UREWERA LANDS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 310, 24 September 1921, Page 2

UREWERA LANDS

SCHEME OF CONSOLIDATION COMPLETED LARGE AREA AVAILABLE FOR SETTLEMENT STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. The completion of tho scheme for the consolidation of the Crown and Maori interests in tho Urowera block was announced yesterday by the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. J. G. Coates). Tho final transaction'” waa the acquisition of a large block on the shores of Lake Waikarenioaua for forestry and water conservation purposes. The Minister said that this arrangement was a fitting end to the negotiations, whicli' commenced at Ruatoki oa August 1. "Tho negotiations,", said Mr. Coates, “were authorised by the Hon. Mr. Guthrie, as . Minister of Lands, and myself as Native Minister, after a conference with tho Natives at Ruatoki at the end of May last. There is much detail work yet to bo done to give effect to the scheme, but tho Crown knows definitely where it may commence operations. About 100,060 acres continuous area lying between, the Waimana and Wlinkatane Valleys are clear of Native interests, and can be taken in hand immediately as being suitable for settlement. In blocks adjoining this area the relative interests of the Crown and Natives have been defined, but a topographical survey and inspection are necessary before actual location. The proportion of this land suitable for settlement has yet to be determined, and full investigation will have to bo made by officers of the Lands and Forestry Departments before any settlement scheme is determined on." "The valuable Te Whaiti timber area is practically all' included in the Crown award, and surveys only are necessary to locate the Native sections in that block. Along the Whakatane A alley, north of Ruatahuna, there are complicated jiroblems to be dealt with after inspection and topographical survey. A large forest area represents much of the Crown award in the south and west, and advantage was taken of this to exchange for 20,000 errs of the Wnikaremoana block,..where tlie.forest is required chiefly for scenic and water-conservation purposes. The officers who have been carrying out the arrangements with the Native owners after a visit to Wairoa, . Hawke’s Bay. reduced the terms for the acquisition of the balance of Waikaremoana block, amounting to 44,000 acres, to a business basis subject to small reserves on "the lake foreshore for the resident Native owners. A price has been agreed upon for this area, and all but a small proportion required for th® acquisition of other lands for the Native owners will be paid in debentures. Th® Waikaremoana owners will receive a considerable annual income, and the btate will have solo control of the forest Which protects the water supply of the hydro-electric, scheme. "The Government is well satisfied with 'tlie result of tho Urewora negotiations. The Native interest has been fully conserved Certain blpcke have been set aside for them, and exchanges have been effected among themselves and with the Crown, resulting in the surrender of all the old titles and the substitution of land transfer titles for defined sections The tribal holdings are gone, and will be replaced by family allotments. Where formerly Natives held in common with others in, say, twenty blocks, no fftim i.y now holds in more than three at most. From bring thj-most backward the Lrewora titles win be among the most; advanced Native titles in th® D®numon Legislation is required to validate the arrangements arrived at, and special officers will be appointed to cany <mt the details of the scheme, especially the d.finition inter s® af'the Wive sections.