CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 10

CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

ANOTHER 24,000 ACRES*

PURCHASE BY GOVERNMENT,

OTAGO PASTORAL ESTATE.

[By TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

An area of 24,000 acres of land will be available for closer settlement as a result of the purchase by the Government under the Land for Settlements Act of the Wilden Estate, formerly owned by Mr. R. L. Acton-Adams, and situated near Heriot, Otago. In announcing the completion of the negotiations the Minister of Lands, Hon. G. W. Forbes, said the property comprised 15,174 acres freehold and 8890 acres held under pastoral licence. The total area provided for closer settlement, 24,000 acres, would be subdivided to the best advantage. The land was of excellent quality and the property was one of the finest of its kind offered to the Government.

The Minister added: "The proposed number of subdivisions is from 12 to 14. The land is first-class grazing country and a large proportion of it is suitable for cropping. Agriculture has been carried on in the past up to a height of 2000 ft. above sea level. As an indication of the excellent nature of the property, I might say that the stock carried prior to the purchase by the Government was 18,340 ewes, 4320 dry sheep and 340 cattle. ■

" It is confidently anticipated that the new settlement, when opened, will fill a much-felt want for land of this class, and will be keenly sought after by intending selectors. An announcement will bo made in a few days as to when the land will be available for selection."-

The purchase price of the property is not disclosed. The Minister said the subdivisional surveys would be sufficiently advanced to enable applications for selection to be received and a ballot held in the second week in April. " The Wilden wool clip." Mr. Forbes said, "has held pride of place for years, in both New Zealand and London markets. Wilden has been well handled and is in excellent condition and heart.I expect the property to be sought after, as it is. years since such an opportunity has been before the public.

The Minister said the Government had now purchased under its closer settlement policy some 27 properties, totalling 50,000 acres. These would! provide 125 additional holdings, a nuraber of which had already been selected. WAIHI-WHANGAMATA AREAS. INSPECTION BY COMMITTEE. An inspection of certain lands in th® Waihi-Whangamata districts will shortly be made by the advisory committee set up in connection with the land legislation passed last session, in company with the heads of. the Lands, Agricultural, and Forestry Departments, according to advice received by Mr.- • A. M.Samuel, M.P. • . -i . ■

Some time ago it was decided that an inspection of the lands would be .made by the heads of the departments interested, and not by the advisory -committee. Th-3 reason given was that s -the ~ lands wgre mostly permanent or- provisional State forest reserves, and we're not classed as Crown lands. -

Mr. Samuel communicated -with tha Minister of Lands pointing out that the lands were idle and capable of settlement, and suggesting that "it would save duplication of work and enable a comprehensive report to be furnished if the proposed inspection by the heads of the departments mentioned were carried out in conjunction with" the advisory committee. He requested that the inspection should be a joint one, and that it should be made at the earliest possible moment-. The Minister has now replied complying with the request.