AN OKAUIA MATTER.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 148, 4 September 1919, Page 4

AN OKAUIA MATTER.

MINISTERIAL REPLY. Dissatisfaction has been expressed occasionally in the district of late, regarding the delay in connection with the settlement of a soldier on a farm at Okauia. In response to our inquiry we have received the following letter from the member for the district, the Hon. W. H. Herries, who approached the Minister for Lands in the matter. (Cor v.) 2G/4625. Office of the Minister of Lands, Wellington, 25th August., 1919. Memorandum for: The Hon. W. 11. Herries. " With further reference to your memorandum of the 22nd ultimo, in regard to a farm purchased by the Government for a returned soldier named Ahier, I have to state that from a report received it appears that the delay mentioned was not the delay in valuing the property, but in valuing the stock.

" For your information I would state that the ranger was instructed to have the valuation made, but when he was on the section Mrs. Hopkins told him that it was not intended to sell the cattle, as they were on the lookout for another property, and intended to take their stock with them. The ranger accordingly did not make a report as lie had other urgent work in hand. Subsequently the Hopkinses decided to sell the stock to Mr. Ahier, and asked for the valuer to go out. At this time the ranger had a considerable number of urgent valuations in hand, and these had to take preference over the valuation for the purchase of stock. There appears to have been no unreasonable delay in this case, as the stock could have been valued when the valuer was first on the section, had the Hopkinses then decided to dispose of same. (Sgd.) D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands."