C—s a,

1924. NEW ZEALAND.

HUTT VALLEY LANDS (PROPOSAL THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE OVER AND EXERCISE AND ACCEPT CERTAIN OPTIONS AND OFFERS FOR THE PURCHASE OF).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Proposal that the Government should take over and exercise and accept certain Options and Offers for the Purchase of Lands made and granted by Owners of Lands on the Eastern Side of the Hutt Valley to the Mayor of the[Hutt : the Lands to be acquired for Settlement Purposes. Letter from the Prime Minister to the Mayor of Lower Hutt. Sir,— , 17th March, 1924. The subject of the options obtained by you from owners of land on the eastern side of the Hutt Valley was dealt with by Cabinet to-day. The success of the scheme which you originated for the close occupation of the lands depends upon the provision of new access by railway or tramway crossing the Hutt River at White's line or above the present Hutt Bridge at Petone. The Government finds that it has no power, without special authorization of Parliament, to lay out any new railway or tramway, and is unable to approve the purchase of the lands under your options without prior authorization of the new necessary access. The decision of Cabinet therefore is that if the owners will extend the options for a period of, say, eight months from the 31st March, when it is understood that they expire, the Government will in the ensuing session submit the whole scheme to the Lands Committee of the House, and if that Committee approves the scheme the Government will introduce legislation to give full effect to it. If the owners refuse the extension, then, with regret, the Government cannot carry the matter further. I desire to express to you the sense of the Government that you have initiated a scheme which in all probability would make considerable provision for the much larger population which will later be resident in the City of Wellington and in the Hutt Valley, and to thank you for your proposals to the Government in relation to the options you have obtained. It is to be hoped that the owners of the land will, by the necessary extension, enable the scheme to be placed before Parliament for its consideration and approval. I have, &c, F. H. D. Bell, W. T. Strand, Esq., Mayor of Hutt, Lower Hutt. For the Prime Minister. Letter from the Mayor of Lower Hutt to the Minister of Lands. Lower Hutt Borough Council (Mayor's Office), Sir,— Lower Hutt, N.Z., 28th July, 1924. With reference to the proposed suburban railway branch line through the Hutt Valley, and the options to purchase the largest blocks of land in the vicinity of same, the following are the particulars, together with a map of the valley showing them marked thereon. The two pieces hatched and bordered green [shown on printed plan as Nos. 1 and 2] are Mr. E. Riddiford's blocks of 155 acres, over which I hold a definite option to purchase at £250 per acre. The piece hatched and bordered black [No. 3 on printed plan] is Mrs. Riddiford's block of 50 acres, over which I hold a definite option to purchase at £400 per acre. The piece hatched and bordered purple [No. 4 on printed plan] is Messrs. Nathan and Reeves's block of 139 acres, over which a firm option is held to purchase at £225 per acre. The piece hatched and bordered orange [No. 5 on printed plan] is Mr. Eglington's block of 47 acres, held under firm option to purchase at £260 per acre. The piece not hatched, and bordered bronze-green [No. 6 on printed plan] is Mandel's block of 34 acres, which is under offer at £254 pel acre.