Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE : THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1367, 11 October 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE : THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1883.

How far the “ red tapeistn ” of the Survey department will be permitted to mar and retard, after the manner usual to the Government stroke, the excellent work now being carried out by His Honor Judge Brookfield in the Native Land Court, we will not take upon our» selves to determine. We incline to the belief, however, that all the tediousness and procrastination of the Circumlocution Office will characterise the business of the Survey Office in Gisborne unless special energy is exercised iu order to make the prosecution of the subdivision surveys keep abreast with the subdivision orders of the numberless blocks of land in this district now being partitioned oS at the present sitting of the Native Land Court. It is not in a spirit of fault finding that we are impelled to make the remarks we do anent the Survey Department in Gisborne. We feel convinced, that even the most sanguine amongst us could have scarcely anticipated that the great bugbear of the district —the subdivision question — would be so ably coped with as it has been by Judge Brookfield. This might in itself appear an idle statement, but it is when the stern logic of figures are appealed to that the actual facts stand out in bold relief. To the ordinary mind accustomed to hear the land titles of the Bay decried, some little preparation is requisite before realising the fact that within a period scarcely yet reaching to six weeks, the Court has subdivided, ascertained, and determined the ownership of land exceeding in area over 3,000,000 acres. The awards made nary in area from a quarter of an acre

upwards. From the most reliable data at our command, and from information gleaned from persons well acquainted with the blocks adjudicated upon, we are assured that the area given above is in no way over estimated. Looking at the lands so dealt with from their marketable value they represent fully a million sterling. For these lands so subdivided, certificates of title under the Laud Transfer Act have been ordered to be issued. Let the pleasing fact go forth to the world that Poverty Bay has at. last made a rapid movement in the direction of getting once and for ever the titles to her rich agricultural and pastoral lands placed on so stable a footing, that this or uo other country can offer greater secursccurity of tenure. We are not aware of a single case of appeal. To grapple with the complicated questions raised ; to detect even the semblance of fraud ; to make evil doers tremble, and yet withal to administer the law jwith the full spirit of equity, such has been the task that has devolved on Judge Brookfield. Among honest men there are no two opinions as to how far His Honor has succeeded in carrying out his duties. It rests now with the Government to throw no obstacle in the way of having all surveys for the portions awarded pushed on without delay in order that the long looked for Land Transfer certificates may at last see the light of day.