TAKAPAU ESTATE.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 960, 5 August 1903, Page 2

TAKAPAU ESTATE.

MR T. McGREGOR’S OPINION. CONSIDERS IT UNSUITABLE FOR DAIRYING.

At tho meeting of the Cook County Liberal Association last evening, the Chairman stated that ho was in receipt of several letters from people re the Takapau estate. Ho had alsi^ written to Mr Ihos. McGregor for his opinion as to whether the land was suited for close settlement and dairying purposes, and he received the following reply “ In reply to yours of Juno 30th, re my opinion as to the suitability of tho Takapau estato for close settlement and dairying, I have to state so far as I havo soon of the Takapau estato I should say, without a doubt, that it is not suitable; that is, the greater portion of it. There is no doubt there aro some very nice valleys aud flats through the estate that could J)e termed dairy lands, but I should Bay they are very small. I should estimate them as not moro than a fourth of the estate, and then they are scattered all over the estate, which makes them of small value, as compared with the same quantity of flat land in one block. My opinion of the Takapau for cutting up is to do away with the residential clause aud to throw all the (I will say second-class) land open to the selectors who t-uke up land on tho flats. There are thousands of acros on the flats at present held by Messrs Spence and Somerville which could be out up for close settlement. The land is very wot, and never will be good to winter stock on ; but if a Bottler could get, say, 100 or so acres of those rich wet flats and, say, 300 acres of the hills of Takapau, it would really bo tho making of both , estates. I have no doubt farmers woulji be very glad to go on lines something like this, as the distance apart is not too great. If theso lands were mine that is what I should do, and I think I would soon have one of tho finest dairying districts in the colony made out of the two estates. Either of them in itself is not suitable—the rich flats being too wet to carry the stock through the winter, and the Takapau hills being too dry for dairying purposes in the summer. 1 hope these few suggestions may help to turn tho fertile and neglected district of Tolago into a prosperous dairy district, which it will eventually become with close settlement.” Mr Birrell: There is no use crying over spile milk. There were other estates in the district which the Government could have acquired, which were more adapted " for dairying than the Takapau estate. The Government has been very ill-advised in tho matter. Tho people of the district should have been consulted prior, to the acquiring of these lands. There was a fine run at Te Arai open at the same time which they refused. (Hear, hear.) It was the last country he would associate with dairying. Anyhow, it was like the laws of tho Mede3 and Persians—it was

passod. Mr Cogar considered that the onus should be put on the proper shoulders, and referred to Mr Carroll, whom he thought should have been able to advise the Government, as he had a fair knowledge of the lands. The adjacent section of Mr A. Reeves was most eminently fitted for dairying. The Cabinet conducted the sale, and he contended that Mr Carroll should have protested. An enterprising man like Mr McGregor understood what he was talking about. He was surprised that Mr Carroll had played into the hands of one of their opponents, instead of their own supporters. The Association should condemn Mr Carroll and demand an explanation, especially for not backing up one df his own supporters who had land under offer to the Government at that time. A voice : He is a Liberal now. Mr Miller asked was it not usual for the Government to send an expert to report on lands before being acquired. The Chairman said that he was not

personally aware of anyone visiting to report, but he was informed that Mr Barron, of the Lands Department, reported on the estate. The Chairman considered that the land valuer in the district in which land was being acquired should have been consulted. The land should have been valued by the district valuer.

Mr Cogar protested that Mr Carroll should have raised his voice in Cabinet about the purchase of the estate, as he was their member and was aware of the class of land acquired. I ,' Mr H. Miller remarked that thoy could not hold that Mr Carroll was an expert. The Chairman thought the best way to solve the problem would be to have the land in future which was being taken over by the Government valued by the local Government valuator.

Mr Birrell said they should not sinsla out Mr Carroll. ° Mr Harris held that the whole thing was the fault of the Minister of Lands and his experts. As regards local valuation, the Takapau estate had been visited by Messrs Kennedy and Bright, together with Mr Barron.

Mr Dickson said the Government should apply to a local authority for a report on lands. He considered that the valuation of Takapau was included in the saying “ Birds of a feather flock together.” The hint given by Mr McGregor should be taken up, and he thought that Mr Carroll should have had some knowledge of the land. After further discussion the matter dropped, no resolution being passed.