MORE “LAND FOR THE PEOPLE ”

Patea Mail, 1 February 1881, Page 3

MORE “LAND FOR THE PEOPLE ”

Under the above heading, the Wellington Post enumerates in brief the particulars of Government lands shortly to be offered for sale. We reprint it as evidence of the interest outside papers are taking in land sales on this coast, as well as sales in which they are more immediately interested:—lt has now been definitely decided that, the third extensive sale of Crown Lands, Waimate JPlains stall be bold at Hawera on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, the 25th, 26tb, and 28th days of February next. On those days 9000 acres of forestland, surveyed into about 70 sections, of 100 acres and upward, will be offered for sale. One-third of this area will be sold on deferred payment system, at 40s per acre, and the remaining two-thirds for immediate cash payment at upset prices, varying from 30s to 40s an acre. This block now about to be offered lies on the west bank of the Waingongora River, to which it has a frontage of three miles, and as the through railway line from Waitara and New Plymouth to Hawera runs along the banks of the Waingongora, opposite the block, it will, on the completion of the railway works now in progress, have direct communication with Hawera eight to ten miles distant. The line from New Plymouth is now open to the Eltham railway station, that being only about a mile from the block, which, for distinction, may be called the “ Eltham block.” It is part of the Waimate Plains, which stretch back from the coast line for 15 miles in an almost imperceptible slope to the base of Mount Egmont. The block is covered generally with light forest, and is country that invites settlement from the ease with which it could be converted into gras pastures. To give ready access to the land, the road lines connecting with the railway are now being cleared of bush, and other two road lines connecting with Mauaia and Okaiawa, the townships on the open plains, have been cleared up to, and beyond the new block. The country is excellently watered, and in the vast stretch of open and forest land surrounding there is an assured prospect of its becoming a most flourishing district of farms and townships within a very short time. On the part of the Waimate Plains recently sold the settlers are now busy at work. About 800 acres of open land, surveyed in sections of from 15 to 100 acres each, was witbeld from the former sales, pending the adjustment of some native claims. These having been disposed of this land is also to be offered at the end of next month, at an upset price of £4 per acre. Several hundreds of quarteracre sections in the township of Manaia and Opunake, together with about 40 suburban sections containing from 5 to 10 acres each, will be offered for sale at the same time. This important sale of Waimate Plains, and that of the 5000 acres of open land at Cape Egmont, near Parihaka, which is to be offered for sale at New Plymouth on the 17 th of this month, afford ample scope for settlers which is likely to be largely taken advantage of. During February there are also the impending sale of bush lands on immediate and deferred payments in the Wellingt®n district, of 15,000 acres in the Pahiatua Block, situate on the coach road from Masterton to Woodville; of 8,000 acres of splendid level land, Kairanga Block, from 2 to 6 miles from Palmerston North ; and of the Fitzherbert Block of 7,000 acres, 4 to 7 miles from same township. As in bush lands, residence is not compulsory, there is in these various blocks an excellent opportunity of acquiring land on easy terras by those who may contemplate settling after a time, but who are not prepared to do so at once. With all these varied opportunities now offered for bond fide settlement on the land, everybody ought to be able to find something suitable to his particular requirements, and certainly no one can reasonably complain that sufficient facilities are not afforded for the acquirement of Crown lands on easy terms. Judging from the remarkable success which has attended the waste lands sales latterly, particulary those on the West Coast of this island, it may fairly be anticipated that considerable eagerness

will be displayed to take advantage of the chances shortly to be available. Permanent settlement of population on the land of this Colony is the one thing chiefly needful to ensure the substantial and lasting prosperity of the country.