LANDS IN TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 41, 10 August 1911, Page 2

LANDS IN TARANAKI.

ROME INTERESTING FIGURES. During his speech in moving the Ad-dross-in-Reply, Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P, for Taumarunui, made somo interesting observations regarding the settlement, etc., of Orown and Maori lands in TaranakL Aa the Prcas wire was incomplete, a»d, in some respects, ineorract, we publish the following from the speech: Much has been said adversely about the opening-up,of oiir Crown lands and, the Maori lands. 1 can speak of the Taranaki land district as a case in point, so far as to show what has been done and what the position is. I have in my electorate to deal with no less than three land boards—viz., the Wellington Land Board, the Auckland Land Board, and the Taranaki Land Hoard. The figures in the statement which I am going to submit to the llouso showing the position of Crown and Maori lands in Taranaki, are in keeping with the opening-up of Maori lands and Crown lands in the Wellington district, and also, to a large extent, in the Auckland land district. The total area of Crown lands remaining in at presertt date is 241,000 acres. Out of this, one block in the T&rangakau and Waitaanga gorges, exceeding 40,000 acres, is held back from settlement for: climatic and timber purposes. Surveyors are now engaged upon the subdivision of 95,000 acres, and 45,000 acres of (hat area will be thrown open, for selection about September of this year. Practically, the Crown lands in Trvranakl are now down to a vanishing point,' 'Jhe balance, ;109,000 acres, is second-class land, in practically, inaccessible places; and a settler wiuld -iieed-to halve -two to three i thousand acres, as well as a good banking account; to do any good, for he-would.'be paying out large sums of money for three years for felling Ill's busb, fencing, grassing and stocking his holding. The Crown lands unsurveyed in the different counties are as follow: Acres. Waitomo County 31,846 Clifton County ' 39,100 Ohura County 76,500 Whangamomona County ... 50,800 Waitotara County 18,000 Pa tea County 8,.100 Stratford County 16,000

241,440 Now let me'deal with the native lands in the Taranaki district, which are also down to a vanishing point The total area of Maori lands at date in the Taranaki district is 338,958 acres. Out of this, 125,700 acres were disposed of under the Act of 1894, and prior to April, 1910. Since then, when the Act of 1009 came into operation, an area of 70,785 acres has been surveyed for sate and leasing. In addition, from the total of 338,958 acres must be taken the Mokau-Mohakatino Block (known as Jones'), which has an area of 53,970 acres. There are thng only 82,500 acres of Maori lands left in the Taranaki land district, and most of it is only secondclass land, difßeult of access. Classified iato the various counties, -the i remaining Maori lands are as follow: Acres. Waitomo County 108,105 Ohura County 121,425 Clifton County 45,017 Whangamomona County .. 15,093 Patea County 775 Waitotara County 47,850

338,955 Sir, I am amazed at times when I hear the statements so freely made not only by the Leader of the Opposition and his friends, but by the Opposition Press, in regard to what is taking place, so far as land-settlement is concerned. I claim that' the figures I have given, and which are taken from authentic records, are proof conclusive that the Unci is being rapidly settled—at any rate, so far as the Taumarunui district is concerned. Let other members speak as to their own electorates. Then, to go a step further, 1 in regard to the operations in the Maori Land Board districts: in the Taumarunui electorate for the period of one year and nine months ending March, 1911, the amounts of land approved of by the boards and disposed of are as follow: Land leased by ownere and approved by boards 99,008 lands sold by owners and approved by boards 31,938 Lands sold under Part XVIII., 1909 55,068 Lands leased under Part XVIII., 1009 5,090 Vested lands leased by boards 4,022 Vested land sold by boards 1823 199,955 An area of 31.099 aeres in this electorate is being dealt with, and the larger part is being submitted by the Maori Land Board for sale and ler.se by public tender. _ Tenders are to close'on the 14th proximo. This makes a total of 231,G54 acres disposed of on the date above mentioned.