LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 451, 9 March 1909, Page 5

LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT.

FURTHER BLOCKS FOR DISPOSAL. Wonderful activity all along the Main Trunk lino is reported by Mr. James Maokonzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands, who has just returned from holding land ballots at Onakune and Raetihi. Everywhere there is a great demand for land, and ttio settlors who sought to obtain sections wero a very good class. Mr. Mackenzie hopes that- in about four months timo another block in this locality, of similar character to the lands recently offered, will bo opened up for settlemnt. Threo or four suryoy parties are hard at work with this object in view. All along the line small allotments will bo ottered for business purposes—at Waitaugi, Ninia, Erua, and Waimarino, for example. All these places aro junctions leading to back settlements, ami the disposal of allotments, will enablo stores, blacksmiths' shops, aud accommodation houses to be erected, for which thero is a domaud all aloug the line. Mr. Mackenzie noted that there seemed still to be a good deal of activity in tuo timber trade. Ho was told by several people in the trado that good building timber could bo delivered in Wellington for 10s. per 100 ft., tho price for matai being very little more. It was stated that the so-called timber ring had broken down, and business could bo done moro easily in consequence. Returning from tho Main Trunk district, tho commissioner visited tho Carrington Estate, near Carterton, and investigated tho claims of about a dozen persons who sought preference at tho ballot as .employees of the former owner, the' late. Mr. Booth, or as lessees of tho estate. Not moro than four of the applicants will receive preference. Applications woro also mado for preference in regard to fencing boundaries and water rights, but wero granted in only threo or four cases. Apparently thoro will bo a largo number of applicants for sections of tho estate. After Carrington has been disposed of, tho Waitotara block, of about 11,000 acres, occupying the valley of the Waitotara River, north of Wanganui, will bo offered for selection, probably by July or August. Waimarino lands will then bo oflored, probably by September.