LANDLESS NATIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15552, 6 September 1912, Page 6

LANDLESS NATIVES

GIFT BY THE CROWN,

(Fnoit Our. Own ConnEsroxuEXT.)

WBLIiINCITON, September 4.

The I'rinic .Minister stales that an area of alKiut 74,000 acres has been given by the Crown 'to landless Natives in Uic Ilnkoinii, RowallaJi, Alton, and Wairaurahin blot-ke. ami it is understood that the Waiau block, is an area of 44,000 acres situated in the Itowallan ami Alton districts mentioned above. This land is granted free of cost, and represents a large sum of money. 'Die estimated cost, of roadmg for all this land, giving a,bridle track onlv, is about £11,000. The total number of "families to whom the land is allotted is 235, but it is more than doubtful it Hie greater- part of the Natives would personally reside or cultivate their holdings, as the. general disposition seems to be to cither lease or fiell'to Europeans. Under these circumstances it does not appear that the Government is warranted in incurring such a largo expenditure- tor the purpose of enabling land to be trafficked with. If, however, any group of Natives holding not less than four seclions adjoining desire to make their homes and occupy their lands lie will be pleased to consider their case, with a view to seeing whether bridle roads might be made to their holdings. In Uic first instance the work of making the roads is to bo given to the applicants on a subsidy basis —that is, that they be paid 50 or 75 per cent, rates for the completed road work they do.