THE Western Star AND WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. PUBLISHED Tuesdays and Fridays. Vincit Amor Patriae. Established 1868. FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1904.

Western Star, 27 May 1904, Page 2

THE Western Star AND WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. PUBLISHED Tuesdays and Fridays. Vincit Amor Patriae. Established 1868. FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1904.

Recently some 4000 acres of bush land were thrown open for selection in the Waiau district between Tuatapere and Orawia under the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act of last session. This Act provides that no rents or rates shall be payable for a period of four years in. the case of heavy bush land, three years in the. case of light bush, and two years in the case of scrub land. Provided, the improvement conditions are complied with, residence is not required r f6r"~a : period of five years, but in the eventr of the selector disposing of his interest before the expiry ofJh'e-four years, he will have-to pay rent. for. the time he held the section in order that the concession contemplated by the Act might be given to the ■ person to whom the lease is transferred, a wise and reasonable proposal. Below the block referred to,, there were two other blocks thrown open for selection on the u'n surveyed' principle; comprising some GOOO acres,- but-owing to the want of roading facilities, only four persons so far have taken dp sections. And no one caii expect the sections' to go off until access is given. While it is a commendable thing to push on the settlement of the bush lands, we think attention should be directed. tp_\ those. landss which are •■ convenient' to the railways, and have. at least main roads running through them. There is a large area of laud, in : the* vicinity of Pahia,. for instance, that should be thrown open for settlement. It is at present in the Forest Reserve. When the reserve was made, the intention was to conserve the; bush;--but the intention has been departed from, and., most of the bush is now cut out,, so that it is a misnomer to call it a forest reserve. And the quicker it is settled the better for the whole countryside, because with the heavy bush off, it will rapidly become a nursery for the propagation and dissemination _ of noxious weeds, to the detriment of any occupied lands in the vicinity. Of course, so long as it remains in the forest reserve it is impossible for the Land Board to deal with it. What is wanted to make it available for settlement purposes is the introduction of amending legislation providing for its withdrawal from the forest reserve, and the necessary legislation should bo brought down by the Minister for Lands without delay. ] i e is almost sure to be aware of the facts, for it is only reasonable to suppose that the Land Board will have reported on the absurdity of retaining land, within the forest reserve from which the good timber has been removed. Further west the same thing applies,. Blocks 1 and 2',' Lbngwpod, are within the forest reserve. In ■ ignorance of this fact, years ago the powers that were then in existence granted holdings within those blocks, and a large number of settlers "are. now settled on their, sections. Recently'it was discovered that in granting holdings, something had been done which exceeded the powers conferred by statute, and this mistake is in urgent need" of rectifica-"' fcion. The settlers desire • their title?) fixed upon, but nothing can 'be done until special legislation ■ • has been passed. • The whole position is uri- ] satisfactory, and the urgency of finality

in the matter. being, arrived at is beyond all question. The legislation desiderated would not only place the settlers referred to on a safe footing, but it would make available for settlement a considerable area, of- land, the settlement of which would-tend very materially to'the prosperity of the district. If the. ; .Minister for Lands will: introduce a 'Bill this session to deal with the difficulty, which can'.be. got over in no other way, he will be doing the right thing. Any delay only means vexation to those already settled, and the retardation of what should be a flourishing 'dairying district; V kj ".. '■ "-..-■ ■•■--