OPENING LAND FOR SETTLEMENT IN HUKERENUI DISTRICT (CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1887 Session II, C-10

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Sess. 11.—1887. NEW ZEALAND.

OPENING LAND FOR SETTLEMENT IN HUKERENUI DISTRICT (CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING).

Return to an Order of the Souse of Representatives, dated 13th October, 1887. Ordered, " That there be laid upon the table copies of all correspondence between the Whangarei County Council and the Minister of Lands in reference to the opening of a block of land in the Hukerenui Survey District for settlement. Also copies of all correspondence between the Minister of Lands and the Waste Lands Department in Auckland in reference to the same." —(Mr. R. Thompson.)

Sib,— Whangarei, 24th July, 1886. I have the honour to enclose you herewith an application from a number of young menwho are residents of this district and are anxious to get land to settle upon. The applicants are all steady and industrious young men, who have been accustomed to farm-work, and just the class of men who would be likely to succeed on small bush-farms. The applicants are anxious to form a special settlement on the block indicated, under the Homestead Act. The land they ask for is all bush, but of fair quality, and I believe the whole of the block would be taken up within a few months if thrown open for settlement. I trust the Government will favourably consider this application. I have, &c, E. Thompson, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. County Chairman.

Sib,— The persons whose names appear on papers attached hereto are desirous of obtaining, for settlement under the Auckland Homestead Act, the block of land marked blue, as shown on plan sent herewith, and known as the Hukerenui Survey District; and, in order to facilitate matters,, have asked me to bring the matter under your notice as County Chairman. I shall therefore be glad if you will, as soon as possible, bring the matter before the Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington; acd, as most of the persons named are known to you personally, you are invited, to make any remarks you may deem fit or necessary. I would take the liberty of pointing out to you that the most of the persons applying for this land are natives of the North Island, and are the sons of bush-farmers, or have been brought up as farm-labourers, and would therefore make first-class bush-settlers; that none of them have ever taken up land under any conditions from the Government, neither do they own any land, and are not in a position to pay cash for land, but are willing and anxious to fulfil all the conditions of the Homestead Act, should this land be granted under that Act. I shall therefore leave the matter in your hands, with the hope that at an early date you may obtain sufficient encouragement from the Hon. the Minister of Lands to enable these people to go to work and .clear bush for burning and sowing next autumn, and so enable them to become permanently settled, and at the same time be independent of the labour-market, which, it is quite needless for me to say, is at present very much overstocked. I have, &c, The Chairman of County Council, Albeet Elliott, County Chambers, Whangarei. By request of applicants.

g IE Crown Lands Office, Wellington, sth August, 1887. I am directed by the Minister of Lands to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo, transmitting an application from a number of persons in the district who are anxious to get land to settle upon. In reply, I am to forward for your information a copy of the Land Guide, and to direct your attention to page 20, by which you will see that there are several lar»e blocks of land open for selection under the homestead system. H. J. H. Bliott, The Chairman, County Council, Whangarei. Under-Secretary.

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Sib, — County Office, Whangarei, 18th August, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 812, sth August, 1886, and to inform you, in reference to the application from a number of persons in this district who are anxious to get land to settle upon, that these persons would like to take up land at once in the block they pointed out, either under the Homestead Act or deferred-payment system. Knowing the great desire you have to settle the waste lands of the colony, I would strongly urge upon you the necessity of throwing open the land in question with as little delay as possible. The applicants are all young men used to a country life. They require no fostering aid from the Government, but simply the land, upon which to make homes for themselves. I trust therefore that you will give this matter your earnest consideration, as it will be a great loss to this district if these young men are forced to leave for other parts, when there is so much Crown land lying idle, which could be settled to so much advantage. I have, &c, R. Thompson, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. County Chairman.

Sib, —■ Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 27th August, 1887. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, requesting that the block of land in the Hukerenui Survey District referred to therein may be opened on either the homestead or deferred-payment systems. In reply, I have to state that you will have learned from the Land Guide, which was sent to you with my letter of the sth instant, that there is already a large area of land in the Whangarei County under the homestead system, and it is not proposed to open any more land under that system for the present. There would seem to be no objection to opening a block of land in the locality on the deferred-payment system, however, and instructions have been given for a report to be obtained from the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Auckland as to the desirableness of doing so. In the meantime, I forward for your information a lithograph, showing sections in the Motatau and Hukerenui Survey Districts which are to be opened under the village special-settlement system on the 3rd September next. Copies of the regulations are also enclosed for the information of persons who may desire to take up land. I have, &c, H. J. H. Eeiott, R. Thompson, Esq., County Chairman, Whangarei. Under-Secretary.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. 26th August, 1886. Is the block of land marked with red pencil in the lithograph attached available and suitable for settlement on deferred payment. See the copy of the letter to the County Chairman, which is attached. H. J. H. Eeiott.

Siß, — County Office, Whangarei, Bth September, 1886. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 891. I hope there will be as little delay as possible in placing these people on the land under the deferred-payment system. They are all hard-working industrious young men, who ask for no assistance from the Government, only to be placed upon this block they have applied for. I trust this matter will not be handed over to the Auckland Waste Lands Board to deal with; if so, I have very little hope of seeing these men placed upon the land. I would also point out to you the necessity of immediate action in this matter, as most of the applicants are at present out of work through the cessation of county works, and they are anxious to get on to the land before their money is all spent. I would therefore ask you to deal urgently with this matter. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. R. Thompson, County Chairman.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. 6th September, 1886. Refebeing to your minute of the 26th ultimo on the application of the Chairman, Whangarei County Council, for a block of land at Hukerenui, I am directed by the Minister of Lands to ask you to obtain and furnish a report upon the estimated quantity and value of the timber growing on Block IX., referred to in the report of the Assistant Surveyor-General which you forwarded with your minute above quoted. H. J. H. Eliott.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. 16th September, 1886. Please return papers, LB6/2530, as to opening land at Hukerenui on deferred payments. It is desirable that the land should be opened at once. H. J. H. Eliott.

The Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. Auckland, 17th September, 1886. 'Re opening land at Hukerenui on deferred payments: The land applied for is understood to be all swamp, and, as such, unsuitable for alienation on deferred payments. To make sure of this, the surveyor in the district was asked, several days ago, to inspect and report. No reply expected from him until Friday next. Under circumstances, do you still wish papers LB6/2530 returned to you. D. A. Tole, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 18th September, 1886. R. Thompson, Esq., County Chairman, Whangarei. Sueveyob, who is to report on land at Hukerenui recommended to be opened on deferred payment, has been asked to see you. Land is supposed to be all swamp, and unsuitable for deferred payments. H. J. H. Eliott.

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Wellington, 18th September, 1886. Do not return papers about opening land on deferred payment at Hukerenui until surveyor has reported. Ask surveyor, through Mr. Percy Smith, to see the County Chairman, Mr. R. Thompson, on the subject, if he can conveniently do so. H. J. H. Eeiott.

The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. Whangarei, 20th October, 1886. Reply to your telegram of 18th September, re Hukerenui: I regret that no further steps appear to have been taken to open this block for settlement under the deferred-payment system. R. Thompson, County Chairman.

R. Thompson, Esq., County Chairman, Whangarei. 21st October, 1886. I will make inquiry as to delay respecting land at Hukerenui which you want opened on deferred payments. Did surveyor see you, as promised in telegram of 18th September ? H. J. H. Eliott.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. 21st October, 1886. Befebbing to my telegram, 18th September, about opening land at Hukerenui on deferred payment : What has been done in matter —was surveyor instructed to communicate with Mr. Thompson, County Chairman ? H. J. H. Eliott.

The Under-Secretary of Crown Lands, Wellington. Auckland, 22nd October, 1886. Plan and report on Hukerenui lands will be posted to you to-morrow. Surveyor did not see Mr. Thompson, who lives at a great distance from Hukerenui, D. A. Tole, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

The Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. 26th October, 1886. I foewaed to you the attached memorandum, in which is embodied the surveyor's report on the nature and quality of the soil in that portion of the Hukerenui Block referred to in Mr. Thompson's application. It could be seen that the land as a whole is characterized as unsuited for settlement on deferred payments. It has been withheld from sale for some time past in the belief that some portion of it would be required for railway purposes. The land in Block IX. (shaded red) is land of excellent quality, and well suited for settlement. D. A. Tole, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Memorandum re Lands for Deferred Payment, Hukerenui Survey District. In reference to the above, I have obtained some information as to the lands, which leads me to believe that it is scarcely suited to deferred-payment purposes, inasmuch as it is stated to be so wet that settlers could not live on it. There is, however, a narrow strip of good land along the banks of the Waiotu and Wairua, which has probably induced settlers to apply for it; but, as the road must go along this, a considerable portion will be thereby absorbed. You will remember that these lands have been withheld from sale on account of railway, but this objection would not possibly have force to the same extent in leaseholds. If, however, Government are anxious to let settlers have the land on deferred payment, then, no doubt, a selection of scattered sections of 320 acres to 100 acres could be laid out, taking in the most suitable lands within the area edged blue on the map. It is stated that Block IX. is much more suitable for settlement on any system; the land is fairly good, moderately level or undulating, and covered with bush, a good deal of which contains kauri or totara. The swamp lands in Hukerenui cannot be made available until an obstruction is removed in the Wairua Eiver, estimated to cost £40,000. S. Percy Smith, Assistant Surveyor-General.

The Minister of Lands, Wellington. Whangarei, 3rd November, 1886. Please inform me if any steps are being taken to open the Hukerenui for settlers under deferredpayment system. I regret that applicants should have been so cruelly treated by Government. R. Thompson, County Chairman.

R. Thompson, Esq., County Chairman, Whangarei. Wellington, Bth November, 1886. Fbom reports which I have received, it appears Hukerenui Swamp is not suitable for settlement, as settlers could not live on the land. I am informed that there is only a narrow strip of good land along the banks of the Waiotu and Wairua Rivers, but, as the road must go along this, a considerable portion of the land will be absorbed. I regret you should think that due consideration has not been given to this matter; but no time has been lost in obtaining a report upon the swamp, and that you have been kept informed of what was being done. J. Ballance.

g IEj General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, Bth November, 1886. Adverting to my letter, No. 891, of the 27th August last, relative to your application for a block of land in the Hukerenui District, to be opened either on the homestead or deferredpayment systems, I have now the honour, by direction of the Minister of Lands, to inform you that a report upon the land in question has been received from the Survey Department, by which it appears that it is unsuited for settlement on the deferred-payment system, being so wet that settlers could not live on it. The narrow strip of good land along the banks of the Waiotu and Wairua would be required for a road, which would absorb a considerable portion of it. I have, &c, H. J. H. Eliott, E. Thompson, Esq., County Chairman, Whangarei. Under-Secretary.

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The Minister of Lands, Wellington. Whangarei, 10th November, 1886. Thebe appears to be some misunderstanding about the land applied for in Hukerenui Survey District. The land applied for is in the Wairua Block, adjoining Hikurangi, and is not swamp, but liable to be flooded in some places. The land is well known to applicants, and they are prepared to go on it at once, and are very much disappointed at the delay they have met with. Will you kindly allow Mr. Simpson, the District Surveyor, to report on the suitability of this land for settlement. R. Thompson, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. Wellington, 11th November, 1886. Refeebing to your minute, 26th October, forwarding Mr. Percy Smith's memorandum about deferred-payment land applied for at Hukerenui, County Chairman says there is some misunderstanding about the land applied for, which is in the Wairua Block, adjoining Plikurangi, and is not swampy, but liable to be flooded occasionally in some places. County Chairman asks that Mr. Simpson may report on suitability of land for settlement, as the people who want to take it up are well acquainted with the block, and are disappointed at delay. The Hon. Minister has directed that if the people are willing to settle on the land they should have it. Is Mr. Simpson available for purpose of reporting; if so, ask Mr. Percy Smith to communicate with him. If Mr. Simpson reports, send plan, so that we may know exactly what land is wanted. H. J. H. Eeiott.

The Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. Auckland, 12th November, 1886. Re deferred-payment land, Hukerenui: Mr. Percy Smith's memorandum accompanying mine of the 26th October had special reference to the Wairua Block ; there can therefore be no misunderstanding. He stated that if settlers want the swamp land there cannot be any objection. He adds, " I cannot spare Mr. Simpson to report on what has already been reported on by an officer equally competent. He is too busily engaged on village-settlement surveys." D. A. Tole, Commissioner Crown Lands.

Sir, — . County Office, Whangarei, 23rd December, 1886. Your letter of the Bth November last was laid before the Council at its last meeting, and I have been instructed to inform you that the report furnished you by the Survey Department, re the land applied for in the Hukerenui Survey District, is not correct. I therefore trust that you will give instructions to have the land thrown open for applicants to settle upon. There are at present twenty-five settlers and their families waiting to get on to this land, who are prepared to comply with the conditions of the deferred-payment system; and it certainly seems strange that obstacles should be thrown in the way of those people while such efforts are being made in other districts to place people on the land. I would respectfully point out to you that those people who are prepared to settle on the land should be the best judges as to its suitability for settlement. I have, &c, E. Thompson, The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. County Chairman.

Crown Lands Office, Auckland, 2nd February, 1887. The Under-Secretary for Crown Lands, Wellington. In reply to your memorandum, 6th September, 1886, on the subject, I have to inform you that the quantity of timber on Block IX., Hukerenui Survey District, is estimated at about 1,600,000 superficial feet of green kauri, and about 400,000 ft. of dead ,kauri; all of which may be included in a reservation of about five hundred or six hundred acres, thus releasing the remainder of the block for purposes of settlement. Scattered totara is also found on the block. J. A. Tole, Commissioner Crown Lands.

Crown Lands Office, Auckland, Bth February, 1887. The Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. In further reference to my memorandum of the 2nd instant on the subject of kauri timber on Block IX., Hukerenui, I have to inform you that the Banger reports that on Block X. there is a very fine patch of kauri growing in an isolated patch. It is thought that it should be made a forest reserve at once. It is estimated that the patch contains about 2,000,000 ft. of kauri. I forward plan and description, so that the latter may be available for gazetting if the recommendation should be concurred in. D. A. Tole, Commissioner Crown Lands. Proclaimed, under State Forest Act, in Gazette No. 23, of 7th April, p. 439.— F. M. Cowie, 13th April, 1887. All that piece or parcel of land situate in the Hukerenui Survey District, Provincial District of Auckland, containing by admeasurement 500 acres, more or less. Bounded towards the north by a line, 8000 links; towards the east by a line, 6250 links; towards the south by a line, 8000 links ; and towards the west by a line, 6250 links to the point of commencement: be all the aforesaid linkages more or less. Survey Office, Auckland, 2nd February, 1887.

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