FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1841, 23 August 1906, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON V. SOUTHLAND. PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, last night. Tae match, Southland v. Wellington, was played at Athlelio Park this afternooD, in the presence of between 3500 and 4000 spectators, including Lord and Lady Piunket. The ground was in oapital order, and the weather perfec'. Tin local combination, which won easily by 22 points to 3, proved its superiority in the second half, the visitors, with few exceptions, being kept busily repelling the onslaughts of the opposing force?. Tbe Wellington forwards swarmed over tbeir opponents in the loose, and broke away repeatedly from the line with engineering rushes, which took the ball down the field at a great bat. The Wellington baok division was unable to bring its scoring powers into anything like full play, owing to the faulty play of Roberts (inside fiveeighth). whose tactics lost at least half a drzsn excellent chances of adding to his sida’d score. The Southland forwards played up solidly in the first spell, and secured possession oftsner, but the backs failed to profit by the advantage, being oontent to find the touch line. After crossing over the Southland pack men were run off their feet by the pace set them by the local division. The scores in the first spell were : Wellington 5 points, a try scored by Thomson and converted by G. Spencer. Southland 3 points, a try re gistored by Claik. In the next half Ramsden (twice), Mitchinsou, Hardhßm, Bnd Thoms m touohed down, G. Bpencer addiog the major points from Ramsden’e first try. The plaoekioking was poor.

Native Land Settlement. A DEPARTMENTAL REPORT. [(Special to Gisborne Times.) Wellington, last night. The following reference to the Native Land question appears in the annual report of the Lands Department ; The Government having decided to resume the purohase of native lands under the provisions of the Maori Lands Settlement Aet, 1905, and to place the initiation of suoh purchases under the Minister of Lands, the Commissioners of Crown lands for the respective land districts affected were requested to furnish details of the various blocks suitable for acquisition and subdivision for settlement purposes, as a rrsliminary to negotations by the Minister fjr Native Affairs for extensive purobae-s

by the Crown from owners who were willing to Bril, reports as to the quality and area of the blocks deemed suit -ble for this purpose, together with estimates as to their values, etc., have aooordingly been supplied by the Commissioners, and copies of the same duly transmitted to the Native Minister. It is hoped that within a comparatively short time a large expansion of settlement may take place, not only through the conditional area of lands made available by direct purchase, but by the Maoris themselves voluntarily plaoing large areas in the hands of the Maori Land Boards been set up under the Maori Land Settlement Act, 1898, who can offer them for lease themselves. Although largo portions of the native lands

in the North Island will thus bo dealt with, yet all the blocks between Auckland and the North Cape arc exempted from the operations of the Act as regards purchase by the Crown until the end of the year 1908, and the same limitation has been placed oh the largo area extending from Lottin Point, near East Cape, to Mohaka river, near Wairoa in Hawke’s Bay, which

includes the Gisborne district in connection with the working of this Act, and more especially with regard to section 21, which gives the Minister power to make advances to Maoris to enable them to cultivate their lands. Special regulations have been prepared amt gazetted and necessary forms printed to give effect to this very valuable provision.