RUNANGA PURCHASE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1536, 4 September 1912, Page 7

RUNANGA PURCHASE.

FURTHER DETAILS. A return giving details in connection with tho purchase and fencing of part of Eunanga No. Iα Block (owned by Mr. G. W. Russoll, M.P.), -was laid on tUo table of the House of Representatives yesterday. The area acquired by the Government was llOt acres, and tho prico paid was ,£3510. The report, by tho assistant surveyor, Mr. H. E. Wnlshe, who surveyed tho land and subdivided tho Crown laud adjoining, was as follows:—

Unimproved value of land acquired as it stands G93 Additional value to Crown on account of road frontage and access provided to Crown land, alsn by giving better homestead and yarding sites, 2s. per aero on 19,000 acres 1900 Extra fencing and road formation saved 948 Fencing on boundary between land purchased and Crown lands, 41(i chains nt 10s 208 Total 3750 Against this is tho cost to the Department of fencing one side of the road and private land, ten miles, ,£s!)r. (This was a condition of the purchase, and Hie contract for same was let at .£59 Ms. per mile.) Had tho roadway been taken and the MOt acres not been purchased, tho cost to tho Crowu would have been:— £ Fencing road, both sides 11!H Value of 80 acres in road JO 77* chain? access roads from Waiiiunga Road to Crown sections, forming and fencing 215 Total Ml 9 In addition to this sum thorc a would have been a claim for severance/ , of property. Tho return was referred to the Lands Committee, in accordance with a proposal mode by the Prime Minister during, the discussion on the first item of the Estimates. Mr. Massey (hen suggested that the Lands Committee should l>o asked lo make a full inquiry into the whole detail.? of tho transaction.