Tauranga Locked up Lands.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 142, 20 February 1886, Page 5

Tauranga Locked up Lands.

The people of Tauranga are evidently waking up to the fact, so long patent to outsiders, that their line district is being killed by the immense quantities of nativo land locked up from occupation by successive Governments. The area of the land is not less than 1,500 square miles, or about one million of acres, The prospect of the railway to Rotorua gives new interest to the question of dealing with these lands, and a very angry feeling is, according to our Tauranga correspondent, rising in the matter, The feeling is thestronger because of the activity shown in opening up the land at Taupo, as contrasted with the apathy evinced towards Tauranga and Rotorua. The question i8 one of importance to Auckland also as concerning the Auckland- Wei lington Trunk Railway. From the best information we learn that the King natives have been keenly watching the proceedings at Taupo, and that they are so much dissatisfied with the action of the Court there that it will have the effect of stopping them for some time applying to have their lands put through. In that case we may be pretty sure an effort will be again made to carry the line through the Taupo pumice country on the pretext that the land has passed from the natives, and is at once available. Powerful interests were concerned in this in the past, and are likely to revive at the new prospect. At all events,|this movement on the part of the Tauranga people is a healthy one, It shows

new signs of life, and we wish it every success. Weknow that there- Is an impression in Tauranga that Auckland is jealous of any connection of Tauranga with Rotorua, but the good people of Tauranga will find that for this impression there is not the least foundation. Auckland is, and must continue to be,the metropolis of the province, and all that aids in developing the province in any ■ direction must bo of advantage to tho chief city.— Auckland "Star."