CLOSER SETLEMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1064, 2 November 1911, Page 2

CLOSER SETLEMENT.

AGITATION TO ACQUIRE THE HIMATANGI BROCK.

For some time past there has been an agitation afoot to get the Himatangi Block, which is owned by natives and leased to Europeans, placed upon the market for closer settlement. The area of the Block is 9,500 acres, comprising first, second and third quality land. The member for the district has interviewed the Minister for Native affairs on the subject and also the Hon. Mr Ngata and they had communicated the fact that the Maoris interested had the power to alienate the laud either by sale or lease. The block is situated a few miles from Foxtou and the present lease expires in a few years. A petition was circulated and signed by townspeople, calling upon the Mayor to convene a public meeting to discuss what action should be taken and was held on Tuesday night. Only a small proportion of those who signed the petition attended. The Mayor explained the object of the meeting and read correspondence from Mr Newman, M.P., and also two letters from a firm of solicitors acting on behalf of a number of Maoris interested. A general discussion ensued in which it was stated that the average price paid per acre under the present lease was is rod, but that 5s per acre had been offered for a renewal of the lease. It was slated that a portion of the laud, 30 acres, was sub-leased for market-gardening purposes at /,'ioo per year and that the block would easily accommodate 100 families. Two of those present said that they would be prepared to acquire portions of the block, and that if the laud were offered for sale or lease by public auction, the whole of it would be taken up at a price profitable to the owners and those requiring the holdings. A resolution was unanimously carried that a petition be drawn up for signature by townspeople, setting forth the desirability of throwing the Block open for closer settlement, and that same be forwarded to the Native Minister, Premier, Rand Purchase and Maori Rand Boards, and that a deputation wait upon the Maori Ruud Board when it visits the locality. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.