The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1895. NATIVE RESERVES.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 72, 12 March 1895, Page 2

The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1895. NATIVE RESERVES.

We understand that the Public Trustee has withdrawn the surveyors who were cutting up the native iands at the back of the township, and Messrs Seaton, Brigham. Turner and party left for Hawera on Sunday. The settlers in tins district have good ground for cause of complaint of the manner in which the Public Trustee has been dealing with these reserves. The block of land between the Ngariki and Arawhata Roads was put in the market without the roads being felled, and consequently intending selectors could not get to inspect the land, and it is hardly reasonable to expect that people are going to tender for bind unless they first get the opportunity of seeing what they are going in for. Further than that, they have not sufficient confidence in the Trustee to take up laud on any implied promise that the roads will afterwards be felled and cleared-, as they have been bitten too severely in the past by doing so. As as instance of how they get treated, tenders have been let for felling and clearing a road, giving access to this block in question in which some of the sections have been taken up, but a baulk of some fifty or more chains is left midway up the road, because it fronts a section which be does not offer for lease. If all the sections had been let the settlers would have found themselves blocked by this piece left undone, or have had to set to work and do it themselves, as the local body has not the funds to complete it. In the face of the promise that roads would be felled a chain wide and a 12-foot track cleared, we look on such action as this as a deliberate breach of faith on the part of the Trustee. It is stated that he docs not intend putting the Opna block in the market until all the lands already thrown open are selected. This may suit his idea of settlement, but it is a great loss to this district, and against all common sense. The Opua block contains some splendid land, and generally is of good quality. Selectors are bound to hang back for it in their endeavor to secure a portion of it. If it is put up under reasonable conditions and facilities first given for occupation there, as the country opens up the less favorably situated lands will in due course be taken up. This has proved the case in the adjoining district of Waimate and every other district, and we know of no good reason why this part should be treated differently to others. We venture to say that if the native iands had been in the hands of the Taranaki Land Board there would not now be a waste acre of native reserves in the district. If he were to get all the lands let it might run him out of a billet, but it would be of immense benefit both to this district and the colony. We trust that the petition which was got up rather late for the last session will be taken up in time this coming session, and pressure brought to bear ou the Government to make an alteration in the administration.