Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1890.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 438, 18 January 1890, Page 2

Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1890.

* This above all—to thine own self bo true, And it must follow as the night the day Thou cansb not then be false to any man.’ SHAKESrEAKE.

A number of our readers, more particularly in the vicinity of Te Arolia, will be able to avail themselves of the provisions of Tlie Selector’s Lands Revaluation Act, 18S9 ; and, specially for the information of all such, we to-day publish in onr columns in full the provisions of the Act referred to. Some such measure has been long and greatly needed, in order that relief might be given in many deserving cases; and, whilst recognising the fact that there will still be "sascs of hardships which this Act will scarcely meet, yet it is a great step in the light direction, and we heartily welcome its appearance amongst the Statutes of New Zealand, an 1 commend its careful perusal to those of our readers interested. It will be seen by reference to the provisions of this Act, that the elaborate machinery of costly Courts of Revision will be dispensed with, and the Land Board of each district now he open to receive applications from those who consider themselves aggri -ved by tlie terms under which they hold their land Lon the Crown, etc., and who come within lhe provisions of this Act, The Board will then proceed to make enquiry into each case brought before it, and order fresh valuations to be made, make modifications in the terms under which the land is held, or confirm the existing ’valuation, as they think fit. Every decision of tlie Board must be submitted to the Minister, and if approved by him sit all have the force of law, f.om which there will he no appeal. We have frequently referred in these columns to the haidships endured in particular by the settlers at Te Arolia West, who have all along been called on to pay rents out of all proportion to tlie value of their 1 nd, which as a rule is of a very poor description. But there are many settlers who have been more fortunate in their seleclions than - those just referred to, and who nevertheless are paying excessive rents. The present value of land, and its supposed value eight or ten years ago are two very different tilings. We need not now particularly refer to the many in New Zealand who invested in land (generally far in excess, as regards area, of what they could command capital for, or satisfactorily work) in tlio belief that the high prices both for land, slock, and agricultural produce that prevailed a decade ago, would continue and advance—with the result that they have had to surrender their holdings to the mortgagees and start life afresh. For many such as these ; even had they sfcdl been in possession of their land, the Act refeired to would have brought ro relie F , as they would not come within its provisions. But the time hasgone bywlien tlieim; vision appeared to extmsively | rev.iil that the possession of a piece of land mean’t t ie securing thereby a comfortable an t certain means of liveli. ood, if not ease. Many in years past, inflamed with ideas such as these, with little or no capita l , an 1 less practical experience of the co 3 t of improvemet ts and the working of a farm, took up land and entered into engagements in connection thcewith, which they long since found i ut it was impossible for them to fulfil. The only alternatives staring them in the face were eviction (for such tilings do exist in New Zealand as well as in I-eland) for non-payment of rent, involving in many cases the forfeiture of improvements as well,or, such reasonable modification oE the ordinal terms as would afford the industrious holder a fair oppoitunity to make a living and secuie his title to tlie land. To such as these who come within the provisions of The Land Selector’s Lauds Revaluation Act it will prore welcome indeed.