Land Tenure at Te Aroha.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 407, 2 October 1889, Page 2

Land Tenure at Te Aroha.

Messrs J. A. Dobson, G. Kobnon, and "R. Harris, as a deputation on behnlf of Te Aroha township residents, wafted on the Town Board on Saturday evening last (a special meeting of tbe Board having been convened for that purpose, all members present), to request them to take action in the matter of obtaining a better tenure with respect to the township allotments. Mr Harris addressing the Board said : The deputation hnd been requested to wait on the Town Board, and aak them to co-operate with and assist them towards having the present township leased made leases in perpetuity. Their present landlord (Mr Lipsey), had stated h© would do all in his power to assist the residents in this matter. It had been- suggested that it would be advisnble tcf wait on the Town Board and ask them to join them in waiting? on the Warden, in order that the matter might be laid before him and his views with respect thereto ascertained. Mr Dobson (Chaiimun of the Inte Town Board), said the deputation , had waited on the Board to auk thwn to move with respect to obtaining: a better land tenure for the township. The mutter had been taken up by the late Town Board, having been committed to them by the exprees wish ' of the residents, and tho. Into Board had done what thoy could it^ the •nifltter, and prior to their going old of office obtained from 'Mr Lipsey his consent in writing to leases in perpetuity being grunted. The matter having been committed to the low n Board he (the speaker) supposed that meant the Town Board generally, the present Board as well as the Board that precede 1 them. MrMills lemnrked that when the Minister of Lands was at Te Aroha some time ago, the present Board interviewed him on the subject, and he (the Minister) promised to enquire into tho matter on his return to Wellington, but the Board lidri never heui<d from him since ou the subject. The Oh'iirnmn said ha did not understand those leases himself, he understood th<i present louses were perpetual. Mr Lipsey said weeing tho Warden was the jaun who ruled the goMHeld he thought it would bo a wise step to interview him on the subject ,• and get his advice. There ■ was no doubt the Warden had very great weight with tho Government. Mr Dobson : As at present, suppose To ! i"\ioha woie tulcun out of the goltUickl, ]

what rt'oulcl our poelclon bo ? Wo should have no right toareno.val umler our present titles. Mr Rolvon said seeing tho Board had in their possession Mr Lip«ey's letter (referred to above) promising his consent on behnlf of the Native owners to leases in perpetuity being granted, they desired that the Board should wait on tho Warden and show him the letter referred to end hoar his opinion on the question. It might bo found desirable to Rend some, one specially to Wellington on the subject ; the longer it went on as at present tho worse it was. if the Warden would take tho matter in hand and write to Wellington for them it would be a good thing. Mr Lipney said he believed the granting of leases in perpetuity would be beneficial to tho Native owners a8 well as to the residents. He wished the people to be satisfied with their tenure, and desired to meet thorn in every reasonable way, and to hold out every possible encouragement to people to come and settle. [The Clerk here stated he had search orl amongst the papers of the Board, but had not got the letter referred to as having be»n written by Mr Lipsey.j Mr Dobaon said the late Town Board had put the matter before tho Native Minister, hut apparently he had forgotten all about it. Mr Lipsoy : The proposed chance should h<j placed before the Native Minister forcibly, as being very desirable in the interests of the native owners, as well ho for the townsfolk. MrDobson : After the public meeting convened by the late Town Board respecting this qneßtion some eighteen months or twoyenra ago, a letter was sent to the Natire Minister by the Bonrd, and the matter very fully put before him. The Chairman said he should like to see the rents reduced before any stops were taken with respect to title ; no all the people were very much dissatisfied wit}) the present rents. Mr Lipsey : That, Mr Gallagher, [ may Ray very much remains with myself, without going to Government or the Warden. I have promised no soon as my wife returns home to discuss the matter with her, and advise that reductions bo made with respect to a great many allotments. With respect to the tenute the real danger to my mind, is that the land was lensed to the Government for so long as they required it for irold-mininer pur noses ; and the question u\i« for how Iom» Government would so require it? The Chairman : Then if it w,i<? t.iken out of tho goldfield to-monow our present leases would be at an end ? Mr Robson . 0!i no ! Not untiT the expiiation of the existing lease of twpntvone j'ears. The matter of the reduction of ren.f, a<? Mr Lipsey h,id said, lay entirely with tho Native owners, and he did not see that the Town Roaid hnd a \y thing to do with that. lie thought the Boaid should be sufficient to w-tit on the Warden with inspect to the obtaining of a better tenure, as the Board were supposed to look after the interests of the people ; there could, however, be no harm in some of the residents waiting 01 the Warden with the Board. Alter dionif further flisruwinn it wr« resolved by the Board, that they (together with any of ttie residents who liked to go s\ ith them) interview the Warder: on his next visit to Te Aiohn, with a view to obtaining hi* assistance, towaids the obtaining of lenses in perpetuity. The meeting then closed.