RESERVES FOR THAMES.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXVI, Issue 3365, 10 March 1915, Page 2

RESERVES FOR THAMES.

AREAS DOWN COAST

Thames people have for some time past been anxious to secure reserves lor public purposes, do'vn the Co st Road at Waiomo and 'I'uru. The Thames County Council accordingly instructed its solicitors 1, M jsvs Miiler and Son, to obtain-particiiLirs re girding someblocks ot Native land in that locality, the leply from the solicitors being received at , yesterday's meeting of the Council.* They stated that a block at Waiomo consisted of nearly four acres, and had been awarded by the Native Land Court

to two Natives, but it was difficult to give an estimate of the value of the land, Of,the area of about 20 acres at Puru parts had been sold or were being sold to Europeans. Ot the Native owners practically the whole were. Paeroa Maoris. It was' difficult to say what price the Natives would demand, but high prices had been paid for land in the vicinity for camping grounds. Lately some had been sold at £90 per acre, and land purchased from Europeans in the vicinity had realised £ 100 per acre. . The Chairman said the Council had not the money to buy the land, and he suggested that the matter be placed before the Borough Council^ as it was-1 a matter that affected the Borough residents more than those of the County.

On the motion of Messrs Law and McCormick, it was decided to " send copies of the solicitor's letter to the Chamber of Commerce and the Borough' Council, suggesting that they ask Go- . vernment to take some action in the matter. .