"'■-' , Mr. Berry pointed out that, the grassinj of lands when a burr* hid taken place was of the utmost importance, bo far as tin future was concerned. :On the block ii - question, however, the bush -had. beer felled and burned, but no seed had beer sown, .' at./.', mm , noxious.. weeds, suci as grounsel, , Caiiforniah..thistle>i,etc., ,cov> ered the country. Indeed /he doubted ■ I seed would now germinate, and yet 'lit sowi at the tir/re of the burr- th :.ro would hav been ■' produced a : beau. .al ! pasliure. :: Tin immediate grassing : of native lands whsi bush been burned. was of extrem< iraportiia'je, and something should be don< to prevent laud being injured in the waj he had dc'-eribed. The . waimar'ino carfie< some very fine dairying Country,-'.but,- ii had been spoi ? id because .ho millers'- in terest lay*-only in the timber. : :. ' Ix giving his reply, the Minister aske< that Mr. E. W. Smith, member for th district, should write him fully .pa this im portant question. ,At the . samo time h wanted it to bo ' understated that if th bind was partitioned and surveyed .''■'. h could do nothing, though he express* his "willingness to purchase all the nativ lands in thi Dominion not, partitioned, si long as the Maoris wei-o Willing to sell and that enough land was left for the re quirementa of the natives. If Mr. Sxit] would put the present grievance in writ ing, he himself would place the particu iars before the Native Land Purchas Board. If nothing was in tho way, b would be quite willing to purchase.