VALUE OF THE PLAINS.

Patea Mail, 14 October 1880, Page 3

VALUE OF THE PLAINS.

Sut,—As the sale of lands on Waimatc Plains will soon take place, intending buyers should not allow themselves to be carried away by glowing accounts hitherto credited to them. Many individuals have visited these Plains, and after inspection returned disappointed, finding them greatly over-estimated, the quality of the soil not meriting the praise given, besides being exposed very much to winds (bleak or

otherwise') from seaward, having no coastal ridge or terrace to break the force or give shelter. The Government have also fixed a high upset price ; and in deferred payment sections, intending buyers had need to canleulato beforehand what the land is likely to cost them before any return can be got from it. Fencing, on account of pig rootings, will require post and wire.

Water on some of the sections will have to be sunk for. Timber for fuel and building will have to bo brought a distance. All these cannot be dispensed with, and mean a considerable outlay ; and if those who go in for deferred payment land have not at least the entire cost of their land as capital at starting, I fail to see how they can succeed. Deferred payment settlers

in Otago and Southland, where the system has been longest and largest in operation, and even in Whakatnara and other places, have been petitioning their respective land boards for consideration and assistance. This points to two things as causes, viz.» giving more than the true and proper value for their land, and entering into a

business without the capital necessary to success. In the excitement of an auction room, the delusion of payments spread oyer 10 years tempts men to offer beyond value or beyond their means ; and in the Government upset price of ,£6 per acre the usual calculation of 10 or 12 years to redeem the freehold shows that very little above upset price is what the laud is worth for profitable occupation. Another subject is that in addition to all taxation of road and County rates and property tax, all those Plains and onwards to Mokau river arc liable to a special rate of Is in the pound on the annual rental

value; and should it not produce the amount required, power is given to increase the rate until it brings in the amount wanted. And for what? I venture to say half of those who attend the sale will not be aware that the New Plymouth Harbor Board have the rate and power aforementioned. And, sir, you will bo doing a service deserving of the thanks of all thoso intending to buy, by .giving the fullest information regarding this subject,

for -Watmate Plains settlers can have no sympathy for the New Plymouth harbor : their natural outlet is and will be Patea. As it is, Waimato Plains settlers may count on 6d to 9d, possibly Is, per acre per annum of taxation above their fellow settlers ; and as for the Waimate Plains Railway to cheapen carriage, with the trunk lino uncompleted, the less said of the branch the better.

Another subject is that seeing deferred payment settlers are compelled to occupy, I think cash buyers should bo bound to do the same or forfeit their land. This would do more than any other thing to settle the land with that class of persons so much wanted—practical farmers. For .it must be apparent to all that any man in any other business, having spare cash, by buying land and allowing it to lie idle until adjoining lands are improved, runs no risk to person or property ; yet settlers may

be so harrassed that occupation may bo nearly ruinous to them. For the best interests of the colony, none ought to be allowed to buy but compelled to occupy ; and, in the interests of settlers, such occupation would give a prestige of strength in their favour to the minds of the natives. —I arn, &c., A Well-wisher to New Zealand, Wanganui, Oct. 11.