Land Settlement.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 70, 14 July 1914, Page 5

Land Settlement.

STILL MORE SETTLEMENT. DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. (Special to “Post.”). Wellington, July 14. Mr J. B. Richards, president of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, was introduced to the Prime Minister (the Hon. Mr Massey) this morning, by Mi J. B. Hine, M.P. for Stratford, as a deputation from the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, to prefer a request for the cutting up and settlement of a block of 2944 acres sixty miles from Stratford, comprising sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 5 of Block 2 of the

Pouatu Survey District, and section L, Block XIV., of the Waro district.

Mr Richards said the land was excellent country, and ail capable ol great development if convenient access were given. There was about £3OOO worth of good timber on the land, hut sooner than wait for this to he cut, it was suggested that the land be loaded with its value. Mr Massey expressed pleasure at learning that so jnuch land was available in the locality, and promised to have the matter looked into at once. Ho said ho did not intend to allow land to be idle where demand existed for it. WHERE THE LAND LIES.

The country is very superior hush land, and at present is held by the Crown as a timber Reserve. The deputation has evidently waited on the Premier with the object of having the land thrown open for settlement immediately. The access to the country is either by means of the Mold Road, which branches off the Ohura Road to the north-west at a point 55 miles from Stratford, or for the further sections in question by means of the Mangapapa Road, which intersects with the Ohura Road about five miles further on. The sections generally lie just to the east of the Wait", a River, and have always been regarded is comprising one of the besb blocks nf land in this part of Taranaki. The timber on it is chiefly rirau, and though there is a considerable quantity of such, the difficulty of transporting to a commercial centre, together with the years of delay which would probably ensue if the timber were still reserved, is an indirect argument in favour of opening yp the land for settlement purposes immediately. The whole of the land referred to is situated in the northwestern corner, of tho Whangamomona County.