KING COUNTRY LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 860, 5 July 1910, Page 4

KING COUNTRY LANDS.

AN INTERESTING RETURN.

It may be remembered that last session Mr. Hogg, M.P. for Masterton, called for a return showing particulars of Native land in the King Country, leased or otherwise disposed of during the fiva years ended 190!), giving the names of lessees or purchasers, and tho price or terms on which the iand was acquired. This return, which has just been issue;!, shows that most of tho leases ranged iu currency from twenty-one to fifty years, and ill many instances the rental was fixed' at as low one shilling per acre, and in one case it was but ninepence. Among the leases in this category were tho following:—!'. Berry, 13317 ncres Jones Bros, 3322 acres; N. G. Hunt, 670 acres; W. G. Somerville, 1000 acres; T. Somerville, 892 acres; J. Somerville, 962 acres; Anderson and Somerville, 1293 acres; R. and Vera Craig, 2300 acres; J. A. Pearson, 1031! acres; Fullarton Smith, 5292 acres; Lowvy and Watt (at 9d. and Is.), 1(5,293 acres; R. B. Lusk, 3951 acres; W. Hollowav, 2000 ac:-ts; E. Mossman, 1471 acres; H. Savage, 2930 acres; M'Cardale family, 11,225 acres; Thos. M'Villey, iGOO acres; and J. Walsh, 7850 acres. These leases do not, however, comprise anvthing like the .whole transactions. The quantity of land sold is very much smaller. Olio settler named James Purdie secured 1949 acres for .£1559. The remaining areas vary from 80 to 1000 acres, most of them between 500 and 600 acres. It may be explained with regard to the leases that there is a small royalty fixed for coal and timber. Details are also given in the return with reference to sawmi'.ling rights granted in the King Country, during the same period. The largest of these embraces 134,500 acies, secured by tho Tongaiire Timber Company, on the following terms:—".£lo for first 15 years; ,£l2 10s. for next 10 years; .£ls for the next 10 years; .£l7 10s. for the next 10 years; and l£2o lor tho next five years." Thesa lands have been leased or sold through the Native Land Court or by private bargain, with the approval of tho council. Mr. Hogg states that there is very little competition in these transactions, as the public are only apprised through Native Gazette, and the notifications are not easily understood by tho public,