Piako Lands.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43376, 22 September 1908, Page 3

Piako Lands.

PROPOSAL TO OPEN PORTION FOR SETTLEMENT.

At the last meeting of the Thames Borough Council the following letter was received from the clerk, Mr A. Bruce : —■“ I have the honour to bring under the notice of the Council tin fact that there is a large block of Crown land lying between the Piako and Thames Rivers, extending from the Awaiti Block, at the back of Netherton, to the

bjundary of Bagna". Bros.’ estate on the east, to the Piako River on the west, and to tiie water of the Hauraki Gulf on the north. Tlidre are thousands of acres in the block fit for settlement. This fact, I understand, was brought under the notice

nf the Right Hon. the Prime Minister by Mr Breaknell, the engineer in charge of the Piako drainage works, but the Prime Minister was of opinion that the Fiako lands should not be opened for occupation until the drainage works were completed, as Ihen the proportion of rent per acre payable could be correctly assessed. While partially agreeing with this view, in regard to the land on the western side of the Piako River, where the drainage works are being earned on, I am of opinion that the rule should not be made applicable to the lands on the eastern side of the Piako, where no drainage , works are being effected. These lands are Capable of comparatively easy drainage by the settleis themselves, as the land is higher ( than on the western side, and the river is

always confined to its proper channel, and iherefore the land does not become submerged as is the case with a large portion of the land on the wester. l side. I feel sure that were this block of land cut up and thrown open for occupation it would be in.mediately taken up and settled, and I would strongly advice that the Council take action and not rest until this end is accomplished, and with the view of united action I would recommend that the Thames

and Ohineinuri County Councils be requested to aid in the movement. Under the Land Act, kaseh ild Crown lands have a fixed rentai of 5 per cent on the co»t of the land. This includes cost of the land, drainage, surveying, ami loadin'. . As it would not be a great task to estimate the cost of the Piako drainage works, there should be no d fiiculty in fixing the rental

of the land on the eastern side side of the j river. Say that this was fixed at £1 or £5 , per acre at present, and a con ition inserted j in the. leases that If on the final adjustment', j of the cost of tlie Piako lands it. was found j that the cost exceeded this amount, the : lessees binding themselves to pay the extra ‘ rental, and v.i the other hand if the cost was less, iho Government agreed to reduce the renlttl and refund the lessees any rent they had paid over the h; >er rental, all difficulties would be overcome.” Thu : !i:ii'i.> ('ouaeil referred the letter to • a committee.