Opening Patea Lands.

Patea Mail, 23 February 1882, Page 3

Opening Patea Lands.

Wk have reason to believe that 2,500 acres of Crown land near Patea, east side of river, known ns the Hukatore lots, is to be surveyed into ns small blocks as may be suitable for settlement. Mr Maben, who is now making trial surveys in the bush between the two rivers, will begin the sectional survey of Hnkaterc as soon as his other work will permit, and the land is then to be put in the market. A firewood reserve of 340 acres, adjoining the above, is to be surveyed into 10 or 15 acre sections, and sold to persons who want firewood lots for clearing.

On the Pat> a side of the road, opposite the University reserve, and beyond the Native reserve recently given to Tauroa and Koinine, there is another piece of land running down to the Patea river. This land is also to be sub-divided into conveniently small farm sections, and sold.

This disposes of the unsettled land to a point four or five miles inside the bush line between the two rivers, as far as the Kaharoa track (a supposed Native track to the East Coast) has been followed by the survey party. Here the two rivers come closer together, divided by a loading ridge ; and there occurs a steep break where the present track ends. Instead of trying to make a practicable track along this high ridge to the more extensive University reserve beyond, it is decided to prospect for road lines on the lower ground along the riveis. The intention is that if roadtracks can be made at the foot of the ridge close to each river, the land shall be subdivided into suitable farm sections up each slope, and the lop of ridge to be the boundary. Thus each section would have a river frontage on one or other side of the ridge, and the back boundary would be the ridge top. This plan of plotting off the land between the two rivers will bo continued as far as suitable ; hut the University reserve runs into a broader area farther hack, and the laud there will be dealt with according to its suitableness for settlement ami road-making. Mr Maben is already instructed to prospect for roads at or near the river banks, diverging to right and left from the central track already mentioned, and to lay off the roads and survey the farm sections. These sections are to be as small as practicable, three hundred acres to five or six hundred, according to character. As to the road that trends down to the Whcnuakura, it is to cross the river into the University reserve on the east side of that river. The greater part of the 10,000 acres lies there; and this will bo an important road-line connecting Patea port with the cast side of Whennaknra behind (he Kohi gorge. Mr Maben is instructed to report on the country which forms the bulk of the University reserve on the east side of Whenuaknrn ; and that is to he subdivided into small sections, as far as practicable. Thu land there is rough, and yet appears not so unsuitable for settlement as was commonly reported, so far as can be judged by views obtained from (ho ridge between the rivers. The Government will have to get a special Act enabling them to deal with this ami other reserves which have been set aside in general terms for University purposes. We understand Mr Rollestou has this matter under consideration.

The Crown lands adjacent to Patea port will be surveyed and put in the market for settlement as soon as the survey work can be done with the present staff. Much will depend on the character of the report which Mr Maben may draw up when he has thoroughly explored these blocks that have hitherto been allowed to lie unnoticed and practically unknown. The sale and occupation of even five thousand acres more of Crown land close to Patea will be a commencement, and will lead to more

extensive surveys and settlement on the 10,000 acres of University reserve, on the 103,000 acres of the Kaitangivvhenua block, on the back part of the Opaku block, and on lands farther up the Patea river near the Mongaehu branch eastward.

MR. M'KERROW’S VISIT,

We understand that Mr M’Kerrow, Surveyor General, was favorably impressed with the character of the country, during his journey of inspection along the Kaharoa track last Saturday, in company with the local Land Commissioner. Mr M’Kernw’a impression was that th? country is less broken, that the land is better in quality, and appears more suitable for settlement, than he had been led to believe by reports hitherto reaching him. He seemed indeed well pleased with his short tour of observation in the Patea district. The public will observe that the Premier’s promise to have the country surveyed, the actual commencement of the survey, and Mr McKerrow’s visit last week, have all followed on the local action taken, first by a deputation to the County Council and a memorial from that body, next, in the action of a small public meeting for appointing a committee, then in forwarding a memorial, latterly by the interview with the Premier, and lastly by such influence as individuals in the place could use for urging the commencement of the work. We also know that the member for Egmont has been exceptionally useful and certainly attentive when his aid was sought. The causes may seem slight; hut probably the judicious persistency which has kept the matter moving has had more influence than all the rest. The ball is at our feet : keep it going. Get the land settled.