CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 254, 10 March 1875, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

:o: Our columns are open for free discussion; but we do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents. :o:—■ — TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —Now that the Patutahi Block is being surveyed, would it not be wisdom on behalf of the. inhabitants of Poverty Bay to consider how this land should be disposed of, so that the district may reap the greatest advantage from it? A great deal has been written and said of late, having regard to the alienation of the landed estates of the different colonies. I find on reference to a table given below that more land had been granted and sold in New Zealand, at the close of 1873, than in any other Australasian Colony. A comparison with New South Wales and Victoria produces a more startling result, and one which I commend to the serious consideration of our Legislators. I find, that while the population of our own colony is considerably less than one half of either of the aforementioned, New South Wales with an area of 207,(XX),000 acres has alienated a little over 14,000,000 acres, and Victoria with an acreage of 56,500,000 lias parted with about one-sixth of the whole or 9,500,000 acres; whilst New Zealand has alienated nearly one-fourth of the whole, or upwards of 16,500,000 acres. The following is the detailed table :— Area in Acres granted Acres. and sold. New Zealand ... 67,200,000 16 526,789 New South Wales 206,999,680 14,066,133 Victoria 56,1-46,720 9,401,050 Queensland ... 434,304,000 1,350,538 South Australia .. 585,427.200 5,369,634 Western Australia 626,111,323 1,512,210 Tasmania 16,777,600 3,905,485

These facts and figures prove that the lands of the State are being acquired by a few grasping speculators, eager lo obtain control of the land, far too rapidly for a system of bona fids settlement, or compatible with the good government of the country. When we look to actual occupation and settlement, we find a still more deplorable state of things as regards New Zealand, for out of the vast total of upwards of 16,500,1X10 acres alienated from the State only 1,107,116 acres are under permanent artificial grasses, and the land actually under tillage is only one-fortieth of the balance, on 376,156. Victoria with a much smaller amount of land sold has nearly 1,000,000 acres under tillage, whilst South Australia with less than 5,500,000 acres alienated has nearly 1,250,000 acres or nearlyone-fourth under cultivation. Thus we find that this colony has parted with far more land than any other colony, and that the progress of bona, fide settlement altogether disproportionate to tWsales which have taken place. A comparison might be drawn even as between the different provinces of New Zealand. Take for instance the provinces of Nelson and Malborough the whole of whose lands have been sacrificed for a few shillings per acre. And remember that the former was lately seeking authority to borrow £25,000 for the construction of its main roads. The whole of the available lands of these unprosperous and impecunious provinces are now huge sheep-walks, agricultural pursuits being as little followed in them, as in any part of the North Island. Results of this kind will compare very unfavorably with the picture I bat might be drawn of the province of Canterbury where the price of land has always been maintained at a figure that guarantees bona fide settlement rather than blindfold speculation. True, it may be said that a country uncultivated and unsettled is but a wilderness; but although pastoral pursuits may add largely to the welfare of a country, they are not conducive to bona fide settlement and colonisation. In fact any place, Napier to wit, that is entirely dependent upon other places for its supplies of daily wants, such as flour, oa-ts, potatoes, butter, bacon, and in fact agricultural produce of all kinds, cannot-prosper in the long run, its means of existence is far too costly. I now return to my first question. How can t-he laud at Patulahi be dealt with so as to confer the greatest and most lasting benefit upon this district ? The block is now being surveyed by the General Government, no doubt, with a view to its immediate sale. In all probability the land when offered will bring a fair price, or perhaps even an exlravagant price. In either case when it is sold, what benefit, will directly acrue to this district from the sale ? A few fine promises will be made, that a certain per centage will be granted to the Road Boards, who may perhaps receive a few extra pounds, while the bulk will go to swell the General Government exchequer, —the Provincial Government estimates — or reduce the overdraft at the bank, as the case may be. To this process of sale I strongly object, not only will it diminish the public estate, but I contend that, beyond the partial occupation of the land, no great benefit will be gained by the district. The plan to adopt that would result in a most permanent benefit to the country at large, would be, that, upon completion of the survey, the block should be made over as an endowment to the district, for the purpose of construction and maintenance of public works ; the lands to be leased, and the rents to bo entailed with an annual charge, until the prime cost- of survey be refunded. Such a plan as this if adopted, would no doubt meet with the approval of all interested in this district, except perhaps a few would-be purchasers. It would cause the land to be occupied to the fullest extent, i.e., always supposing the terms of the leases to be judiciously drawn, and would eventually return a sufficient rental to place the District Highway Board in a comparatively independent position. Your necessarily limited space compels n:e to be content with merely venting the subject just now, but I shall be always glad to assist in carrying out some such beneficial scheme. —Yours, &c., Junius.