POLITICAL NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8479, 5 July 1907, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES AND COMMENTS.

I (From Our Parliamentary Corres- | pondent.) i . NATIVE LAND LEASES. Messrs Hall and Ross are interesting themselves in the matter of native land leases in the Pahiatua and Waipawa electorates. Quite recently a number of applications were made by lessees whose terms of tenure had expired or were about expiring for the renewal of their leases, but the Native Land Court held the matter in abeyance. The members for the electorates mentioned think that something very much better could be done with the land if it were thrown open forcloser settlement, and they are moving to this end. Among the native lands is a reserve of 1,200 acres within two miles of Pahiatua; and! in addition to this, there are 800 acres adjacent to Mangatainoka, and several thousand acres of excellent land between Ngatarua, Waikapiro, Wimbledon, and Porangahau. These areas were up to recently held by large landholders, and were not put to the fullest advantage. Mr Ross has given notice of the following motion on the subject:—"That there be laid before this House a return of all native lands within the Pahiatua electorate, showing the blocks, localities and areas, together with the names of lessees and the dates upon which each lease expires; also, particulars of applications lodged for leases or purchase of native lands." PAHIATUA RAILWAY STATION. Mr Ross intends to ask the Minister for Railways, whether he will* take into consideration the urgent necessity that exists for the extension of the platform verandah at the Pahiatua Railway Station. The Napier and Wellington mail trains cross at Pahiatua, and grsat discomfort is experienced by the travelling public owing to the inadequate length of both platform and verandah.

COURTHOUSE FOR PONGAROA.

Mr R. B. Ross, M.H.R., has received the following letter from the Minister of Justice: — "Sir,—l have the honour to ackowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd June asking that quarterly sittings of the Magistrate's Court may be held at Pongaroa. In reply, I have to state that I shall have much pleasure in complying with your request, provided that the use of a suitable hall can be obtained on reasonable terms." Mr Ross informs me that there are two suitable halls available and that the matter may be considered as satisfactorily settled. WAIRARAPA ITEMS. Mr Hornsbv, the member for Wairarapa, has bad an interview with the Minister for Lands concerning the state of matters on the Tawaha Settlement. Mr Ilornsby has forwarded to the Commissioner of Crown Lands statements of the losses sustained by the settlers by floods, and he has asked the Minister to take into his favourable consideration the giving of relief in these most deserving cases. Mr. McNab was very sympathetic, and promised that some relief would be given if, upon enquiry, the position was found to be of such a nature' a s warranted help. In reply to the member's reauest that a road should be constructed along the high land overlooking the flats, the Minister gave a favourable reply. The whole matter will be gone into and the work will probably be authorised. In response to Mr Hornsby's request that something should be done to prevent the flooding of sections at the mouth of the Dry River (Dyer Settlement) through the silting ' up of the channel, the Minister has authorised the District Engineer to report upon the matter and suggest a means for the removal of the trouble. Interviewed, the Minister for Education has stated to the member for Wairarapa that he will consider the question of the school site at Dyer Settlement, when the report of the inspector is received. It is probable the original site will be selected.