SECOND EDITION OVER £500,000

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17228, 7 April 1930, Page 8

SECOND EDITION OVER £500,000

PURCHASE OF ESTATES MANY OFFERS DECLINED AN OFFICIAL ANALYSIS. More than .€500.100 lias been paid by the Government in the acquisition < >l private estates tor closer settlement, according to information contained m an official review of the State s activities in this direction. Approximately 154 new holdings will lie provided by the. subdivisions.

“While it. is intended to utilise the provisions of the Land Laws Amendment Act. 1929. lor the development and settlement of idle Grown lands in ah suitable cases,” states the review, "it is at the same time proposed to proceed with the purchase of private estates that can he acquired at prices allowing tor successful occupancy under subdivision, and this particular matter lias received the close, attention of the Dominion Land Purchase Hoard.”

It, is shown Unit since the Government came into office some 955 offers of properties have been received, the bull; ot which have been disposed of in various ways. In the majority of cases inspections have been made, but a number ot olfers were considered to be so obviously unsuitable that inspections of the properties concerned were not, arranged. In all. some 545 inspections have been made, and 664 offers declined. The number of properties purchased is 33. comprising an area of 53,840 acres, and involving a, total purchase price ot £554.089. The total number of subdivisions to be provided for 'closer settlement is approximately 154. Seven of the purchases were arranged under the group settlement, system, the area of the properties concerned totalling 2233 acres, the, purchase price £66.240. and the number of subdivisions 24. Then' are also at the present- time several other pronorties which are under eonsideration. 1 lie Land Purchase Hoard states that it is confident that the purchases so far made are sound with regard to price, quality and general adaptability. SUBDIVISION OF PROPERTIES.

Ten of the purchased properties have already been ottered tor selection, particulars being as follow : —• Moannroa ; Area, 997 acres; sections, 3;

grain and mixed farming. Welburn : Area, 565 acres; sections, 6; dairying. Rockford': Area, 1737 acres; sections, 4;

dairying and mixed farming. Murrayfield : Area, 1076 acres; Sections. 2; mixed fanning. Tamatca : Area, 9i7 acres; sections, 7; dairying. Urinklnmls: Area. 1120 acres; sections. 3; mixed farming. Apuiiga ; Area. 3660 acres; sections, 6;

grazing. Fendiill : Area, 1495 lucres; sections. 5 dairying. Undone': Area,' 355 acres; sections, 2

grazing. ltaupo: Area. 907 acres; sections, 4

dairying. Wilden: Area. 24.005 acres ; sections. 13; grazing and mixed farming. Two sections totalling 7053 acres were allotted without competition to former employees on the estate. The remaining 11, totalling 16,952,

were balloted for oil Wednesday last. The following have been subdivided and advertised, and are being balloted for at a very early date :-■ -

Tapamii —Area. 1497 acres; suctions, 9: dairying, cropping, and grazing. Roseberry—Area. 3912 acres ; sections. 15; mixed farming. (.’bines Area. 420 acres; sections, 8; mixed fanning. The subdivision of various other set tlements is well under way. and ballots will be held on suitable dates. ORDINARY BETTf.KME.NT. Tbo usual settlement activities of the department have proceeded as horelotore, the review adds, and the ordinary requirements of land settlement have been met by the offering of Grown lands m various districts. During the 15 months which ended on February 28 lasi some 468,915 mjits of Grown lands (all tenures) were selected in 2212 subdivisions. These selections were divided between perma limit and temporary tenures as under: Holdings. Til. area. Permanent tenures ... 1,536 387,422 Temporary tenures ... 676 81.49.', 2.212 468,919 The total includes 190.000 acres of pastoral runs selectcrl on pastoral license. During the same 15 months some 358 tenants holding Grown sections on lease or license acquired the. Fee simple ot their farms. The total purchase money on the granting of freehold title amounted to over £113,000. Tenants an immuring the freehold • are no longer shown on the department’s books, and are sublra'ded from the total number of lessees holding lands from the Grown.