NATIVE LANDS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 61

NATIVE LANDS

AOTEA MAORI DISTRICT. MORIXAU-TAUAIQRA AND OTIOTU LANDS. The above three block?, in Avhich thir-ty-nine sections Avere laid off, the total area comprising 29,787 acres, came before the public recently on leasing tenure, the lands in question being vested in Aotea District Maori Land Board. The closing of tenders Avas fixed for 4 n.m. on Monday, July 15th, and on Tuesday morning the board met to open and consider them. It Avas found that of the thirty-nine sections offered twenty - six were tendered for, and that in many cases from tivo to six applications were received for particular sections. Tho system followed by these boards is the “tender system/" they (the board) fixing Avhat is considered a fair rental as an upset, the highest tenderer therefor assuring his application. If declaration deposits, etc., are in order, the offer is then accepted -• At the past sitting it Avas necessary to have two ballots owing to two tenderers for each ok two lots having tendered the same amount. After the board notified who were successful, some of those unsuccessful lodged further application© on that day (Tuesday, IGth), and these were dealt with by the board at its meeting on Wednesday, with the result that on Thursday night the whole of the lands notified had been disposed of. A general adA-ance of about 20 per cent, was shoAvn In the values tendered at and the upsets. Taking into consideration. Die prices at which some of the adjoining lands-were tendered at eighteen months ago, the tenders uoav accepted show an advance of from 50 per cent, to 100 per cent. This shows the desire for land settlement, and also the fact that settler© recognise the terms as iair and equitable. It is estimated that the yearly revenue from these land© will be about .£2300, and of this a proportionate amount will be deducted to ailow for repayment of liabilities incurred for surveying, roading, etc. This deduction is spread over . a term of forty-t'AVO years, so that the native owners will receive a fair pro rata amount cf their interest annually from date. In the land recently disposed of some sections Avere taken up by sons of settlers who are thoroughly conversant with the district, and who have been farming all their- lives; and in several cases also outsiders were successful, some tenders having been received, from the South Island. The Aotea Board itself is satisfied Avith the eagerness with which the public applied for these, lands, and are taking early steps to haA r e the balance of their trust land© surveyed and brought into the market, so as to allow selectors to prepare for next season’s bushfalling. The Wanganui cle” of Saturday last, commenting on the success of tlio leasing, said“AVe congratulate the Board and its officers on the result of their efforts, which must result in permanent benefit to our toAvn and district.”