Wednesdaq.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 974, 19 September 1878, Page 2

Wednesdaq.

prom our special correspondent!] Mr Sbeehah's native statement is generally admired, but is deemed vain glorious and unfairly depreciatory of the previous administration. ' € - (Joyernment have intimation that 5000 ' acres 'of' 'the [ Hawera Plains will be ready for sale m fchreeweeks. With a view to checking the game of land sharks, the land is to be cut up into very small areas, and the allotments sold alternately, on the cash and deferred payment system. The following figures, setting forth the present position of native land purchases were read \>y the Native Minister last riight; total authorised expenditure for land purchase purposes, £700,000 ; 'total expenditure to Ist July, 1848, £581,081 ; balance, £118,918 ; total area of land purchased to Ist July, 1878 (deeds registered), 2,011,896 acres; total purchases completed during the year 1877, 859,289 acres ; area of land proclaimed waste lands of the Crown during 1877-8, 428,09? acres; total area of land proclaimed wastelands of the Urown, purchased under the Immigration and Public Works Act since 1672, Auckland. 7l6,6sl acres; Wellington,-334,182 acres ; Hawke's Bay, 83,566 acres; Taranaki, 181,888 acres ; " total, 1,316,287 acres. In further explanation, Mr Sheehan said, " I expect we shall have completed m another year, half a million acres more. My colleagues. ha7e been good enough to give £150,000 towards the £519,000 there is to 'pay on ihcdniplete 'purchases, but m addition to the £419,000, 1 shall require more money If the leasehold land is to be purchased and oilier purchases which are' desirable are to be made." He added also, that half a-raillion more money would be required to bring the work to a satisfactory termination. Mr Fox had a notice on the paper to-day for a committee to enquire into the circumstances under which Messrs Mair and Searancke were required to retire from the public service, and the interpreter's licenses of Messrs Grrindell and C. 0.. Davis were suspended. It was to this Air Sheehan, last night, alluded when asking the House to support him m resenting any interference with the exercise of hiss discretion m dealing with officers. When the motion was called on to-day, Mr Fox allowed it to lapse, saying ho would raise the question m another way, on a future occasion. Considerable sympathy is felt here for Mr Searaucke. (Jurtis's elective Upper House resolutions after a short debate were disposed of by the previous question, moved by Mr Stout and carried on the voices.