EAST COAST NATIVE LANDS. GISBORNE, May 31.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 12

EAST COAST NATIVE LANDS. GISBORNE, May 31.

The proposals wblch have baaa framed by a strong committee of busiuess and professional men with the object of obtaining the settlement of the East Coast; Native lands was discussed at a public meeting, which passed a resolution , adopting them. The Mayor pointed out that ' there wests 180,000 acres of these lands in the virgin state, most of it witlnu 50 or 70 miles of Gisborne. Interest charges were now eafciag up the lands, so that unless gome steps were taken the Natives would shortly be landless. Room could be found to settle from 200 to 300 settlers on these lands were they thrown open, and thus satisfy fchs demand for land which,certainly existed. Mr Bright (manager oi the Loan and Mercantile Oompaay) said they recognised, as shrewd business men, the benefit whioh would result to the aettlers of Poverty Bay if 307,189 acres which were at present lying absolutely waste were opened up foe settlement- and properly farmed. He did not think there was any district in the colony — he kuew of none — where there was the same amouuS of fertile pastoral land available for settlement. He tef erred to the recent acquisition of the Scarborough estate of 33,000 acf£S in Marlboro ugh by the Governm9ab for £104,000, and s&id it was just about half o£ what was required to purchase ten times the area in this district. Ss far as he could see from the stock returns there were only some 35,000 sheep running on Sfcarborou#h. There was none of our country which would not carry a better proportion of sheep than that. A motion was carried that Parliament be petitioned and a deputation of representative men bo appointed to proceed to Wellington on the subject.

Man xaake money, women spend it. • A woman (married oi course) knows a m«.n*s needs. He, the guide, philosopher and husband, is satisfied ; everything is provided for him"; When he gets ill, for instance, a bad cough, say, out comes a bottle of Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. All sensible wives keep that in the, house, it's such, a thorough family remedy. Is 6d and 2s o<JU