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King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 241, 12 March 1910, Page 2

In the Auckland land district there are several large areas of land to be opened for selection during the present month. The second-class land includes nine sections at Wharepapa, Kawhia North and Takahue survey districts, and Waipu, Maungataperc, Mangawai, Matata and Waiotahi parishes. These sections are from 19 acres to 609 acres, and the total area is 1626 acres. The price is from £2O to £550 per section. The first and second-class lanrl includes 17 sections in the Pirongia and Orahiri survey districts and Pirongia parish. They'are from 81 ji to 368 acres, and the total area is 2846 acres. The price is from £3O to £IOOO per section. Section No. 29, Pradock hamlet, Titirangi survey district, will be thrown open for- renewable lease on the 29th inst. Its area is 1 acre 8 roods 34 perches. The annual rental is £4 5s 6d. The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. J. Mackenzie) felt called upon to speak rather severely to several Crown tenants who had not complied with the conditions under which they took up the lands, and who appeared before'the Land Board at Wellington on Friday to ask for consideration in the matter of forfeiture. Two or three lessees had taken up sections, and instead of getting to work right away to fell and burn the bush, and effect other improvements necessary for making a home in the back country, it is stated that they had taken up Other work having no connection with the section. In the meantime other settlers had worked on their sections all round and cleared their lands of bush, kept the weeds down, etc., and were then handicapped by the sections which had been neglected, and where ragwort had nourished. The Commissioner held out small hope to some of these people, saying it seemed to him that they did as little as possible to the sections, and just endeavoured to hang on to them in the hope of disposing of them to advantage. In the meantime the land was urgently needed by genuine settlers,' who would put their hearts into the sections. It was just as well for the Crown tenants to know that the Board expected the conditions to be complied with, otherwise action would bp taken.