The Minister for Lands.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 307, 12 April 1907, Page 2

The Minister for Lands.

VISIT TO THE KAWHIA DISTRICT. The Hon. R. M‘Nab, Minister for Lands, arrived in Kawhia on Thursday last, havidg beea driven from Te Awamutu. Mr Mackenzie (Commissioner of Crown Lands), Mr Jordan (ranger), Mr Stevenson (secretary), Mr H. J Greenslade, MH R. Add three reporters accompanied the hen. gentleman. At Te Rau a moa Messrs Randall, J. Ormsby, Hoffmann and Wiley attended as a deputation, asking for as sistance in the construction of a sheep dip for travelling stock, that the large

block of native land between there and the railway be acquired, that the various serves in the district be thrown open, and that more money be voted for roetailing ibe main read and form ing the by-roads. On arrival at the Ferry deputations from Oparau and Awaroa interviewed tbo Minister. The speakers for the first named place (Messrs Bell and Mackenzie) dwelt on the questions of the native lands, the terms under which the land was taken - up (as to roads) not having been carried out, tho erection of a bridge at the Ferry, and the mak ng of a bridle track between section sa, block a, and section 2, block 7, Kawhia South. Messrs Robertson, H. Babbage and Brandon spoke 00 the subjects of native lands.

of the Government widening the road so as the settlers could rate themselves to ineia l it, and the loading of the lard with os an acre for reading which had not ba'en expended. In the evening deputations were received at the Council Chambers. President Shaw presided aud After Mr Greenslade had introduced Mr M‘Nab, welcomed him to the district. He and others had many matters to place before tbs Minister, the first on his list being reading through native lands. The position in this county was . that as the Crown lands Were fronted by native lands if they went in for loans the settlers would have to rate themselves to construct about kwo mites of road through this belt of native country which separated them from the Kawhia Harbour. This was unfair, and meant that the Crown lands ten-

ants (some of them only had L.I.P. sections) were not only roading the native lands but also making roads to open up Crown land, and be thought sdms assistance should be rendered by the Government. The Council had lately been vested with the powers of & Harbour Board but as yet bad not baen given any endowments, and as great improvements were necessary it was of the greatoat importance that this matter should be attended to. There were 6852 acres in the district shown on the map as a harbour endowment and he would ask Mr M‘Nab to endeavour to get this area handed over to the County Council. One of the most important matters he (the speaker) bad to bring forward was that of the loens. The County being new the members were practically novices, but he felt certain that the machinery by wbieb loans were obtained was so i .Ideate that even a lawyer would make mistakes. The Council applied

for a loan for various roads some time ago, and after the polls had been carried and the papers sent io Wellington it was discovered that an error had been made, the term- of the loans having been given as 44 years instead of 41 years. They were then told that tho formalities would have to be gone through again, but after a lot of trouble this was avoided by an Order-in-Council being gazetted. The special meetings were held and all the papers sent to Wellington. A couple of days •go ward was received from the Department to the effect that the Waitetuna Aotae was granted and aha the Kawbia and Awaroa Mahoe (subject to a reduction of £l6 and £BOO respectively owing to an error in making up the rate), but that the Mahoenui-Ka-whia, Pirongia West and Okupata would have to be advertised again, as half rates had been struck, therefore the money could not be granted. It seemed hard that the Department de tected one mistike, and only at the test minute found out the others. Mr M‘Nab: Was the half rate in before tha Order-in Council was made? Mr Shaw : Yes. The poll had been taken and the Department had all the information.

Mr M‘Nab : Did the tetter say that Half rates were not legal ? Mr Shaw ! Ye*; and that the whole business would have to be gone over again. Continuing, Mr Shaw said that there was nothing in the Counties Act to guide local bodies against atrik ing half rates, The matter was a very serious one for the settlers. Another request thaj be had to make was that the Government should grant a subsidy for widening and metalling their roads, which would benefit tend that would some day belong to the Crown. In his locality tho lan3 had been loaded 5s per acre fot roading, yet after six years’ residence there was only a 6ft. track, which in win’er was so bad that the loads on pack horse? dragged in the mud. Mr Jonathan asked that tho sums of £3OO for a Court House in Kawbia and £250 for the Kawhia Aotea road, ( which appeared on last year’s esti mates, should ba expended, and that steps be taken to protect the historical pobutukiiva trees on the Kawbia beach. The drifting sand was a serious menace to. Kawhia, and unless steps were taken to check it much valuable tend would be covered. The tend af footed belonged to the natives and the Crown. Both held portions on the banks of Pairangi Lake, which was being filled in, and as this was Ka whia’s futqre water supply he trusted that prompt action would be taken in the m ilter.

Mr J, E. Scott requested that more J’s.P. should bs appointed in the distrie 1 , as the pre ent dearth was both a serious aud cosily drawback to the set*

tiers. Only a couple of days ago it had cost a settler £8 17s 6d to get a paper signed, whilst recently a Justice had to be brought from Raglan to try a case. He also asked purt onof the main coach road, which wai very bad i»i winter, be metallel. Mr Turrell app ied to the Minis er to have the reserves and about eight acres near the township vested in tie Town Bjard, the tet er to be sei a d • as a hospital site. Mr Fulwasaer brought under node • the fact »hat in the Kawhia C >uuty there weie 119,000 acres of native land, which if brouxbt into occupation and rated rt Id in tho £ would realise £490, which was a greater amoun* than was at pre ent c Elected- Tbc c lan da were a hotbed of noxious weeds, and it waa thought that the Nat i e Minister should excise is power to have them cleare 1. o:bir matt.-r--mentioned were the gr.z .- ting of be bxich as a road ao as leasees c-m'd got a title to their laud r-gistered, the : u dividuoliaing ,f the Moerangi lloc‘<, the acquiring of 'h • »-vamp of 7 ) acres and also th- To Para, K re*a townships, and that Mr M‘N»b w re the Na’ive Land Commission to ho'd sit> ing nt Kawhi . Dr Jenkins, 'W anil Wil son urged the opening of the t< phone office at Kin<»Uaku, the ReDavidson the creerioD cf a fC o >1 the &tme place, aud M .-sr< P< .<it a: d Jonathan’the advte ibili yof having a trial survey in .de of a raiiw ay between Kawhia Harbtfur and the Mun TruSk Railway. to reply, Nc M‘Nab said that this was the first < ccas'on ho had had the opportauiiy 1 of'seeing the - u hern por in of the Pc vn‘ j. Ho lad taken tie trip JO get a bird’s eye view of ibe country, which If- though! wasnecessary, go as he c .uid use r.’ba* he saw aud ItariieU io his po.-iti’D i-s Minister of Irmds aud Africa 'ure. He was pleased til mveriug the eeftl.-r> aud would bring their requests under the no’ice of va’ious DepartmpiUa. and attend to the matters which were under Lis charge. He would look into the matter of tho harbour endewmenta and if they had been reserved f-r the maintenance of tho harbour they would be vested in tho Council. He agreed that the pohutakawa trees should be protected, and would see if steps could ba taktn towards their preservation. The drifting sand was a big question, and tho Static could not be expec'od to take the whole c >ntrol of arrest nz i f , but he was prepared to advise the Government to do all in their power to stop it. He believed that all manic p I reserves should be placed under the control of local bodies. Although out of bis Department he could something definite relative to the trial survey of the Main Trunk-Kawbii Harbour railway, and could uot hold out any hope, as it was the policy of the Government not to undertake the t n-itrnc iou of any more line 1 until the ones in hand wore completed. He d’d not believe in trial surveyß, which we , only buoying the hopes of people to look for some thing that could not be accomplished. Where people Were - axed to build railways c re shotrid be taken that the profits did not fall into private hand-. He was afraid that the native lands barrier arc and tho Kawhia Harbour was one r son why tbo construction of the railway ought to be postponed until that question wao settled. The sittings of the Native L*nd Commission were arranged by the chairman, therefore he did not see his way clear to advise that a sitting be held at Kawbia.

The parly journeyed to Kinohaku and Rakanui on Friday morning, and left for Raglan in the afternoon.