The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Oranga Moti Iwi.” FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1901.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 20, 18 October 1901, Page 2

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Oranga Moti Iwi.” FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1901.

Recently a meeting of leaseholders of native reserves was held at Greyniouth to consider, as the Mayor stated, the present position of the native leases in the borough, and, if possible devise a more secure tenure. The Mayor said the borough were now going in for extensive improvements and something should be done. The borough value of pi-operty was .£174,500. To give some idea of the rateable values of property, .£80,935; unimproved value, .£58,014; improvements, .£175, 297. Total capital value, .£313,246 ■ total unimproved value, .£80,014 ; tTfcal improvements, .£233,232, The nximber of native leases issued by the Public Trustee amount to 520, representing approximately 400 .leaseholders. The total number of rate-

payers in the Borough amount to 607. He did not contend that the rents were excessive, but he did not want to see themiaised. The amount of rent paid yearly to the natives was .£3,600. He did not think the Government -would consider any proposal to curtail the rents already being received by the Natives. He would move the following resolution : That this meeting ci" leaseholders is of opinion that it is advisable to approach the Government in order to procure a fixity of rents to the individual holder by giving the Borough of Greymouth a lease in perpetuity of the native reserve at the aggregate rental which is paid at present by the lessees, say .£3,500 per annum, and that the Council bind itself through a poll of . the ratepayers to pay the above rental at periods to be determined on hereIhiring the discussion which ensued, Ivlr Petrie said he did not favor the proposal as it appeared impracticable. The meeting was evidently against municipalising the reserve ; the Government were in the capacity of trustees, and had to act fairly to both parties. If a freehold was not desired then an effort should be made to get the State to purchase from the native owners, as there were always a danger of the Act being repealed and the estate being apportioned to individual natives. Eventually the following amendment w r as carried : That only the first part of the resolution be given effect to, which would then read : •' That this meeting of leaseholders is of opinion that it is advisable to approach the Government in order to procure a fixit} 7 of rents to the individual holder..