PURCHASE OF NATIVE LANDS.

Evening Star, Issue 4209, 23 August 1876, Page 4

PURCHASE OF NATIVE LANDS.

- The following is a precis of the statement By Sir Donald M‘Lean of land purchase operations during 1875-6. After referring to the former difficulty the Government had to contend with in acquiring Native lands consequent on the superior advantages offered by capitalists and speculators, he said that during the past year the Government Incuts had not been less exposed to tho same difficulties. “ To the north of Auckland 443,856 acres have been acquired, at a cost of L43,895,0r2a per acre. The surveyors report this land to bo well adapted for Settlement, and appeals have been made by ..the Natives to have these lands peopled by Europeans. Of the above purchases 229,559 have ‘been to the Province of Aupkbnd, to be dealt with by the Province. Under the existing laud laws the Govern.toent doubt if At is desirable to acquire more land after present negotiations are completed. In Ooromandel and-Thames district Sbme 19,000 acres were purch sed, on which payments have been made of L 16,000, at the Urgent request of the Superintendent, in the belief that . the land was auriferous, Total area purchased in Thames district, 146,441 acres at cost of L*25,231. About 200,000’ acres in the Upper Thames and .Piako districts are under negotiation. Owing to difficulties raised by certain sections of the A rawa tribes, land purchases have been discontinued in the Bay-of . Plenty district. In. the Taupo district, about 100,000 acres have been pnrohased # at a cost of L 14,258, or about 2s lOd per acre. Ou East Coast very few purchases" have been completed. In .Upper Wairoa 146,000 acres have been acquired. The iatehostile Uriwera tribe joined in the Sale. Total purchases in the Province of Auckland since June, 1875, 335,360; tot-d since 1872 amounts to 835,628—at total cost Of L 103.009, or an average price of 2s s^d gsr acre. No purchases were made in awke’a Bay during the past year. Total In Wellington Province since 1875 amounts to 58,425 acres ; total purchases, 440,927 acres, being at a cost of 2s 8d per acre. Jn. Taranaki, purchases completed of 82,38 b acres, making total for Taranaki of 252,886 acres, at a cost of about 2k per acre. Large blocks are now under negotiation. Total purchases completed in the North Island, 1,759,272 acres. Total uncompleted transactions, 2,695,867 acres.