PURUA BLOCK, IN THE COUNTY OF WHANGAREI (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE OPENING OF THE, FOR SELECTION UNDER THE HOMESTEAD CLAUSES OF THE LANDS ACT).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1878 Session I, C-09

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1878. NEW ZEALAND. PURUA BLOCK, IN THE COUNTY OF WHANGAREI (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE OPENING OF THE, FOR SELECTION UNDER THE HOMESTEAD CLAUSES OF THE LANDS ACT).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives, with leave of the House. No. 1. Mr. D. A. Tole to the Undee Seceetaby for Ceown Lands. Sic, — Crown Lands Office, Auckland, 24th September, 1878. In compliance with the request contained in your Memo. No. 2493 of date 18th instant. I have the honor to forward herewith copies of correspondence respecting the opening of the Purua Block under the homestead clauses of the Land Act. I have, &c, The Under Secretary for Crown Lands, D. A. Tole, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Mr. J. McLeod to Mr. D. A. Tole. Sic, — Waipu County, Whangarei, 3rd December, 1877. I have the honor to request information as to whether the PArua Block is open to selection under the homestead Act. I am induced to make this application as there are several families in this district who would take up land in the block referred to should an opportunity be afforded them of doing so. I have, &c, D. A. Tole, Esq., Chief Commissioner, Waste Lands, Auckland. John McLeod.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. Mr. D. A. Tole to Mr. J. McLeod. Sik,' — Crown Lauds Oflice, Auckland, 20th December, 1877. I have the honor to inform you, in reference to your letter of the 3rd instant, that the Waste Lands Board has not as yet decided as to the manner in which the Purua Block is to bo dealt with. A further communication will be made to you on the subject. I have, &c, D. A. Tole, Mr. John McLeod, Waipu. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1. Mr. J. McLeod to the Chaieman, Waste Lands Board. Sic,— Waipu, 30th April, IS7B. I have the honor to state that I made an application to the "Waste Lands Board some months ago, on behalf of myself and several other heads of families who were anxious to take up land in the Purua Block under the "homestead system:" Tou were good enough, in reply, to state that you would, at some future time, inform me of the decision of the Board in reference to my application. I have since been informed that the land applied for has been put up for sale, but no purchasers found for it. Would you, therefore, be kind enough to inform me if there is a probability of my application being entertained. I have, &c, John McLeod, The Chairman, Waste Lands Board, Auckland. Big Glen.

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Enclosure 4 in No. 1. Mr. J. McLeod to Mr. D. A. Tole. Sic,— Waipu, 12th August, 1878. We have the honor to request that we may be allowed to select sections of land, under the homestead Act, in the Purua Block. We would state that the district in which we are located is already too limited, and that scores of our young men will probably leave for other parts unless some easy available means of obtaining land is afforded them in this provincial district. We would respectfully submit that young men born in this colony, who have undergone all the hardships of pioneer colonial life, are entitled to more consideration than immigrants coming from England, although possessing more means. We understand that the Purua Block has been offered for sale, and no purchaser come forward, the general objection being that the land was too distant from road communication. We have, <fee, John McLeod, B.G. Angus McKay. N. J. Campbell. A. Finlayson. Donald F. McKay. John McKay. Alexander S. McKay. John Finlayson. The Commissioners of Waste Lands, Auckland. A. Finlayson.

Enclosure 5 in No. 1. Mr. D. A. Tole to Mr. J. McLeod. Gentlemen, — Crown Lands Office, Auckland, 2nd September, 1878. In reply to your letter of the 12th instant, I have the honor to inform you that the Waste Lands Board decline to offer the Purua Block for selection under the " homestead system." There are lands for free selection in the Otakairangi and Mareretu Blocks. I have, &c, D. A. Tole, Commissioner of Crown Lands. Messrs. John McLeod, N. J. Campbell, D. P. McKay, and Others, Waipu. By Authority: Gijoeoe Didsbtjrt, Government Printer, Wellington. —1878. Price 3d.]