NATIVE LANDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6269, 24 July 1907, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS

AOTEA MAORI DISTRICT. HORIKAU-TAUAKIRA AND OHOTU LANDS. The above three blocks, in which thir-fcy-nino sections wore laid off, the total area comprising 29,787. acres, came before tho public recently on leasing tenure, the lands in question being vested in Aotea District Maori Land Board. The closing of tenders was fixed for 4 p.m. on Monday, July 15th, and on Tuesday morning the’board met to open and consider them: It was 1 found that of the thirty-nine sections offered twentysix were tendei*ed for, and that in many cases from two to six applications were received for particular sections. The system followed by these boards is the r ‘tender system/' they (the board) fixing what 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 , was necessary to have two ballots owing to two tenderers for each of two lots having tendered the same amount. After the board notified who-were, successful, some of those unsuccessful lodged further applications on that day (Tuesday, 16th), and these were.: dealt with by the board at its meeting on Wednesday, with tjie result that on Thursday night the whole of the lands notified had been disposed of. A general advance of about 20 per cent, ’was shown on the values tendered at and the upsets. Taking into consideration Hie prices ‘at which some of the adjoining lands were tendered at eighteen months ago, - tho tenders now accepted show, an advance of from 50 per cent, to 100,per cent. This shows the desire for land settlement, and also tile tact that settlers recognise the terms as fair and equitable. It is estimated that the yearly revenue from these lande will be about ,£2300, and of this a proportionate amount will bo deducted to allow for repayment ,of liabilities Incurred for surveying, rending, etc, This deduction is spread over a term of forty-two years, so that'the native own ‘iD.)' 1 ;' receive a fair pro rata amount ot their interest annual! v from date. In the land recently disposed of some sections were taken up -by sons of seti • ai :° • thoroughly conversant with _ the district; and who have been farming all their lives; and in several cases also outsiders were successiui. some tenders having been received from the South Island.. The Aotea Board with tho eagerness! with which the public applied for these lands u!,r.Jf„ r °„ n - s f arl y , ste P s to have the balance of their trust lands surveved and brought into the market, so as to allow selectors to prepare for next season's tho .Wanganui "Chronicle of .Saturday l la©t, commenting on the success of the leasing, said:—"We congratulate the Board ambits officers -on the result of their ollorts, which must aud U k l ?rfe e t^ ftnellt