WAITAKI EDUCATIONAL RESERVES

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8166, 22 April 1895, Page 3

WAITAKI EDUCATIONAL RESERVES

TO THE EMTOK. Silt, — On desert lands a woll h a very valuable possession, but I never yotheaid of a woll in Now Znaland so costly as the ono quoted by "Interested" as being situated on a certain reHerve. " Intorostod," in his query, gives a rough ouiIme (correot in the main) of tho valuation | of the improvements upon this reserve. ' Ho i>», however, in orror on one point, and not explicit enough on othors. The Hum of L 5 was paid for a former tenaut'H (goodwill, and includod two huts and a back-delivery reaping maohina. Ono of those huts his been removed, and a buck-dolivory reaping machine was sold for L 5 by th» prosent tenant to an hotolkeoper fond of farming. Tho fencing is worth L4O, bub the hut is worth only L 5, notwithstanding the fact that it recoived a coat of paint (for the first time) only n ioxr dsya before the valuation. Thus, this is valued at L7B 17s Gd. I cannot hco how it c«ii be worth such a hum seeing tho prosont occupier and his little son, 10 years of age, sank (he tirst 38ft, nnd the noxt 18 t were sunk by contract at 3s per foot, and a blast, as a finishing touch, was performed by the same two contractors, for which servico they recoived tho munificent sum of ss, though they worked all day. How is that for unionism? I wonder whotlior their omployer worked for similar wagos a few years ago when he was on the contract for the unomployod? Did the valuator test tho flavor ot tho water, or how m my srallons of it flowed per minute ? I feel curtain that had this valuation been mi do by the Board's late valuator, no such excossivo sum would havo been allowed. Yet porhaps tho Boird has a feeling of compassion for these tenants becauso of the lioivy rent that has been screwed out of thorn tor tho last eovon years, and wish to mako this ono a present of tho excess valuation at somebody's oxponso to rocoup him. Anyway, this valuation is unfair toothers who miy wish to rent the reserve, and injurious to the revenue of the Board. Allowing oven LlO for tho well, f«n incoming tenant would have to pay about L7O above the actual value of improvements, which, at 0 per cent would amount to over 2s per acre per annum, Additional rent. I cannot sco why this handicap should bo given to this prosent tenant, unloss it bo tho ahovo feoling of compassion, or m»y it be that he has beon such an exoolletit tenant, and kept tho ground in good hoart, and tho fences in such good order. When was tho gorso cut last ? It is true that tho wiro foiuos word repairod by the employees of tho neighboring landholder. Again, should <♦ competent vtluator make a valuation at the end of the term, ho would put these improvements down at their correct valuo, in which enso the outgoing tenant would undoubtedly lose his L7O. Hence, it in plain that no ono olse c.vi afford to p»y a ront within 2s porauro per annum cf that of tho present tenant, and tho Board must li se this rovonuu, unlosi this valuation in adjusted. This foolish competition for land at such ruinous rent is cuising degeneration amongst New Zealanders. The conscientious, practical man, who goes in for keepin? to his agreement ami paying his rout, ha 9 no chance against the reckless plunger, who goes in at any rent, takes off a crop or two, and then applies for a reduction I of rent, or throws up the lease. In- I stances without numbor could bo quoted : Pomahaka, Maorewhouua, Cheviot, etc. A person renting those public lands should be compelled to abide by his agreement, and improvements should bo valued by practic-tl men, so as to givo all a fair chance. — I am, ote,