THE COUNTY RATES AND THE LAND BOARD. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11574, 7 November 1899, Page 3

THE COUNTY RATES AND THE LAND BOARD. TO THE EDITOR.

Siß)—The thanks of the community are cue to Air P. M'Leod for his letter published in your issue of the 26th ult., because he draws public attention to the manner in which the Land department locks up 24,000 acres of Crown land in this locality, simply by illegally spending the thirds and fourths received from them (according: to the opinion of Sir R. Stout now our Chief Justice). And their action m unjust, both to the public and to the present tenants, for the latter are unable to fulfil their legal obligations to the State owing- to the want of roads.

Mr M Leod cannot conceive what the Land Board has to do with our rates. But they have the Minister for Lands in my case to show that they have a say in the matter. I confess it was rather hard on me, after paying three times its value for the land, owing to its having a. frontage to a main road, and then residing on it for 21 years, and over one-third of that time under a Liberal Government, to find that it was decreed that my holding should not be opened by a .road; and yet my only crime consisted in this road line being the only way by which the above-mentioned land could be opened. So it would appear that the Land department for some purpose—not for the public s benefit—does not want the land open It is also reported that the Waste Land Committee, in answer to m*y petition for compensation, found that I, had no claim or the colony. But I trust that the Minister for Lands will get the evidence placed before the committee printed in pamphlet form for the edification of the electors, for I am convinced if I have no claim against the colony, that morally, both the cojony and I have a very substantial claim against the Land department.—l am, etc. Owen M'Domald!

Waihemo, October 30.