KAWAU.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 251, 29 August 1879, Page 2

KAWAU.

(Erom the Cliristchurch Press.) The Mayor—The next question is this: —" Will Sir George Grey tell this meeting whether it is true that 5000 acres of land at the Kawau only pays some £5 to the land tax revenue!" [Cries of "oh, oh," and cheers and " don't answer the question."] Sir George Grey-Let me answer the question: I have no wish to avoid it, [Cheers.] Just let me give you an explanation. Ido not know the amount of the land tax; it may be £5. I know it is only a small sum, but when you hear what I have to say you will understand why. When I bought the island of Kawau it was-as about 2000 acres of it remain to thi3 day— worthless, almost entirely valueI loss. The part that I have spent a krge sum of money on. [A voice—" How much did you give for it!"] Well, I dont mind saying what I gave for it, £2600, and it was thought I had paid a very foolish sum, So valueless was it.csteemed that when I went up there with somo red deer which I had purchased to place on the island, I met the Bishop of New Zealand, afterwards Bishop of Lichfield, and he asked me where I had been. I told him I had been to place twelve deer on on the island of Kawau. " What," said he, " twelve deers! It won't carry twelve goats." [Laughter and cheers.] Now, on this land, I have spent some £19,000 or £20,000, and by the expenditure of this money 1 have got the island—or rather a part of it-under English grass, so that I have got 2000 or 3000 sheep on it. Besides this I spend £llOO per annum on labor. [Cheers.] Now, the profit from the wcrkdoes not reach £3OO a year, and nothing but wool and a little fire wood is got from the island. [Cheers.] I have done some good there to the community at large, Most of the Calefornian quail now in various parts of New Zealand came from me; the black and white swans also came, and a large quantity of valuable trees and shurbs have been distributed from there among the people. [Cheers.] I have spent may happy hours of my life there and trust to spend more yet, [Cheers] I don't even know the gentleman that valued it, but it is a curious thing that he has valued the land within £IOO of what