OWNERLESS SECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 13

OWNERLESS SECTIONS.

TRANSFER TO THE CROWN.

MOVEMENT AT PIRONGIA. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] TE AWAMUTU, Tuesday. There is a revival of interest among residents of Pirongia township and neighbourhood in connection with the efforts of the commissioner of Crown lands to complete the transfer of numerous ownerless sections there to the Crown, so that they may be sold to settlers already in occupation.

Tlio sections were nearly all originally military grants, but have been abandoned for many years. Owners could not be traced, and no rates were derivable by the local body. Added to this, most of the sections were smothered in gorse and blackberry, thus constituting a menace to adjoining lands. Some residents occupied a few sections, and kept them in clean pasture, paying rates, but the bulk of the sections were unused and unusable. Last year Government surveyors pegged off the sections, and the Pirongia Absentee Lands Committee assisted greatly to clarify the position. The commissioner is to visit Pirongia shortly to finalise matters. When the new owners have secured titles, it is considered certain much of the land will quickly be cleaned up and laid down in crop or pasture.