AUCKLAND WASTE LAND BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 716, 18 January 1877, Page 3

AUCKLAND WASTE LAND BOARD.

MR EOWE AND THE THAMES LANDS. In our last issue we gave so much of the proceedings of the meeting of the Auckland Waste Land's Board held on the 12th inst, as referred to the Brooinhall special settlement application. To-day we give the proceedings in the matter of the application of Mr W Rotve's claim based on the promiso of a late minister of the Grown in New Zealand. Our remarks upon the same jwill be found in the ÜBual leading column. . MR EOWE'S APPLICATION. A letter was read from Mr Eowe to Dr Pollen stating that some years ago he had made an application to Dr Pollen and Sir Donald McLean for a grant at Wairakau, in the Thames district, in order to form a special settlement. Promises were then made that as soon as the land was purchased it should be handed over for the J >u> pose of the proposed settlement. The persons for whom Mr Eowe had been acting had remained at the Thames waiting for the fulfilment of the promises held out. They now, to their dismay, learnt that the land which they had fondly hoped one day to call their own, was included in the block offered to Mr Broomhall. They were quite willing to occupy the land on any reasonable conditions which might • be imposed, while if their request were not granted, the majority intended leaving the province. A memorandum attached to the letter by Dr Pollen, stated that it was quite true that for years past applications had been made to the Government for land in the Thames district by persons desirous of settling upon it. A promise had been made to Mr Eowe to the effect that whenever the title to the Te Aroha block had been acquired, it would be thrown open for settlement. Mr Firth was of opinion that, whilst every consideration should be given to the promises of a Minister, still there were reservations to these promises. A Minister could not pledge either the G-overnment or the country to grant land to any particular person or persons, unless they had performed some service which warranted the-pursuance of such a course. Neither Mr Eowe nor his friends had performed any such service. It was not to be supposed that persons who badgered every Minister for ppecial favours as he made his appearance in a particular district, should have their requests granted unless it could be shown, for instance, that th- y had made a length of road through a difficult country, or in some other way bad ta:rificed their I private interest for the public good.