Compensation Claims

Patea Mail, 3 April 1882, Page 3

Compensation Claims

We understand that most of the claims for railway compensation in the Patea district, from the wharf to Bnrke’s farm, are practically settled. Mr H. M. Brewer, Land Purchase Commissioner, has sent vouchers to Government for the amounts agreed to Jn about half a dozen cases, and payment is likely to be made immediately. Mr Brewer is endeavouring to put certain other claims into train for settlement ; namely, those cases where losses have been caused by the unusual length of time that paddocks were kept open without fencing, while the formation was being done in a leisurely manner by the “ unemployed ” who were sent here by Government as a means of relief in hard times. Cattle were straying constantly, after the fences were Opened J sheep were, getting mixed or lost or worried with dogs kept by the laborers; and settlers whose land was thus occupied many months by a class of laborers who. were neither civil nor considerate, had ,to put up with, losses and annoyances that could not easily be estimated in money. Such cases do not come within the sphere of a Land Purchase Commissioner. Mr Brewer is representing these exceptional cases to Government, and will probably proceed to Wellington to assist in getting them fairly considered.