The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 1910. WASTE LANDS AT HOKIO

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 September 1910, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 1910. WASTE LANDS AT HOKIO

TiiKitK is one neglected mofciliod of checking the sand invasion at Hokio Hoach which should be availed of without further delay—ami that is subdivision and sale of t\io long strips cf lands to north , and south of H«.kio .stream, along tho .sea coast. The present lack of individualised ownership prevents anything being done to liree these lands Iroiu their encumbering sands, and meanwhile the clearer lands behind tlio long strip are ihoing invaded and spoilt- gradually but

iurely —as the. wind-blown sands spread inland. 'Jlli:- long strip a'.' so:> coast to which wo refer is absolutely valueless to its present owners, and it is well-known that they would lie especially glad if they mil hi soil it k) anybody; but the bar against sales of native 1-inds without special authorisations being given pieclir.les anything boing done t:> icinedy tl'.e danger at present. The Government (through Nir Joseph Ward) made a pronouncement, Inst month, that individual owners in every district affected would have to cope with the .sand drift troubles for themselves, as the areas roncerne:! were too numerous and widespread to allow of the State bearing the necrssnry exposes. Though v, G regret this decision, we admit tlio

reasonableness of the ground .mpon whi.h it is based; but it is s-nroly a natural corollary to this decision lor the Government to do all it can 1(> _ facilitate individual action against the sand encroachments. WliilcMiVo areas of native lands at Ilokif) to which we have referred remain in communal ownership they are not only useless to their owners but they aro a menace to the bettor lands further inland. The Government should take steps to

acquire the lands from their native owners and to offer them for sale at nominal prices. There are several citizens of Levin prepared to give from two shillings to ' three shillings per acre for (say) 300 acre blocks in these sand, covered aireas, •believing as tiboy do that by systematic planting of lupins they could reclaim these blocks from the sands which now cover them. Possibly the Native Department may be inclined to move in the matter. Some Government department eer■tainly should do so. AWut two thousand acres are concerned;: some flhdirteen tou-ncbed on the north and , some seven 'hundred to the south.