OPENING UP NEW COUNTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1346, 25 January 1912, Page 4

OPENING UP NEW COUNTRY.

> PROGRESS IN THE'NORTH. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, January 24. Mr. VT. C. Kensington, Under-Secretary for Lands, is , at present on a brief visit to Auckland, after a rapid trip through the Bay of Plenty, mnde for the purpose of inspecting the various river and Kwamp-improvement works in progress there. In reply to a question by a reporter, Mr. Kensington said that the opening up of land in the north was progressing as rapidly as possible, but, as a matter of fact, the available Crown land in that part of the Dominion was practically exhausted, and purchases from the Native owners would soon be necessary. J< should be remembered that some 2,000,000 acres in the north were reserved under the Kauri Gum Industries Act, and thatprevious attempts to resume portions of them had been greatly rosented by those interested in the gum trade. Much nf this land, though not rich, was well adapted'to fruit-crowing, and, in some cafps for sheep-raising, and, ax the gum became gradually worked out, it would lie resumed for the benefit of the settler.

.At present Hip whole staff of the Auckland Lands Office was working at full pressure in consequence of Hi* opening up of lands in various parts of the provincp. especially in thi> King; Country. Tt was intended to open up a block of 23,000 acre* of fairly pood land in Wpst Taiipo in Hie course of a month or two. nnd an active policy was being pursued in other directions.