SETTLING CROWN LANDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1064, 30 August 1930, Page 27

SETTLING CROWN LANDS

PROGRESS DURING LAST TWO MONTHS DETAILS OF WORK DONE TITS SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Thurs. The Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, today issued a statement regarding the Government’s land settlement work during the past two months. The settlement of unoccupied Crown lands was progressing satisfactorily, said the Minister, and he was pleased with the progress made in the disposal of sections in the various estates which had been purchased for closer settlement. The Awanui settlement near Kaitaia recently purchased was offered on August 18 and attracted 20 applicants for the seven sections. All the sections were satisfactorily disposed of. Two sections on Tapanui settlement, Otago, which were grouped into one holding, were also disposed of, thus completing the satisfactory disposal of the settlement. In the Gisborne district, the Apanui settlement was balloted for early in July, seven holdings being offered, of which six were allotted. BLOCKS OF VIRGIN LAND Of the unimproved blocks of virgin country, the Poroporo block of 5,300 acres in the Gisborne land district was offered on July 9, attracting some 40 applicants. All five sections were disposed of. Another block of unimproved land at One Tree Point, near Whangarei. comprising 1,400 acres, was opened in six lots on July 21, all sections being disposed of. in addition, 23 miscellaneous rural holdings, of an area of 7.830 acres,

were offered in the different land districts, resulting: in 15 being selected. The Minister added that numerous Crown sections were being prepared for settlement during the next two months. Included in the list was the Ohumata block of 2,430 acres at the head of the Jlokianga Harbour containing ten holdings of virgin land, largely bush, from which the milling timber had been removed. Another block of good land originally purchased from the natives and known as the Otawhao block in Hawke’s Bay was being offered in three holdings early in October. Details of the rural lands proposed to be opened during September and October are as follow: No. of Area, District. Holdings. Acres. North Auckland .. 4»> 10,390 .Auckland 21 3,899 j Taranaki . . . i . . . . 0 2,93»> | Hawke’s Bay .... 1 1,131 Gisborne 3 3,342 ! Wellington IK 13.112 j Southland 2 191 jFORTY-THREE ESTATES BOUGHT The Minister also gave details of the estates purchased under the Land for Settlements Act, 1925. Altogether 43 estates had been purchased, comprising a total area of 64.6G2 acres, subdivided into 181 holdings. The number of settlers placed on those lands was 172. leaving nine sections, which had still not been disposed of. Three of the estates purchased had not yet been offered for selection. . . Mr. Ransom said that in bis opinion it was most satisfactory that out of all the settlements offered since the United Government came into office, only nine sections remained unallotted. With regard to the development by the Crown of areas of idle Crown land under the provisions of last year’s legislation, the Minister stated that a large additional area of pumice land in the Rotorua district was being taken in hand, while work was proceeding vigorously on the blocks already being developed prior to being offered for selection. Inquiries were also being made into the prospects of developing various otherblocks, which it was hoped to deal with at an eai-Iy date.