NATIVE LAND PURCHAES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 195, 7 August 1908, Page 2

NATIVE LAND PURCHAES.

OPJiBATIONS BY THE GOVERNMiSNT. IUiPOHT l'Olt THIS YEAH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Lust Night. TJie report of tlie Maori land pur-" chase operations by thy Government lor* the year ended 31st March, I«H>| was laid on the table of the Home to.lay. The report explains that while last years report was more in the nature' of an expanatiou of the negotiations in progress and detailed the operations set on foot lor acquiring lands for the Crown for settlement purposes, tli's' year's report conveys ulic information as to the whole of the actually completed purchases. The total area purunwed was 203,000 acres, as follows: Auckland, 121,770 acres; Taranaki, 12/,H21; JHawkc's Bav, 13,204; Wellington, 109; total, 203,000. The prices paid in the Auckland land district ranged from "« (id to £2 per acre, or an average tor (lie whole of about 19s lUi! per acre. This is considered a vcif fair average in view of the scattere) nature of the purchased areas and tJ.e extraordinary variety oi the soils and general capabilities from a settlement point of view, in Tarnnnki the price paid averaged from 7s (Id to £l pej'. acre; in Hawlte's Bay, £5 to £7 per acre (all the land being of first-class' quality aad lit for immediate' seUicincnl); and in Wellington £1 5s per I acre.

-Mr. Kensington, Under-Secretary for Lands, who is responsible for the report, states that on 30th December Major Pitt and Air. James Macka'y ceased their connection with the Department owing to completion of opeiation in their districts. Mr. 1), Johnson was transferred to the Native Land Court, and Mr. \v. 11. Urnce was now tlie only land purchase officer on salary, file price paid for the land in each case I was dealt with by Mr. Kensington personally. There are incompleted purchases' totalling 55/)34 acres, and from the numerous applications received from the Maori owners, it is quite evident that additional areas could be purchased if Parliament sees fit to appropriate further moneys ior the purpose. The total expenditure amounts to £142,246, set out as follow.*:—Salaries of purchase officers, £l2ttl; surveyors' valuations, £1290; purclmj of lands, £130,0/1; total, £142,245. An area of 21,701 acres was obtain.by the Crown in lieu o( liens. Mr. W. Grace, the laud purchase officer, in nis report, which is published separately, says thai had tlie Act permitted the expenditure of further fund? much more could have been accomplished. The general wish amon'git the natives is to settle a large portion of their surplus lands. The Maoris in t ; ne riohc '■ I'otae still show a great desire to sell any of the lands they do not require. Mr, Grace gives details of the quality of the land purchased hy him. H- says the greater part of it is suitable for ' closer settlement, and when brought into the market will be readily tnken up.