LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 6

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Gis^psNE, April 22. '

Duriog the past fortnight 327,000. acres of land in this district have been changed from being Native land to land which can without undue delay or expense be thrown open fos profitable settlement. The purchases of tho Crown in one block alone, the Tahora, h*va bean defiued by the Land Court to be ovee 130 000 acres, and the remainder of the block-, 60,000 acres, haft been vested in Messrs Carroll and Wi Fere,- M.H.R's , as trustees foe the Estates Company and Native owners. Tho Mang»poiki block, containing 60,000 acres, hai also been vested in the same trustees, as well as 34,000 acres of Miung<iwaru, Several other large blocks are also being dealt with in * similar manner, in which the Govern* ment purchases are estimated at 60,000 acres, and the area -to be vested in trustees at between 23,000 and 24,009 acres. In the Whangarei case receivers have been appointed to utilise a great part of the 13,000 acres now unoccupied in that block. Tho settlement of these blocks in this manner has beeu air*).g>'d in »n amicable manner out of; court, thus saving the enormous expense and great bitterness between the Nativo and the Government officers which has hitherto often, arisen. There was great unanimity of opinion shown amongst the Native owners of the T»hora block. There were 2500 Native owneri, yet 200,000 acre; of that land were divided be* tween tbe Crown and the trustees by common consent without a dissenting voice. Id the Mange poiki block, in which 12 or 15 different hapns were concerned, there was but one objector, and he, after argument in tbe court, withdraw his objection. Ia Maungawaru, where were between 500 and 60Q owner?, (here was not a. aolitary objection, and in Mangatera and Wbangarei the people were practically unanimous.