LAND FOR THE LANDLESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3653, 14 October 1912, Page 5

LAND FOR THE LANDLESS.

VISIT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF LANDS

MB. HOLDEN’S WAIMATA PROPERTY UNDER OFFER TO THE GOVERNMENT.

By Saturday’s steamer, Mr, R. T. Sadd, Commissioner of Crown Lands, arrived at Gisborne, and was interviewed by a “Gisborne Times” representative last evening. To-day, Mr. Sadd will be engaged at a meeting of the Land Board, and to-morrow he goes out to Ngatapa, and at Ngatapa the Commissioner will visit a Crown land section through whit'li the railway has passed. The Government, of coiirse, has the right t-o resume any such land. With the improvements, however, the tenant is not satisfied, and lie is seeking further compensation in the wav of reduced rent. Hence Mr. Sadtl’s visit.

On Wednesday, Mr. Sadd will inspect- Mr. Holden’s Rimuroa. estate, on the Riverside Road, Waimata, comprising 7000 acres, and which is under offer t-o the Government, for the purposes of closer settlement. The estate is live or six miles from town, being excellent pastoral country, and should be eminently suited for subdivision. Mr. Sadd has not yet seen the property. There were no other properties in Poverty Bay at present under offer to the Government, although Mr. Sadd felt confident that there was an abundance of land in the district suitable for settlement, and also people ready to take advantage of the opportunity of taking up land. This was shown by the large number of people living in tlie Bay—particularly young men—avlio applied when land was ballotted for elsewhere, and especially in Hawke’s Bay. During December, the Commissioner intends to return to Gisborne, and he will then inspect as much of the district as possible, including the Rakauroa and Hangaroa districts'.

“In Hawke’s Bay,” Air. Sackl said, “things are booming.” He bad surveyors busily engaged in laying off five estates (comprising 25,000 acres in all)- for closer settlement, the estates being: Slierinden, Tinanui, Waihau, Ngatoro, and Peka Peka. The scheme for the first-named was about completed, and would be ready for confirmation at an early date. The schedules for Slierinden and Tinanui would be out about the middle of Februn rv next. These estates comprised 10,000 acres, and would accommodate some twenty settlers. Both places were running two sheep to the acre at present, and additional improvements should make them .capable of averaging three to the acre. The schedules for the remaining properties would be out at the end of February, and thirty sections, of from 200 to 700 and 800 acres would be on the market. Already innumerable inquiries were being made from Poverty Bay and elsewhere about these properties, and lie felt sure that there would be big ballots. > One reason for Air. Sadd’s return on Wednesday is that he has to meet the chairman of the Land Purchase Board (Air. J. D. Ritchie), and accompany him to Air. Belcher’s estate at Tula Tuki, known as “The Caves,” and comprising 1300 acres. THvotliirds of this property was suitable for dairying, and the balance was good slieen country, carrying 3£ sheep to the acre at the present time.