Land for Settlement.

Manawatu Herald, 23 July 1903, Page 3

Land for Settlement.

acquisition of estates. Government intends to vigorously push on with its land for settlement policy. “ I reckon,” said the Hon. T "SUDuncan, Minister for Lands, to in three years’ time there will he very little suitable land left m this country for close settlement purposes, with the exception ofc Maori lands in the North Island. The Minister made reference to some of the estates that would in due course be available for the people. The Levels estate, of 32,000 acres, in Canterbury, acquired at an average of £6 P er ae y e would be placed on the, market in March next. It is the intention of the Governsaent to proceed at oaco with the acquisition of Mount Vernon property, .Hawke’s Bay. If arrangements cannot he made between the owners and the Government, the question of price will have to be settled by means of a Compensation Court. , . The Minister says there is no doubt that this property will be open for settlement not later than March next. Mount Vernon is situated in close proximity to Waipukurau, and belongs to the trustees of the Harding estate. It is well adapted for close settlement purposes. P CUve Grange estate, about seven miles from Napier, is another estate which the Minister says will in all probability be taken and its acquisition is now under consideration. , The Tamakl block, containing o*,000 seres, near Dannevirke, Hawke’s Bay, has been receiving the earnest attention of the Government. It is proposed as soon as possible, o relieve the lessees, the Hawke s Bay Timber Company, and place the property on the market. The Government intends to minimise all delay in coming to an agreement with the lessees-. The only question now at issue is the capitalisation of the remaining term of the lease (about seven years), and if this cannot be amicably arranged, the Compensation Court will be asked to detide This property, when acquired, should be a great inducement for close settlement, and is particularly adapted for dairying,- many thousands of acres being of very rich soil, and exceptionally well watered. The Tamaki block extends from a large area of practically level land across the Ruahines to the rohangina district. The Government the whole of the freehold from the natives and it only now remains for an agreement or the value of the lease between the lessees and the Crown to be effected. In urging upon the Minister the great suitability of Tamaki block for development under the Lands for Settlement Act, Mr A, L. D. Eraser M.H R- for Napier, has suggested to the Minister that the remaining bush area of this property should be either worked by Government mills or by private mills paying a royalty under Government supervision. . It jealously conserved, there is still a large amount of valuable timber in the block which should represent a ■ubstantial asset to the State.