Waiorongomai

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2102, 10 May 1898, Page 3

Waiorongomai

RE-DISCOVERY OP AN- ENDOW- . MENT. ' We publislijhe following from the ‘Thames Advertiser,’ in extenso, and ■without comment, as- we think our subscriber* in that little mining township will find something of interest in ' tit© subject jnattex*.:—. / - .■ TheHorough Councilors who viol ted ' Te Aroha the other day, to inspect the ;Borough> endowment there, made something.oi the; nature of a re-dis-<hovery. It has.been a tradition in the ! '%'*,incil that, many years ago the 'wHo* visited the endowment had to sail over it in a boat;. that in consequence of its excessively swampy nature, the ground was com- ' paratively useless.;; and that its value was so little .as.t® render its existence half forgotten/- ' Now, however,- all that is changed; The Council has been awakened -from its' oblivion by the application of a Te Aroha resident, who asked for a-grazing; lease , of . the endowment area, offering as a quid pro quo to keep the fence in-order. It si e.ns to have dawnedon, the Council that land which Is worth applying for as a grazing area must be something more than a mere swamp to be paddled over; consequently,,before granting the grazing' lease, a Committee was off teHfispect. The Committee "proceeded to Te Aroha a few days ago, and found that the aforesaid traditions are a mere. myth. Drainage,, road making, and the arts of settlement and civilisation have effected- a transformation, and that which was deprecated has been found ip be.,a valuable asset. In other words, the. Council, while it . sleepeth, hag' yet been, unconsciously gathering unearned -increment accruing from external improvements; and *; has now found in its Te Aroha endowment an agreeable surprise. The Committee reports:— -

‘ The Committee appointed to inspect the Borough endowment at To Aroha beg to report that they visited the property On the 9th hit., and were very agreeably surprised to find that the Council possessed such a very valuable asset, as from a leport made by a •rmer Committee some.years ago, they; been labouring under the impression il, e endowment was a swamp of little ’his aspect, however, has been alohanged, as through drainage ; ed out by the Government on. 'boundary and the opening up ..am roacfdn: the same direction, the 4and has been drained and now only requires working to make ito one of the best' farms in the district. Thje land is of exceedingly 'ood qua.ity, and evjenin the present rough ate carries a layge number of stock, nder these circurhstances your comm.t ee commend that Air Edwards’ request for grazing lease for- five years, in consider* >n‘of his putting the boundary fence m ier, be decline*!, and that the property be offered under an ordinary lease either as a whole or in blocks suitable to the requirements of; small settlers. For the general improvement of the property the latter would be preferable. However before-malt-ing any definite recommendation on this point the Committee are having au enquiry made by the Borough solicitor into the ownership of those blocks on the western ioindary, forming a triangular piece of land, containing about 800 acres. llthis laud could.be acquired either by exchange or otherwise, it. would be,the means of mak» ing the endowment a nice square block, and \permib of itf'beiug cut up into handy shaped properties; Mr Miller is' also, making enquiries into the ownership of a small, blook ■of about 100 acres on the.eastern, or, river boundary. It is a long narrow strip with a very small frontage, and may under these j circumstances be secured at a small price. ! There is a small triangular piece of the endowment of about 33 acres whioh has been cut off by the main road. , This could now . be.let separately, but if the tenant “required .deed of lease a sui-vey would be necessary. Your committee are not prepared to re -om» mend'that.the council undertake this ex* , pense, but think that it would be equi table to make it a condition that the tenant have j the survey made, and the council remit one I year’s rent in consideration thereof. In ; dealing withfche endowment your committee | - cannot too strongly'impress on the Council i the advisability of- pr6ceeding slowly and j cautiously as the. I and is becoming -more “valuable every dav and they foresee in time 1 ' that the Council will.derive a very respectable revenue from it. The situation admirable, being within easy distance’on the west of a railway station, and connected therewith by a good road, and bounded on the east byji navigable river, and with-. al close to several good markets. The Com.mittee before,' olosing’their report, cannot too strongly express their deep feelingß, of thanks to Messrs. Bowler ; and Edwards, two-aettlers reading in the vicinity 'of the.: endowment, for their kindly hospitality. Both gentlemen did their utmost .to make the visit a pleasant one, and gave most valuable information concerning the land and that of the neighbourhood, and we would recommend that tho thanks of the Council be conveyed to them for. their, kindness.” ;< - On the motion of Or Whitehead, seconded by Cr Burch, the report was received and adopted. r ; Or Poulgrain a,dvooated that measures be taken; by purchase or exchange, to the block,’ i.e., • purchase the intervening sections not inoluded in the' Government endowment. There was one piece cutting through the blo'efgs, and another piece fringin/r it, which-blight be secured ; as land.' H& "moved"a resolution embody- - ing these, three proposals and giving the; Committee power to take further action. r , This was carried. ,- ' » '-M