LAND SETTLEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 173, 13 July 1908, Page 4

LAND SETTLEMENT.

THE DEMAND UNSATISFIED. {. MAIN TRUNK. WORKERS. The Lands Report, submitted to Parliament, shows that the lauds under survey for settlement purposes on March «Jlst last consisted of:— , v ~ Acres Ordinary Crown lands (optional system) 202,503 national endowments (renewable lease) ~ .. 7 4;1U0 Settlement lands (renewable ll ' a<e ' .. .... 61,808 Ihe demand lor land is still unsatisfied, and this is evidenced not only from the number of applicants during l!K)7. but the same holds good for lands opened in 1008, since the passing of the Lands Laws Amendment Act, 1007. It is hoped during tlie present year to open as improved farm settlements a number of sections in the Waimarino block, in tlie vicinity of the Main Trunk railway line, for the benefit of workers thereon, as, with the completion of the line, many of the men now employed there will l>c anxious to settle on the land with the money they have saved. Details of the land for occupation in this manner are not yet available. The various blocks ot native lands in the Aotea-Rohcpotae districts, the purchase of which are now being concluded, are either too far removed from the railway line or are not of sufficiently good quality to warrant their sub-division into the small areas required for improved farms. It is very doubtful, therefore, if any considerable area of land can be placed at the disposal of applicants for this purpose. In regard to land for settlements estates, owing to the unusually dry spring and summer of the past season, circumstances have operated lather adversely in several of the ncwlv-settled areas, as it is undoubtedly the fact that the first two years are-the most trying fi"Om the settlers' point of view. Thirteen additional estates have been acquired and opened for selection, and in nearly all cases th& applicants were far in excess of the number of allotments avail, able. Negotiations for the purchase of num- , erous blocks of suitable Maori land in the four North Island districts have now culminated in the completion of the fol- , lowing areas:— Acres. Auckland .. 121,776 Taranaki .. .. 127,821 Ha-wke'e Bay .. ... 13,294 Wellington .. 109 Total .. .. 263,001 Notwithstanding anything that has been said to the contrary, the Maori owners have been dealt with both fairly and liberally by the several land-pur-chase officers, whilst the State has no reason to feel dissatisfied with the returns it has received for its monetary expenditure.