THE MOKAU – MOHAKATINO BLOCK.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12595, 2 July 1904, Page 4

THE MOKAU - MOHAKATINO BLOCK.

In asking the Minister of Lauds whether steps will bo taken by the Government to acjqtaire the land known as Mr Joshua Jones's block Mr Jemnings raises a question of very great importance to Taranaki, and to tihe Mokau district especially. The block, which extends from, near the mouth of the IVlokau River almost up to Totoro, a distance of over" forty miles, contains some 53,345 acres of land, m/uch of it carrying valuable timber, and containing afso large deposits of coal and lime. IWhen cleaved, a large portion of the land will make gocxl dairying country, while nearly all will be suituble for . grazing. At present it is a completo bar to settlement on tihe left bank of the Mokau River, besides more or less hi'nidering occupation on the right, or north side. The position of the laud is that the native owners have granted a lease, and this lease has for a good many years been the subject of litigation in the Courts at Home. It is not necessary that we should here go further in,to that matter, but it f.eems to us that there is no great difficulty in the way of the Government acquiring the fee simple of the land frqm the native owners. There is, as far as we know, no dispute as to the ownership, the lease only being in question, and if the Government were to purchase the freehold it would then have to rnimipcnsate the holder of the lease, whoever the Courts eventually decide to be the rightful holder, and

it seems likely that before long this will be finally settled. Having obtained possession the Government coaild then have the land cut up and disposed of for settlement. We hope Mr Jennings will not be put off with an evasive answer, but will follow the matter tip, until the Oovernjment consents to acquire the "block. There are large blocks also on the other side of the river, which in the interests of settlement, ought to be acqiiirecL by the Government. There is, for instance, a block of 12,407 acres leased by the native owners to a Sydney syndicate, who are doing nothing in the direction of placing settlers on the land. Then, there are two blocks aggregating 6312 acres, leased to another syndicate, who, hoiwever, may 'beforfe long make use of some of the land. A further block of nearly four thousand acres has lately been purchased from the natives by a private speculator, which land ought to have been bought by the Government. This is a matter the importance of which is not generally realised by the people of tfrs <xrwTi anil district. «