NATIVE LANDS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6451, 24 February 1908, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS.

THEIR PROFITABLE UTILISATION. TO BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY. Ac was noted in tho “Times” on Saturday morning, the Government has now practically made a beginning to carry out its scheme for securing the utilisation of unoccupied native lands by publishing a “Gazette” declaring certain blocks in tho Torawhiti .Maori Land District to bo subject to Part EC. of tho Native Laud Settlen ent Act. It was with the object of ascertaining when the arena sot aside [or European occupation were likely to be available, and what was tho pioccts to bo gone through in order to secure a block, that a roprcsentati'qo of this paper ou Saturday waited on the Chairman of tho Native Land Commission, Sir Robert Stout, with a request for enlightenment. As to tho first query, Sir Robert said that it really depended entirely upon the surveyors and Boards. An ■extreme difficulty was being experienced by tho Survey Department in getting the necessary surveyors to cope with tho press of work now ou hand. But tor all that, the throwing open of the unoccupied lands for European settlement should not ho delayed very much longer, as ho believed that some surveyors were already at work in a number of the blocks dealt with hy the Commission. The report upon the Wanganui and King Country lands was now nearly ready, a-nd would he presented as soon as possible, but until it was in, nothing could really be done in that particular direction. The object of thp Commission, as perhaps was known, was to find out Low’ much of tho land was actually required and could bo used hy its Alaori owners, allocate it to them and then throw the balance open for settlement hy Europeans. The main object in thus setting lands aside for the natives was to give them a good title. ’ The Chief Justice also explained that some further delay would bo caused by reason of tho Native Land Court having to deal with some of the blocks, to decide on relative interests, and so ea. The process to bo gone through hy Eurbpeo.n applicants for tho land is apparently going to bo simple, though the sections cannot ho advertised at once or until tho Wanganui and King Country lands have been dealt, with If tho ideas of tho Commission wore carried out, Sir Robert explained. Europeans would in timo see by advertisement that most of the land was going to bo sold by auction to the highest bidder. _ That, at least, was tho recommendation of the Commission—to soli most of it by public auction, and some by tender, while the balance wou dgo to tho Crown. He- did not think that Europeans would have any trouble in getting hold of sections of thu land.

AOTEA DISTRICT BOARD. A meeting of the Aotca District Alaori Lands Board was held at Wanganui last week, from Tuesday to Saturday. Judge Fisher presided, and H. Lundius and Taknrangi Aloto King! were, also '.present. Applications under sections 20 and 26 of tile Maori Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act. 10071 were considered. Tho applications under section 20 affected timber and flaxcutting rights, involving many thousands of pounds. Tho interests of Gamman and Co. were represented by Air O. P. Skerrott, K. 0., and Air A. E- D, Fraser, M.P. On the other side, Alessrs C. B. Morison, W. R. Borlaso, and James Wgjttri represented Alessrs Prouso and Abbott, Strand, Burt, and others.

Applications under section 20 tor consent to lease land from natives were granted as follows;—Maraotawa No. 3n (&S4 acres), Richard Baddclcy: Avrama, No. 3b2j2 (200 acres), Charles Vy. Reardon; Alaraetawa No. Ir, William Craig. Tho following applications for consent to lease wore adjourned :—Wnimarino E subdivision 3 (425 acres), subdivision 4 (210 acres), subdivision 5 1275 acres), subdivision 6 (400 acres), 'and subdivision 12 (220 acres), David Gardener; Raetihi No. 4n2 (390 acres), William Strand a,nd others; Raetihi No. 4n3, William Burt; Rfietihi No. 4u4, William Strand; Raetihi No, 4b5, Thomas Burt; Alurimotu No, 4n4 and No. 4b5, Thomas Craig; Rangiwahia 4b2a, William Craig: Alurimotu No. 4nl, No. 4n2, and No. 4n3, William Craig. In the oases of the following applications , under section 26 of the Act the Board decided to forward a report to tho Native Alinistor:—Raetihi No. 2n (3561 acres), No. 3n (1943 acres), No, 4n (3237 acres), No. 5d (1174 acres), timber-cutting rights, Gcorgo Albert Gammafi; Waimarino No. 4, limber, cutting rights, Charles McDonnell. The following applications under section 26 were adjourned;—Rangiwahia 4p No. 3b and 4r16 No. 2, flax-cutting rights, Karioi Flaxmilling Company; Motnkawa No. 2b, section 16, timbercutting rights,. William Gardener and others; Rangiwahia No. 4fxl, flax-cut-ting rights, Edward Devonport: Urowera No, lc4, lcs, and 108, Otiranui, No. 4a and 4b (four sections), tipihor rights, Bennett and Punch; Raetihi No. 4b2, timber fights. William Strand and others; Raetihi No. 4n3, rights, William Burt; Raotihi No. 4n4. timber rights, William Strand and others; Raetihi No. 4n5, timber nghte, Thomas Burt. ■