EAST COAST LANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2692, 23 December 1909, Page 6

EAST COAST LANDS.

A MATTER FOR ENQUIRY

In the House, of. Representatives, on Saturday (says the correspondent of the “Hawke’s Bay Herald”, Mr. Massey read correspondence revealing an extra ordinary state of. affairs in regard, to Crown lands on the East Coast, nearGisborne. f The communications . were fronx residents of Bay. About two years ago, they state, section 1, block 7, Mata survey district, was thrown open for selection. There were 120 applicants for it, and Mr. Dhobie, of Gisborne, was successful in the ballot. He failed to carry out improvements; and the section was forfeited, arid again advertised for selection, but oh D ecember • 6th -it was - withdrawn; to allow, the native owners of the adjoining land to acquire it and add it to their bjodk. The block to winch it was added contained 4649 acres, a large portion of which is unimproved. The settlers state .that several sections -of Crown land* in Waiapu county have rccentlv be given te the Maori owners , of = adjoining land without ■ Europeans having been given an’ opportunity to ballot for them. The sections are specified. All sections referred to are accessible by formed roads,; and are eminently suitable for settlement. They would ho largely competed for if; made available for .selection. ' - The Prime Minister promised to make further enquiries. He said that the position was that’ the. land should never have been purchased, and it was now given back to the natives.