NATIVE LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1269, 26 October 1911, Page 3

NATIVE LANDS.

PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT. Transactions in Native lands during the last financial year aro reviewed in a report by the Under-Secretary of Native Affairs (Mr. T. W. Fisher) on the working of tho Native Land Courts and .Maori Land Boards. The report states that the work of the Native Land Court shows a marked increase. A total of 22,3)3 cases compared with 0055 in the previous year wero scheduled for hearing, this increase being attributed to the advantages of the present law. The Court investigated tho ownership of 186,079 acres previously unclothed with a title, and dealt with 833 partitions affecting 503,829 acres. The Native Appellate Court has dealt with 471 cases. The revenue amounted to the record sum of £6835. The six Maori Land Boards approved of -135 leases, of a total area of 110.498 acres, and (M 0 transfers, comprising 75.34G acres. The ; aggregate area administered by the boards is 97,501 acres. Thev have issued 422 leases of a total area of 252.-102 acres, and 21. transfers, comprising COOS acres. Settr -«ont of the greater area, the report / ""'"is hung up for want of surveys, Nevors available being unable to co t ""the demands for their services. The Smnunt received on account of rents land purchase moneys was ; XI9S,7"A. The Native Land Purchase 1 «oaru received offers affecting 902,071 I acres, and completed the purchase of ! 75,137 acres. It is understood that sur- ' vevors aro engaged in the survey of [ 1J03.353 acres of Native land preliminary ; to their leasing tiv the land boards. Mr. Fisher remarks that "the Native ! iJepartment is doing all it possibly can ' towards the settlement of Native lands. ! The Act of 190!) is no doubt the eon- ' tributing factor, and when all its pro- ! visions are more universally known, and ' the parties oonecrnoft take the necessary ' initial steps, the cry of 'unoccupied [ Native lands' will be a thing of the past. l . At the present rale of progress, it may be assumed that after eight years there ' will be little, if any. Native land that is ' not revenue-producing." ; Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery is a most 3 effective family remedy, curing young and - old alike of 'Coughs, Colds Bronchitis. - Croup, and all troubles of tho Lungs and ' J Thioat, Price, Is, Cd. and Ss.-Advt,