OPENING AWAITI LAND

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5429, 27 May 1929, Page 2

OPENING AWAITI LAND

PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE. BENEFIT TO WIDE AREA. The matter of opening for settlement the 2000-odd acres of native, Crown, and privately-owned land between the Awaiti settlement and Tirohia was brought before the Netherton Drainage Board at its meeting on Friday by Mr H. E. Hill, who sought the board’s aid in expediting the matter. Mr Hill pointed out that the board was a body which truly represented the settlers of the district, and a push by it should carry weight. The block was a valuable one, and when settled would produce over £7OO a year in rates for the County Council. The County Council had recently applied for a revaluation of the county, and the speaker was of opinion that the block should be roaded and made available for settlement before this revaluation took place. This would give great relief to the highly rated settlers. of the Netherton riding, as the block itself required very little roading, being high, sandy country. Mr J. A. Reid explained that the County Council had been against spending Netherton riding funds on the access road, but as expenditure was necessary before legalisation of’ the road could be secured the council had entered into agreements with certain of the settlers to do work on the road, such as formation and fencing. However, as yet all of this work had not been done, and consequently the road could not be legalised. It was for the settlers' to move. Mr G. Buchanan, chairman of the board, said that as the area was not under the board’s jurisdiction he could not see that it could do anything in the matter. As settlers the members could and would do their utmost to get the land opened for settlement.