The Purchase of Private Land.

Manawatu Herald, 9 August 1898, Page 2

The Purchase of Private Land.

In a most extraordinary sub-leader, the New Zealand Times of yesterday says uit is difficult to understand the attitude taken up by the people of the Foxton district with regard to the Motoa Estate." This difficulty arises simply from the editor not understanding the question and the law. We are told that " the Foxton people . . . . desire to teach the Assets Board its business," and then to show that it is the Government and not the Board that the people want to instruct, the paper admits " because the Assets Board is a semi-public institution, attempts are to be made to have its work so modelled to the requirements of localities, and not for the general good of the community." As to the Assets Board the people of Foxton do not desire in any way to hinder its progress, but are asking the Government to either buy, or lease, the land the flax is on from the Assets Board. This can do the Assets Board no harm, but contrarily much good, and thus, arguing by the New Zealand Times' reasoning, we are working for the benefit not of localities but of the community, so that we are thus relieved from all blame.

What the public is asking the Government to do is what, except for flax lands, they passed an Act in the year 1894 to do with any other kind of land, clause 4 of the Land for Settlements Act reciting that " The Minister may from time to time direct the Board to negotiate with any owner of private lands in any part of the colony for the purchase or exchange of any lands, at such price, or for so much equivalent land, as may be agreed upon between any owner or lessee and the Board, for the purpose— (l) Of providing land for settlement under the Land Act ; or (2) For the acquisition of sites for homesteads for neighbouring high-lying pastoral land; or (3) For acquiring low-lying land necessary for the working of neighbouring high pastoral land : or (4) For the exchanging high land suitable only for pastoral purposes for low-lying or agricultural land suitable for settlement." The power given to the Government is pretty full, and what is contended is that a short amendment to this Act giving power to the Board " to acquire low-lying land necessary for the growth of flax in the neighbourhood of mills" be added to it. It must be better for the colony that land, growing a crop which will find work for a large number of people, is retained in its natural state than that it should be " improved " so much that fifty families are deprived of labour and cattle placed in their stead. If the Assets Board get their value for the land there is no harm done to the Board, and if the Government can lease the land at even ten per cent, upon the value they may have to pay for the property, no harm is done to the Government. Why then should there be any opposition made to the proposals ?

In the Corps of Commissionaires in London there are 2,448 men, and it was stated .at a meeting of the Governors that in London alone there is room for 50,000 commissionaires, and if retired soldiers and sailors would qualify themselves for the best situations, they could undoubtedly get them and satisfactory remuneration as well. The Otaki Maori Racing Club have 1 decided to give £540 in stakes for the November meeting, and £1000 for the May meeting. Mr Hema R. Te Ao was elected secretary. Mr Henry Otterson is gazetted Clerk of the House of Representatives, vice Mr Geo. Friend, deceased. Mr A. J. Rutherfurd is gazetted Clerk-Assjstant, Mr A. F. Lowe second Clerk-Assistant, and Mr E. W. Kane Reader and Clerk of Bills to the House. In a case tried in London a short time back it was sworn to in evidence that a butler whose wages were £72 a year, made large sums from "tips," having during the time the family was at Scotland made £30. Another butler swore that during a period of three months he had received £25 in the same way. It was not explained whether the Premier of New Zealand happened to be a visitor, but if he had been it might help to explain the £1750 travelling expenses he ran up on his trip Home. A movement is on foot to secure a visit by the Prince of Wales to Canada and the United States in spring. .

The Manawatn County Council meets to-morrow at Sanson. One of our local fishermen informs us that we may expect to find some whitebait in the river at the next spring tide. It will be noticed by an advertisement elsewhere that the champion Arab pony "Duke of Mazeppa" will stand at the Shannon ferry this season. The thoroughbred horse "Bay King" is announced to be at the service of breeders in this district during the season, his headquarters being at Oroua Downs. Full particulars as to terms, etc., may be obtained from Mr J. Campbell, at the above address. In spite of the closest espionage, the diamond mining companies of South Africa have stolen from them during the year £1,000,000, of which they recover about one-half. A large number of cattle are dying in the Rangitikei district says the Advocate, owing to want of feed. It is reported that not less than 20 have died near the Zig Za.% road, Colyton, about 12 of which were owned by Mr VV. G. Haybittle. Many sheep and lambs are also dying from the extreme cold. The mosquitoes of Yukon, British Columbia, are more bloodthirsty than any others of the species. From May until September they are engaged in a perpetual picnic, bleeding men and animals. In a few hours a Yukon mosquito will torture a dog to death, and force a bear to seek relief by plunging into a stream of water. There was a picturesque scene at University College Hospital on Tuesday the 21st June, says a Home paper, when the Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Princess, laid the foundation stone of the new building, the cost of which, amounting to £100,000, has been provided by Sir J. Blundell Maple, M.P. H.R.H. expressed the pleasure experienced by the Princess and himself in attending to lay the foundation stone of a building which Sir J. B. Maple had so generously undertaken to erect. "No such magnificent gift for the sick poor of Lon« don," added the Prince, " has I believe been made since Thomas Guy, in the 17th century founded the hospital which bears his name." . j The Wyndham paper says, we under, stand that for suitable baconers, dressed deadweight, a reputable Dun« edin firm is offering at present 4^d per lb. Anyone who has done trade in pigs should be able to say instanter whether this is or is not a really tempting offer. The Banking Bill has passed through all its stages in the House. " Who killed the Bill " in the Council has yet to be recorded. The 400 acre paddock adjoining the Cattle Peaks property, in Glenmark, valued for the Land Purchase Board at £5 los per acre, has just been sold to William Baker for £13 per acre, cash. We deeply regret to hear of the death, through a gun accident, of Mr Richard Wilson, of Makuri, the eldest son of Mr Thomas Wilson, late Manager of the Moutoa estate; -'We offer to the family our sincere sympathy. The Wellington papers report that His Excellency the Governor paid an official visit to the Wellington gaols on Saturday. In this respect he is not singular, all the inmates having had to do so likewise. The Americans have succeeded in raising the Spanish warship Maria Teresa, 7000 tons, sunk during Admiral Cervera's attempt to escape from Santiago. The vessel is quite intact. In connection with the Dreyfus trial, Major Esterhazy's cousin has confessed to assisting Major Esterhazy aud Colonel Patey Duclam in forging a number of telegrams, including those referring to the mysterious veiled lady prominently mentioned in the case, the object of the forgeries being to compromise Colonel Picquart and Captain Dreyfus. This side in sailing beats the east coast. Messrs Gammon and Cos. two vessels, the Whangaora and the Pendlehill had a kind of a race to Sydney, the former leaving Foxton, the latter Napier, timber laden. There is the usual ardour with the skippers to make the best run. As we have said our side wins hands down, as though the Pendlehills left Napier ten days before the Whangaroa left here, Mr Simmonds received a telegram yesterday from Captain Cozens at Sydney as follows — "Arrived yesterday, weather coarse, Pendlehill not reported." The New Zealand Accident Company announce that Mr Alf. Fraser has been appointed its local agent for the Foxton district. There are some capital photographs taken by Mr John Walsh of the steamers at the wharf when so many were bar bound, to be seen in Mr Alf. Fraser's shop window.