TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1918, Page 3

TARANAKI LAND BOARD.

A TO I'll OP THE DISTRICT. (By One of the Party.) On the Bth of A'pril the Taranaki Land Hoard, consisting of Mr. Dullard, Commissioner of Croy.n Lands, Ml. Martin, and Mr. Clelland, left Stratford to make a general inspection of Crown lands in the northern portion of the Taranaki baud District.

WAXG A MOMOXA TO OHURA. The jorney ihrough from Wang»mouiona to Oh lira was made by motor car. The road was in a very sloppy state, and Mr. McCutchen, who took the members through, iiad no easy task. However, after several delay* on the road through getting into the bog, with the assistance of members, who literally put their shoulder to the wheel) Oluira was reached at 4 p.m. the same day. Here Mr. .1. Heslop, who had journeyed through from Auckland, and i\lr. C. .1. Ryan, Crown tenants' representative, the other members of the Board, and Mr. Slieeliy, Crown Lands Ranger, joined the party.

VISIT TO WAITAAMGA. On Tuesday morning Waitaangd, a settlement 14 miles due west of Ohura, was visited, the Board members riding through, and reaching there by 11 o'clock. The settlers provided luncheon in their local hall, which was under the charge of Mr. Whitton and a number of ladies and gentlemen (settlers in the block). After lunch, Mr. Whitton extended a welcome to the board, and said Waitaanga people were very pleased to meet them anil to see the Board was taking an interest in their setlement. He said their principal drawback was the want of good roads and that their telephone connection at times was in a very unsatisfactory state. Mr. Whitton also toucfted upon the milling timber in the district, and said it might be worth while getting an estimate of quantities with the object of having some sections reserved for milling purposes, as later on settlers would require better buildings and there would be other local requirements. Several other settlers extended a welcome to the Board, pointing out their requirements.

Mr. Bullaril, the Commissioner, fepieil, thanking the settlors for their hospitality, and paid a kindly tribute to the ladies for the generous manner in which they treated them, and said that, judging bv the good things on the table, Waitaanga was not the worst place on the map that day. He said lie was not a farmer himself, but the other members of the Board were, aftd he could assure the settlers they had a sympathetic Board to deal with" The members of the Board had all been back-block pioneers themselves, and settlers could rest assured they had every sympathy from the members in their effort to 'make good,' while ho harsh view of the position would be taken where assistance was required. After the other members of the Board had returned thanks for the generous manner in which they were treated, the Board got down to business. Mr. Andrews, Baker Valley, asked that the township reserve fronting settlers' section be leased to them on easy terms.

The Commissioner advised the applicants to make application to the Board to have tile township reserve fronting their section added to same, saying that, after making reservation for a post office and other Government buildings, cheese factory and saleyards site, lie saw no valid reason why the request should be refused. The Board then went several miles into the blocl?, inspecting the suggested timber section, and meeting settlers, afterwards returning to Ohura, which'was reached at C.30 p.m. SOLDIERS' SECTIONS. On Thursday morning a proposed soldiers' section was inspected and the stock sale was visited, after which a move was made for Taumamnui in one of Mr. Roigard's brakes. Rain set in when starting, and continued the whole way, making the road very heavy for the horses. ICOPAKI. We reached Otahukura in time to catcli the 7 p.m. train for Taumarnnui, and started off next morning for Kapaki. We left there at 10 o'clock for Aratora, on the way to Mapiu, Mr. Fitzgerald taking the party in his waggon"PADDING THE HOOF" TO MAPIU. The road was fairly heavy, through the recent rains, and the journey was none too brisk, some of the party 'having to ''pad the hoof" most of the way to Mapiu. On the way many settlers were met and had a general discussion with the members of the 'Board.

A GENIAL CHARACTER. One settler, Mr. .T. Shroud, generously extended an invitation to the Board to visit his "mansion," saying "the wife was away, she having gone to Avondale races a couple of weeks ago, and ihe had not heard of her since!"—intimating, also, that we would find the key under the mat, that wo would find the loaf in the camp oven, cheese, butter, and meat in the safe, and suggested that we should "bog in and make ourselves at home." Needless to say, the invitation, given in such a generous manner, was accepted; and in a very short time the inner man was • satisfied. Mr. Shroud, by the way, is a bachelor, and his "wife," wo found, was only an imaginary one! Ho is a very happy kind of man. and is a black-and-white artist of no mean order. The walls of his home are lined with sketches, one in particular—a picture of a lady dressed in hunting costume riding a grey horse—was much admired.

AT MAPIU. Mapiu was reached at 5 p.m. A number of settlers waited on the Board; and discussed domain land grants, halt, butter factory and saleyards sites. The Commissioner gave the necessary information and advice. Mrs Coombridgc kindly supplied lunch. The party were put up for the night at settlers' homes, Mr. Martin, Mr. J. Bacon, and Mr. C. Messenger taking possession of different members of the party. TANGITU AND ARIA.

Xext morning (Saturday), having secured a. change of horses, a start Was made for Aria through Tangitu and the Mokauiti valley. The-country here was looking in great heart, carrying abundance of grass. Aria was reached at 4.30 p.m. Here the GammisaianJM' and uww, tnafnth*!-*

Mr. Morgan's property. This mine is worked and the coal is sold for local consumption. OTHER PLACES. On Sunday Te Kuiti was reached by motor car. On Monday 17 sections, at Mangapeehi, set aside for soldier settlement, were inspected, whilst on Tuesday, the 16th, Wanganui River settlement and part of Otunui was visited, the party returning to Taumarunui by 7 o'clock. Mr. Shadbolt accompanied the Board over the first part of the journey, and Mesdames Bisliara and Morgan generously supplied luncheon. On Wednesday, Okahukura settlement was looked over, the Taranaki members of the board returning by the Thursday morning's express. SETTLERS IN GOOD HEART. The Board has been twelve days going through the district and found the settlers in good "heart." It was very noticeable to hear the different settlers who claimed to have the best section in the block. This is a good indication that they are satisfied with their little lot.

the last yearly report of the Crown Lands Ranger in the Northern Taranaki reported only one case of noncompliance with conditions—viz., a defaulter for non-residenee and improvements. This is very good, consideriiig the great number of Crown tenants under the Board. f The Board found it impossible to visit many portions of the district thia time, but settlers who have grievances, by writing to their member or the Commissioner, can always rely on getting a good hearing when they have | a genuine case.