The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1894. GOVERNMENT DILATORINESS.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 19, 4 September 1894, Page 2

The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1894. GOVERNMENT DILATORINESS.

Wii understood that steps would be taken before now to have a considerable area of the native lands in this district put in the market. The settlement of these lands is one of vital importance to this town and district, and it is the duty of the Government to see that all haste is made in pushing on the work. The land between the Taungatara and the Waiau Rivers, we believe, is subdivided, and we know of no reason why it should not be thrown open for selection at once, so that selectors would have a chance of getting it into working order this coming season. One point we would urge on the Public Trustee is, that moderate upset reserves should be put upon the lands. There is no fear that the native owners will suffer through

this, as competition will always ensure the lands bringing their market value, and intending selectors are far better judges of what this value is than any town-bred valuator. The absurdity of placing high reserves on is shown by the result of various sections which have now been offered twice without eliciting a tender. There are two sections up the Kaweora Road having an area of about five hundred acres, which have been twice offered, but are still unoccupied simply because the reserve is too high. There are many things to be considered in assessing the value of land besides its quality. First amongst these is its accessibility. If there wwe good roads to these lands they would bring the reserves which are placed on them, but those in authority do not consider the injustice they are inflicting on the present settlers by keeping them locked up. If they were put in the market at a reasonable reserve they would be occupied, and then would become revenue producing, enabling something to be done towards getting roads made. The present policy may be very beneficial to the natives, who are thereby enabled to gain the full benefit of the unearned

increment at the expense of the European settlers who are hearing the burden and cost of settlement. When we point out that these native leases have higher values put on them than Crown lands, which were considered to be of better quality, were, put up at in adjoining districts this great injustice will become at once apparent. More than this, {he Crown lands contribute for fifteen years by means of thirds to the making of roads, whereas these native rents are exempt. The system, also, of putting these lands up picemeal is a mistaken one, as it debars people from a distance from coming to compete. The block between the Arawata and Ngariki Roads has been lately surveyed and contains about seven thousand acres, and if it were prepared and put in the market at the one time there would be every probability of a large number of people who are seeking for land coming into the district to look at it, and would result in substantial settlement, as has been proved in other districts where this policy has been pursued. We are only too pleased to see due care exercised in protecting ihe native owners, but the present .system of sacrificing the European settlers' interests and the general interests of the district in favor of the native owners is not carrying out the pfeseut Government's professed desire to settle people on the land. There are about thirty thousand acres of land within this district to be settled yet, and the benefit which the early occupation of these would be can easily be estimated. We are informed that the Public Trustee contemplates felling the bush on roads, and forming them twelve feet wide through native reserves before leasing, which would be a great aid to successful settlement. We would urge so far as the lands are surveyed in this district, that this work of felling should be put in hand at once as the season is getting late, and missing this winter will mean that it will be two years before any of these lands will be offered. The Land for Settlement Bill before the; House this session provides for raising a quarter of a million to buy up estates which are already occupied, "and although this may turn out a "good spec for the colony we contend that it is the duty of the Government to foster settlement already' made, and then to deal with all available' Crown and native lands before meddling with private properties. If the Government would borrow a quarter of a million and devote it to road making to open up lands at present under its control, and in subsidising local bodies in newly settled districts the benefit would be infinitely greater.