The Native Townships.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 276, 14 September 1906, Page 2

The Native Townships.

SECTIONS CANNOT BE SURRENDERED. When certain areas of land near the township of Kawhia were leased from the natives by the Government, who cut them up into sections and in turn leased them to the public, it was thought that the allotments would become valuable, and land seekers fall over each other to secure them (especially in the Te Puru township). That was in the boom time. After rent had been paid for about a year most of the lessees wanted to throw them up, and thought tba easiest way was to

ignore the demands for payment of dues. After the owners had almost forgotten that they had ever had an interest in the townships, the minds of the defaulters were suddenly refreshed by the receipt of a registered letter each from the authorities, and we have been favoured with a copy of that communication, which is as follows :

“ Department of Lands and Survey, Auckland, August 28tb, 1906. Arrears of rent on native townships. Section—, Te Puru Township.— I have to draw your attention to the arrears of rent now existing on the above section. There are now four payments overdue, amounting to £6 10s, and though you have been notified of these arrears, you have neglected to take steps to pay up the money due to the Crown in the interests of the native owners. I must now inform you that if the above amount is not paid to the Receiver of Land Revenue, Auckland,.by the 10th of September, 1906, proceedings will be taken by the Crown Solicitor to recover same. I have instructed him accordingly, and it only remains for you to pay the arrears to save yourself the extra expense of legal proceedings. I feel now that the utmost latitude has been given, and there is no reason why the natives should be kept out of the rents any longer. Therefore, the money must be paid.—Jas. Mackenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands.”

No wonder that the letter came as an awkward surprise, and caused interests in native townships to be offered gratis, but we cannot report that any business was done. A sort of defence league was hurriedly formed by a few local business people who (unfortunately for themselves) had gone in for this mild speculation, and a letter was drafted to Mr J. C Martin, « the eminent Auckland solicitor, asking his advice on the matter. A reply was received in due course to the effect that the rent must be paid, and that the leases could not be thrown up. It might be here mentioned that the term of the leases is for 21 years, with right of renewal, 'so that rent will have to be paio for that time (not very many of the present lessees will take advantage of the renewal clause). To our mind the iniquitious part of the business is that the sections are practically valueless, owing to there bsing no road to them, and the Gov eminent have, acted very unfairly in this c'inneotion—if it wore a private individual cutting land up a metal road w uld have to be prowled. The rental of the sections, from £3 per quarter acre section and upwards, is also exorbitant and needs readjusting. We behave th-»t all the section holders iu native townships have received similar notice?, and it will be a great blow to some who paid fabulous prices at Te Kuiti and O-orohauga. A petition is to ba drawn up locally and forwarded to the Government (through Mr Greenslsde, M.H.R) asking that the lessees be relieved of their responsibilities or if no' that the rent be reduced.