NATIVE LAND RATING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 23 July 1907, Page 2

NATIVE LAND RATING.

The Valuer-General has issued ihe following circular letter to the local bodies interested:— "You are doubtless aware that under the Native Land Act, 1004, certain information regarding native lands is required to be entered in the valuation rolls. 1 may say at once that this information is not possessed by this Department,. and that owing to the granting of succession orders and the decease of many of*tho original grantees, the information is extremely difficult to civ tain from those Departments which have control of the records. To obtain a detailed search respecting every native block in tile colony before issuing the rolls would practically render it impossible'for me to supply many cf the rolls without causing very serious delay and inconvenience to tho local bodies. As it is, the delay caused by endeavoring to satisfy the requirements of the Act of 1004 already causes inconvenience. Then, again, there is irb certainty that any satisfactory resn|t can be obtained by searching in thos-e eases where the titles have become greatly involved. In consequent *of the difficulties of obtaining details regarding the interests in these lands it has become necessary for the Department to issue the rolls omitting details where these are not obtainable without causing delay.' If, however, the local authorities desire to press for the rates in any caie where details are not entered, T will endeavor to obtain by special search the required particulars If tho local body clerks will advise me of the particular items on their rolls respecting which they propose to proceed. 1 would also ask tlic local bodies interested to advise me—even when particulars are shown on the rolls—before isfmmmonses. an, owing to constant changes taking plice, it is advisable to have an up-to-date search made in all cases before taking action.