CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 20 November 1917, Page 3

CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

KAWIU LANDS UNDER OFFER. AT PRICES' TO BE FIXED BY ARBITRATION. Matters in connection with closer settlement in the neighbourhood of 'Levin are moving quietly and satisfactorily, remarked the Mayor at last night's meeting of the Borough Council. Mr Blenkhorn said he had correspondence wi'iih Mr W. H. Field, M.P., from the beginning of October on the subject. Mr Field said he had sent a letter to the Prime Minister enclosing a report from the "Chronicle" of some observations the Mayor made regarding the desirability of closer settlement in this district. Mr Massey acknowledged these communications, and in reply said the chairman of the Land Purchase Board informed him that various lands had been examined, but in all cases except one they were not suitable for acquisition or the price was considered to he too high. The exception was an area at; Te Horo which would probably be acquired. The Board would, however, at once take into consideration the purchase of any further blocks submitted to it. Mr Blenkhorn said he then got into touch with the trustees of the McDonald estate, in Wellington. The trustees, he found would be only too glad to assist, and they were willing to sell the Kawiiu lands—tha.i was the lands on the northern side of the Foxton road—with the exception of such part as the family might desire to retain or had the power to retaiin. They were willing i':.o leave the price to be fixed by arbitration, that was to an assessor to bo appointed by each fide and the assessors to appoint an umpire. As that was the course usually followed by the Government in the acquisition of land* ibhe Mayor said he could see very little difficulty in the way. He had informed Mr Field of the position and ho thought the Council should pass a resolution that would serve to strengthen his hands. Tho Prime Minister's personal view was favourable to this method of fixing the price of flie land. Mr Blenkhorn said he wished to take the opportunity of acknowledging Mr Field V prompt attention and close 00-operation i'n the whole matter and' Mr Mcintosh, one of the trustees, had given him every assistance.

The Mayor added that the matter had now reached a point where he could see no loophole of escape from the acquisition of this land if it was sincerely desired to purchase it. He asked fclie Council to pass the following resolution:— "That this Council agialin bring under the notice of the Government the desirability of acquiring for closer settlement the lands in the vicinity of the Levin belonging to Ibhe estate of the late J. iR. Macdonald as it considers the offer of the trustees of that estate to allow the purchase price of such lands to be settled by arbitration to be a. fiair and reasonable one, and [ihat a copy of this resolution be forwarded to tin© member for the district with a request that he again bring the matter under the notice of the proper authorities." Or. Lancaster seconded the motion. "I think the Mayor is to be commended for his a-ction," he added. The 'Mayor had done what others had been trying to do for years and he thought the ciiirtiing up of this land would be a great help to the town. The motion was then carrfedi.