THE LAND COMMISSION

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 23

THE LAND COMMISSION

(By Oim Special Repohteh.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 20.

The Laud Commission left Culverden early this morning, drove by a circuitous route> through Medtmry and Horsley Downs settlements to Hawarden, where further evidence was heard.

George Gardner, an original Cheviot settler, now holder of 1100 acres freehold, explained that he disposed of his Crown lease in order to get the freehold, which he favoured. He (Considered the 999-years system a ridiculous absurdity ; it should have been abolished long ago. Land should; ba settled either on the freehold or deferredpavment system. He favoured giving Crown tenants the option of acquiring the- freehold at the original valuation.

Cyril Thomas White, holder of 3856 acres leasehold, considered it wrong of the Government to part with a single acre of Crown land, for there was plenty of private freehold land available. The best tenure for Crown tenants was a 21-years' lease with revaluation.

William Anderson, holder of 103 acres leasehold, favoured the freehold option by de-ferred payments.

Two other tenants expressed satisfaction with the existing conditions. The commissioners returned to Christchurch to-night, and will hear further evidence at Christchurch on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mr George j_iivingsfone writes with reference to the evidence giv&n by Mr Corrigran. at Tiraaru before the Land Commission, amd from his letter we make the following extracts : — "First of all, he [Mt Corrigan] tells a representative of the Timarti Herald that it was at the instigation of the Minister of Lands that the meeting at Windsor was called, and! that Mr Duncan forwarded, the resolution passed at that meeting. That is a fabrication. I was requested by the settlers to convene the miaetin?, and I say without fear of contradiction that I neither agitated nor tried to influence any person as to how he should speak cr vote. . . . Mr M'l/eiman. was n«ver asked to- come to the meeting at Windsor, nor did anyone know that he was corning till he arrived there — I believe on other business. . . . Mr M'Cowan did pay, 'We would all like the freehold if we had plenty of money to get it,' and it was then that I said, 'You have struck the nail on the head.' Further, Mr Corrigan stated that I was a member of the Land Board. As a matter of fact 1 was not appointed a member of the board till seme months later, and had no sxispieion then of becoming one."