GETTING ON THE LAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 16

GETTING ON THE LAND.

SOME ADVICE.

CITY-BRED MAN'S PROSPECTS.

"What steps should a young townsman take who desires to settle upon tho laud?" was a question addressed by a Dominion reporter to Mr. J. W. A. Marcliaut, formoriy Surveyor-General. Beforo proceeding to give a detailed reply, Mr. Marchant spread out settlement maps of the North and South Islands, and showed at a glanco tuafc tho purple patches which denote unoccupied Crown lauds arc comparatively few And far between, and of small extent as compared with tho rest of tho country. In tho North Island particularly those areas aro very limited, and many of thejn consist of rough and hilly country. Admittedly openings for the settler in New Zealand aro_ comparatively restricted as compared with what they were years ago. -\lr. jrarchant contented himself with indicating this fact by reference to the maps mill proceeded to describe tho lino of action which an intending settler might adopt.

"Such a young man," ho said, "should go to tho nearest Government Land Offico, where Jie will receivo every courtesy, arid bo given tho fullest available information to aid him in his search. Unfortunately, to-day, ho will probably find, 6omo difficulty in attaining the object in. view, simply by reason of tho fact that tho great bulk of tho Crown estate in this Dominion most suited for settlement has already been dealt with. This will bo confirmed by looking, at the latest land tenure maps of tlw two islands. Tho blocks of unoccupied lands in the Wellington. district are not so situated as to tend to encourage tho expectation that they will bo found suitable for subdivision into small areas such as our friend is probably looking for. Tho officers of tho Department will place in his hands tho latest land guide, showing the whole of tho land now ) ( ying open for selection in each land district. Any of theso ho will probably liavo the right to select without competition. If ho docs not think that he can select a suitable holding from tho remnanls'of Crown lands which aro catalogued in tho land guide, the Departmental officers will advise him that thero aro certain lands which will shortly bo placed upon the market. If on inspection he finds any of theso blocks of land suitable, ho will be assisted by the officers to put in an application for a particular section or sections, and the cliances aro that ho will have to compete at tho ballot with other applicants. Owing to the fact that the areas of Crown land opened in this way are necessarily limited and applicants numerous, ho may have to travel from one district to nnothor, and enter a number of ballots beforo he succeeds in his quest. "A more hopeiul outlook for an; intending settler will bo found if he turns his attention to tho acquisition of all area of land under tho Lands for Settlement Act.