The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2606, 26 March 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1889.

Equal and exact lustice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

We liavo received requests for information relative to Crown lands open for selection in the Waikato district. It is not very many weeks since that wo gave some general information of tho kind in au article on tho subject. There is an increasing movement throughout tho colony to take up laud for honest occupation, and this disposition could be vary largely assisted if tho Government took more pains to place before the community every possible information bearing on tho blocks aud sectious open for settlement under the provisons of the present Act, tho exact localities in which they aro situated, and the sevoral conditions under which they can bo applied for. This can all be found in the Crown Lands Guide and in obscure handbills posted in post-offico corners, which aro seen by comparatively few. Wero some bettor means adopted for widely disseminating tho intelligence, there would be a still greater dosiro amongst the people within tho colony, especially the younger portion, to settle upon the laud. At a laud sale hold in Wellington last week, several thousand acres, representing many thousand pounds of territorial revenue, were disposed of and the demand was unusually active. On that occasion the bulk of the land was selected on the perpetual lease system of tenure, which appeal's to have become the most popular form under which to take up Crown lands, thus reducing the theory of nationalisation to actual practice. Under this system the selector finds himself aided by many advantages. He can take up an area of land suitable to his purposes without immediately disbursing a large sum in hard cash, as is the case in the purchase of a freehold and for ever burying it in the soil. As tenant of the Crown he pays a nominal rental, five per cent, per annum of the upset value of the land. In the case of open agricultural land the lessee must reside upon his selection within six months, or in the case of bush land within two years, of obtaining the lease. Minors of the age of seventeen obtaining selections, and who are residing with their parents, are not required to comply with the residence conditions until three years after the lease begins. The fee-simple of lands held under perpetual lease may be purchased right out during tho tenancy, or may be transferred to the de-ferred-payment system. It is an object of tho first importance to a man with only a moderate amount of capital, and who has a strong leaning towards the idea of making his home on a " bit" of land, to find himself able, under the perpetual lease system, to secure a section ranging from a few acres to two thousand in extent, as he may desire, without stripping himself of his capital to do so. Tho rent is small, on the average about live pounds the hundred acres—the copy-hold is good during his own life-time and can be continued at his death by his sons, and he can devote his capital entirely to permanent improvements aud bringing his selection into profitable cultivation. The conditions binding on him for all this are easy and very simple. It is very desirable that people should he encouraged to take up as much land in the Waikato as possible to promote the growth of these districts, and we would like to see some special efforts made by the Government in that direction. Ja the interest of settlement, and to satisfy those who have come to us with enquiries on the matter, we subjoin » brief summary of lands in ' the Waikato open for selection, as furnished by the Crown Lands Guide, We may observe, by the way, that the deferred-payment settlers at Te Aroha and Waihou are making satisfactory progress on their selections, which arc good signs that the revival in the affairs of the colony has not been without a beneficial effect upon them. And it is to be hoped the change in the railway policy will also be a Ik«Sj7 to them, as well as to the cause of .settlement generally. In the Piako County there are a few factious ot fust-class lands varying in area from ten acres to nearly three hundred acres each, at upset prices ranging from twenty to forty shillings per acre. These are situated in the Aroha, Waitoa and Wairere survey districts, and are described as being of very good soil, either open, bush, swampy, or partly broken. In the County of Waikato there aro only three sections containing one hun-

tired and seventeen acres in all ut twenty shillings per acre, and desci'led as first class land, about three miles from Hamilton East Station. Of s.-'cond class land there are, lirst, a nunii>er of sections in Piako County, situated in the survey districts of .Maungatautari, Patetere North and South, and Waitoa. The upset prices are fifteen and ten shillings per acre, and the quality of the land is variable, being pumice soil, swamp, and undulating fern country. There are a great number of second class sections in Raglan County, in the Karioi, Pirongia, Awaroa, Whaingaroa, Waipa, Whangape and Onewhero districts. The upset values are ten to fifteen shillings per acre, and the genera! character of the land is state:! to be in some portions undulating and open fern, in others of excellent limestone, or bush and broken country. In the Waikato County there are several large sec tions in the parishes of Kirikiriroa, Whangamarino and Komokorau, described as partly fern, swamp and manuka, with very fair soil, on the whole. The upset price of these is ten shillings per acre. In Waipa County, land can be obtained in the parishes of Pukete, Tuhikaramea, Ngaroto and Horotiu, the upset prices of which are from ten to fifteen shillings per acre, and the soil of which is said to be fair, partly swamp, open fern, and manuka. There is also a quantity of thirdclass land to be obtained in Kaglan and Waikato Counties at from five shillings to seven shillings and sixpence per acre.