A SINGULAR LAND TRANSACTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9253, 1 December 1891, Page 2

A SINGULAR LAND TRANSACTION.

Under the above heading the Wellington Post exposes what appears to be a most discreditable Ministerial job, tho responsibility for which, it says, rests between the Lands Works Departments. The fact, as stated by our contemporary, are these : — In May last a deputation waited on the Minister of Lands and the Minister for Public Works, to urge the construction of a road between Palmerston and Pahiatua. The stereotyped excuse of no funds was, of course, urged by Ministers, but as thty admitted the desirability of the work, the deputation suggested a means whereby the money necessary for its construction might be raised. There is between the two places named an extensive forest reserve. The proposed road would traverse this, and it was suggested that if the strip of land on each side were sold for cash, She f unds would be supplied for making tho road. The suggestion was approved by the Ministers, but great opposition was shown by the local bodies to its adoption, as they objected to any portion of the reserve being alienate-1. This objection was afterwards waived, in recognition of the great benefit the road would be to the district, and on the understanding that the land withdrawn from the reserve should be sold to provide means for carrying out the work. The land waß duly withdrawn from the reserve, but has never been offered for sale, and now it has transpired that it has been promised to some well-known Government supporters for the purpose of establishing a special settlement. The general public had no idea that the land was open to application. The understanding that it was to be sold for cash, and the proceeds devoted to the construction of the road, was known to the whole district. There were plenty of people ready and anxious to bid for the land when it was offered for sale, and the disgust and consternation which prevailed when it was found that it had been quietly promised for a special settlement may well be imagined. Not only is the land now lost to the district as a reserve, but the condition on with the alienation was reluctantly consented to by the local bodies interested — the construction of a road out of the proceeds of sale — cannot, of course, be complied with. Tho terms on which special settlement land is taken up wiil not furnish the necessary funds. The formation of a bpecial settlement will bo very poor compensation for the loss of the road. The whole transaction will no flonbt be inquired into when Parliament meets. In the meantime the local bodies who hive been befooled should bestir themselves and endeavor to prevent the land being handed over to the special settlement promoters or in any way dealt with except in pursuance of the understanding on which the reserve was lemoved. Fcr the purpose of cash sale it is Btated that the land would realise £2 per acre.