About the Plains.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 530, 8 June 1880, Page 2

About the Plains.

V. (From our Correspondent.) Hawera, Saturday. Strangers continue to visit the district in search of land, and all kinds of business is looking up. The number of applicants for Ngaire land should teach the Waste Lands Board the folly of their putting extreme prices on land, for they may bo sure that, as in ihe present case, the cheapness at which land is advertised will bring more people to look at it and consequently more competition. Of coarse there is nothing known at present as to the intentions of the Government re settling the Waimate by selling the land, but I presume that after the Native Commission have given in their final report, we shall hear something regarding the matter. I believe very few settlers in the district think that the plains should not be put in the market at once, and and that by doing so this would tend to settle the native difficulty more surely than any other way, notwithstanding the recommendations and advice tendered by the Commissioners. No doubt there are persons in the district who arc satisfied to wait the Government’s time, but surely the majority of settlers should have some voice in the matter. From what I hear, the Government are anxious to sell the land, but their hands are in a measure tied by the appointment of these two knights, who seem to have the power of controlling the action of Ministers, or at least the latter do not care to risk taking action in the matter until the final report is laid before Parliament.

I fancy that whenever the Waimate Plains are sold, the New Plymouth Harbor Board will find a strong foe in the new settlers against their power to levy a tax of Is per acre for the purpose of throwing money into the sea, in attempting to make a harbor at the Sugar-loaves. I was rather surprised to see, on reading over your report of the public meeting held at Carlyle last Tuesday, that there was no resolution moved with reference to this part of the Plains question. It would have been opportune, as the Board will have, I believe, to again get the Governor in Council to sanction the amended plans, and also the extra cost they will entail. The former sanction was obtained for a breakwater to be constructed of rubble, and to cost £200,000, and which was approved of by the Engineer-in-Obief; whereas the plans as amended are for a breakwater to be constructed of concrete, and to cost £285,000. I think some of onr public men should sec to this matter at once, and try to get this tax done away with, and also save the robbery from the Patea County of 25 per cent, of its laud revenue.