SALE OF TE KUITI TOWNSHIP SECTIONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 21, 15 March 1907, Page 3

SALE OF TE KUITI TOWNSHIP SECTIONS.

The sale of the remaining township sections at Te Kuiti was held in Mr Hetet's Hail on Wednesday last, when Judge Browne, President of the Maori Land Administrat-on Board presided. Mr J. W. Seymour, of the Maori Land Board conducted the sale. There was a large attendance, people from the surrounding districts being present in force, and bidding was brisk throughout. In all cases the values realised were well above the upset prices. All the sections sold under the hammer, with the exception of two or three which were taken up at the upset price immediately after the sale concluded. The highest prices were naturally given for the lots nearest the railway station, and bidding was extremely brisk for the sections situated behind the Public Works offices, for which rentals of from £3 2s 6d to £6 were bid for sections of about a-quar-ter of an acre. The sections fronting Tawhana-street provided keen competition, the highest price being realised for the corner lot facing Kingstreet, which went to Mr J. Erikson at £9 I2s 66. The top prices realised were paid for sections 11 and 12 of block XIX, on the hill to the north of the railway station. Mr John Ormsby secured section II at a rental of £l4 15s and Mr Mordaunt section 12 at £ls 10s. Both lots are well situated. Compared with the last sale of township lots, which was held rather more than a year ago, the result of the present sale is striking exidence of the progress of the place. For months after the last auction, the sections lay open for selection at the upset prices, and were neglected.

In about eight months after the closing of the sections for application, the upset prices are more than trebled except in the case of one or two very swampy lots which will require a considerable expenditure in the matter of draining. It should also be stated that the sections are entirely unimproved. In some instances good grass is growing, but this is more than compensated for, by the clearing of scrub and furze which will have to be undertaken on many of the sections. In addition there is a considerable amount of swamp land among the sections just disposed of, and there is no road formation undertaken in any part of the township, and a heavy rate will require to be struck to take in hand even the most necessary work. However, ■ now that the sections are all taken up, there is every probability of much greater progress" than has been the case during the past year.