LAND AFFAIRS IN TARANAKI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 779, 4 February 1887, Page 4 (Supplement)

LAND AFFAIRS IN TARANAKI.

DISSATISFACTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT. (united press association.) Haweba, February 1. Notwithstanding the hard times, _ th deferred-payment settlers in Taranaki ar making the January half-yearly paymen promptly. There are very few indeed wh ire behindhand with their payment, an< most are a long way ahead of statutory re quirements in the matter of improvements The action of the Government in deducting interest from the third of the deferred pay ment moneys payable to the local bodiei (where capitalisation has been resorted to is causing dissatisfaction, and the loca bodies talk of combining to take counsel s opinion as to the legality of the action. Tht Government, or, rather, the Public Trust Board, have intimated to Native lease, holders who are seeking relief from the pre sent onerous conditions of their leases, and who brought their grievances under the notice of Parliament at last cesaioD, that if the consent of two.thirds in numbei and value of the Natives to a reduction ol rent can be obtained, then the Government will reconsider their decision not to interfere. It is out of the question to get the required majority in most cases, because all thegranteei who are influenced by Te Whiti will not sign any paper, not even if its purpose were to increase their rents. They simply ignore the whole proceedings, and will not countenance it in any way by signing anything or even by receiving money due to them. It is absolutely impossible to make up two-thirds without applying to them, and application to them would be utterly useless.